Is my 42" crate big enough for my 14-year-old cat after moving?

Charlie should be able to tolerate a very large dog style crate or a cat condo for days to a week or so. Cats often stay in similar sized cages while boarding, however be aware that cats confined will need litter changed several times daily and he would benefit from interactive toys. If possible, he may do better if allowed to be closed into a room vs a crate. Other options may be long term boarding if needed, if there is a cat facility near you with larger cages/condos available. A cat condo that might work better than a crate: https://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Pet-Products-Premium-Deluxe/dp/B015RRSZXO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522461943&sr=8-1&keywords=cat+condo+cage The larger the area Charlie has and the more toys/interaction that Charlie has will make confinement less difficult on him. Be sure to monitor him for signs of stress such as not eating, going outside the literbox or excessive grooming. I hope this helps. Good Luck and thank you for using PetCoach

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I don't think many people crate their cats beyond the "getting used to the new house" period. If Cecile is destructive or may hurt herself or ingest something it is best to crate her. I thin if you want to to start letting her out at night now and she knows where her food/water and litter boxes are. I do know people who have confined their cats for their entire lives at night. So it is a personal decision for you. I hope this helps!

Hello! It is absolutely not cruel punishment to contain your cat so you can sleep. I know of multiple high energy cats that are crate trained for this exact purpose. Cats love hanging out in small, dark spaces anyway, so with positive reinforcement, patience, and time, she will likely begin to love her crate time! I also recommend toys that dispense treats when they are played with for all high energy cats, as it can really help get them exercise and simulate their hunting instincts to play for food. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! :)

Start now with closing the cat door at night and keeping Kitter in with a litter box available. After a few days or a week keep him inside only. That way he will adjust before the stress of moving. Most cats naturally use the litter box but you may want to confine him to a smaller area with the box at night when he's in. Use plain litter without fragrance and clean it daily and fully empty it and scrub it with mild dish washing soap weekly. Cats are fussy and if the box is dirty they can start going out of the box. Also pick up bath mats and laundry so he doesn't start urinating on those. He should be fine, most cats adjust well. Make sure you play with him a lot and he may enjoy a cat tree since he is probably used to more exercise when he's outside. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Kitter.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Sukkar. How lovely of you to take him in, what a lucky boy. I would set up a window seat for him next to a window that gets sun all day. A cat tree would work well too. He can lay on it, look outside, and enjoy the sun. You can also look into a catio, which is an outdoor enclosure for cats. He could go into every day for a few hours, enjoy the outside, but not escape and still be safe. This may help him and cheer him up a bit. Keep in mind as well that he's four, so the playing stage may be gone for him. I have a six year old Ragdoll who spends most of his time sleeping in the sun and eating. Probably why he's fat! He doesn't play at all, but he's happy. I hope this helps!

You may be surprised at how well he will take the move. If he becomes car sick, you may want to discuss anti-nausea medications with your vet that will ease this stress. Supplements like Zylkene or Comfort Zone Feliway Diffuser Kit for Cat Calming can be used during travel and when he gets to his new house to help with the transition. I would recommend keeping his food, litter, and litterbox the same. Give him plenty of attention. If he has any specific behavioral concerns once you move, post a new question and we would be happy to help again!

Fortunately, cats don't usually seem to mind having a smaller indoor space to live in - they spend the majority of their day resting or sleeping, with bouts of play or other activity in between, so normally they don't need a large living space. But, moving to a new home can definitely be stressful for them, since they are often easily upset by any changes to their environment or daily routine - so I would imagine that your kitty is simply adjusting to the move. You can spend some extra time petting or playing with him for the next couple of weeks to help him settle in. You may also want to try a Feliway pheromone diffuser to help encourage him to relax and feel like your new home is "his".