Unsettled In New Home

[Mickey]

Hi everyone
I'm new to this forum and would appreciate some advice so that I might be able to help my cat Molly overcome the trauma of moving home.She is 7 years old and up until the move(4 weeks ago)was a happy,loving and independent cat who had lived in the same home since she was a kitten but since the move her mood seems to of changed drastically,she is eating ok,and using a litter tray(For the first time since being a kitten) but she just mopes around looking very sorry for herself and if she's not doing that more often than not she's asleep for real long periods,she's not interested in playing and its a major effort to get her to go outside and when she does it only lasts until a car or person passes by and then she runs back inside and wont come back out(Neither of which bothered her before).I've tried leaving the door open so that she can go out when she wants,and sitting out with her but nothing seems to work and I'm worried that if she doesn't start to go outside soon she is destined to become a housebound cat and when I consider how she was before it cant be the way she wants to live which is why,I suppose,she appears to be so depressed.
Healthwise she had a routine check with the vet not long before we moved and there were no problems so it has to be a result of the upheaval,I love her so much I feel terrible for having put her through all this stress,so please if anyone has any good advice as to how I can help Molly feel more settled and happy I would much appreciate it as,I'm sure,would Molly.
Many thanks,Mickey.

[Mona]

Mickey,

I know a new environment can be hard on cats. We took our older girl on vacation to a friend's home and she was very nervous and unsettled.
Mickey wrote:

Healthwise she had a routine check with the vet not long before

The above has me wondering if your kitty at 7 should have a full blood panel run to determine if something could be off with her blood or other functions. A routine exam usually does not include this type of bloodwork.

ALso she would probably be happier and much safer inside. Can you keep her inside only?

Mona, Honeybun and Chloe

[jason]

standard notice: make efforts to keep you kitty indoors, search the board for many discussions on this.

she just mopes around looking very sorry for herself and if she's not doing that more often than not she's asleep for real long periods,she's not interested in playing

[snip]

I love her so much I feel terrible for having put her through all this stress,so please if anyone has any good advice as to how I can help Molly feel more settled and happy I would much appreciate it

does Molly have some "stuff" of her own from the old house?

i have not been through a move myself with my cats, but others have recommened confining kitty to one room of a new place for a period of time, along with some scented items (from old house) in there so they can get at least accustomed to one room at a time.

you want to keep her stress down as much as possible, what she wants (as long as its not a health concern) she should get

got a feeling it will pass with time, its similar to taking on a new kitty i think, new territory.

also, read this thread.

[Mickey]

Thank you Mona and Jason for your replies, sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
Mona wrote:

Also she would probably be happier and much safer inside. Can you keep her inside only?

To be honest with you Mona I would prefer it if I could keep her inside permanently so that I know that she will be safe from the dangers that lurk outside the front doors of cat owners everywhere, but whilst keeping her in would undoubtedly give me peace of mind I'm not sure that Molly would be happier as a result as up until 4 weeks ago she had the freedom to go out when she wanted. Is it possible for a cat that has had this level of freedom to ever adjust to being a house cat? I’m sure it must be a hotly debated issue. All I want is for her to have a happy, stable and healthy life.

Jason wrote:

got a feeling it will pass with time, its similar to taking on a new kitty I think, new territory.

I sure hope it does, until then she will continue to get all the fussing and pampering that I can give her.
Thank you both for your advice, and Mona, I will get Molly's blood checked,
Mickey

[kate & kobi]

Is it possible for a cat that has had this level of freedom to ever adjust to being a house cat? I’m sure it must be a hotly debated issue.

I think you've anticipated the answer. Yes, most people (on this board, anyway) will tell you that cats can be perfectly happy indoors only, and that it's better and far safer for them. My two have been indoors only since they came to us, and one has never shown the desire to go outside, and the other sometimes runs for the door to go out but does it much less frequently now than she did at first.

All I want is for her to have a happy, stable and healthy life.

Well said, I agree completely. Stable and healthy are definitely easier indoors. Happy will come, with time, patience, love, and lots of "play" attention from you. She might be depressed just because of the stress of the move, and missing her old house with all the hiding places she was familiar with. If you can engage her with her old toys, and make sure she has safe spaces to hide in if things get stressful for her, that might help.

Keep us posted.