Moving houses, advice needed
Re: Moving houses, advice needed
I would go slow because forcing him into anything will be so stressful to him it may cause a marking behaviour and you don't want THAT!
Re: Moving houses, advice needed
Or withdrawal and stress that leads to health problems (stress, anorexia, behavioral changes). Moving/relocating is an extremely stressful event for cats, they do NOT handle stress as humans do, you must be extremely watchful of his behavior/routine, eating/drinking/litterbox routines during and weeks/months after a move. Likewise, when the baby arrives, this is going to be an extremely stressful event for him, so you'll have to make determined efforts to pay him lots of love and attention.
What you could do, is put his cat tree in the basement, his kitty bed/blanket and a few of his favorite toys. But, you should also place a scratching post and/or cat perch post and favorite toys/bed upstairs as well, in a common area (like the living room or family room), where he is comfortable socializing with you when you're home. Your kitty needs to feel a vital part of your family, so his belongings should be placed/divided into HIS favorite areas too.
Again, make a habit of spending quality time with him, encourage a playtime session with him before you retire at night. Try the playtime session in the basement of the new home so he associates that, and he may be more likely to sleep there. Don't scold or reprimand him if he doesn't however, cats DO like to be near their humans when they sleep at night...they are nocturnal, do NOT sleep for 8 consistent hours as you do, and do need to have food and/or toys/entertainment while you're sleeping.
What you could do, is put his cat tree in the basement, his kitty bed/blanket and a few of his favorite toys. But, you should also place a scratching post and/or cat perch post and favorite toys/bed upstairs as well, in a common area (like the living room or family room), where he is comfortable socializing with you when you're home. Your kitty needs to feel a vital part of your family, so his belongings should be placed/divided into HIS favorite areas too.
Again, make a habit of spending quality time with him, encourage a playtime session with him before you retire at night. Try the playtime session in the basement of the new home so he associates that, and he may be more likely to sleep there. Don't scold or reprimand him if he doesn't however, cats DO like to be near their humans when they sleep at night...they are nocturnal, do NOT sleep for 8 consistent hours as you do, and do need to have food and/or toys/entertainment while you're sleeping.
..........Traci