Before we moved we kept trying (in vain) to explain to our cat what would be happening. “We’re going to live somewhere else soon, Mara. Are you listening? Mara? Hello?” “Mara this place is nice but soon you’re going to have a new house.” She didn’t get it.
Pre-move- Mara absolutely loved all the boxes and paper. It was a kitty wonderland of things to explore and play in and around.
Saturday-Sunday- We went on a small vacation before moving and Mara probably got the best sleep of the last three months. During shelter-in-place she has been very interested in what we are doing all day and is reluctant to sleep while we are home.
Monday- moving day- We thought we were really thinking ahead when we put Mara in the bathroom with her water and litterbox before the movers arrived. However, as soon as one of the movers had to use the restroom, she tried to bolt. Colin grabbed her and got her into the bedorom. Somehow he got her in her carrier and I took her to sit in the car. She made some very pitiful meowing sounds as we left the apartment. I sat in the car with her while everything got moved.
Tuesday- We kept her confined to the two bedrooms at the new house. She was itching to get out and explore the house.
Wednesday- We let her explore a little bit, one room at a time. She was very jumpy still and we put her back in the bedroom to sleep at night.
Thursday- It seems like she started to feel less on edge, but we had to watch her more carefully than normal. She managed to eat some mayo from a jar that was soaking in the sink and lick a bamboo plant. She kept trying to get into the fireplace. At night she slept very soundly, probably because she was in exploration mode for most of the day. Whenever we put her back in the bedroom during the day she meowed a lot from behind the door if we were not in there with her.
Friday- It felt more normal at home with Mara wanting cuddles and looking visibly relaxed. She still didn’t want to play though, maybe she didn’t want pretend-scary things because everything was still actually scary.
2 weeks after moving- We give her full range of the upstairs of the house now during the day and at night. She’s comfortable and is acting like herself! She’s even more into her food than she was back at the apartment. Phew.
