Moving an old cat to a new home with other cats: Is it cruel?

It's not cruel when done correctly. I would recommend working with your vet or a pet relocation service to find the best way to help your kitties adapt to being in a crate with a lot of noise for long periods of time. There will also be various health requirements you will need to meet to get an international health certificate, so it is best to start early.

That's a tough situation for you both to be in! In my opinion, I think it would be best splitting the cats. While it may be tough at first for them to be apart, the stress of moving them back and forth between homes would be even more stressful. They would adjust easier to having separate homes than be moved around all the time, and if either become lonely, you can get another cat to keep your cat company. Another option is one of you take both of them for good, but that may not be feasible. I hope this helps!

Certainly moves can be stressful for some pets and a breeze for others. They are all unique individuals just like people. Also like People, some cats meet each other and get along instantly, other ones take some time to warm up and some have personality clashes always. Discuss your concerns with your daughter. You must make the right decision for Moosh depending on his temperament. It likely will not be a problem that the other cat is male as long as they are both neutered (for the kitten when it is old enough). I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Cats tend to be quite adaptable and able to adjust to a new environment well, so I think Blueberry and her kitten will probably do just fine! Of course, every cat is different - some cats love the extra stimulation and socialization that comes with having other cats in the household, while other cats prefer to live on their own and are stressed by having other animals around. You know Blueberry best and might be the best judge as far as how she'll do. If you're worried about how she'll respond, you could always consider this a "trial run", and let your friend know that if your cats don't seem to be adjusting well, you could take them back to find better arrangements. You should anticipate that the first week or two will be an adjustment period and your cats might do a bit more hiding than usual, and initial encounters with the other household cats will probably include some hissing as they figure each other out - but within a few weeks Blueberry and her kitten should be looking more relaxed and comfortable in their new surroundings. Good luck - hope this helps!

Hi there, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I would decide based on how bonded Cinder is with the other cats, and what would cause the least amount of stress for her. If she is not particularly bonded with the other two cats, then it could be best to move her first and let her scope out the new house while it's still quiet. However, if she is bonded with one or both of the other cats then it's best to move them at the same time so she doesn't suffer additional stress from being separated. I also recommend using Feliway Classic diffusers in the new house for the first several months (you may need several diffusers to permeate the whole house, depending on the layout) to help decrease the cat's stress. Finally, I would add that if you still have a lot of general moving to do (if your boyfriend is moving in first and so there will be several weeks to months of boxes and "stuff" getting moved around) then I'd wait to move the cats. Changing the layout of the house causes additional stress, so it's best to have the new house as put together as possible before adding the cats. Hope this helps!

I would not recommend such a journey in an older cat especially if her routine will be changed from a free ranging cat to an indoor cat as this would provide an ongoing environmental stress even after the journey. Contact local humane societies and shelters to see if they can help provide a foster home for her or inquire of your neighbours if anyone is willing to monitor her and take responsibility for her ongoing care and health needs as she gets older.

You can do this, but bring things that smell like Jax's home with you each week so he has a familiar scent. Since it's temporary for now, keep him in his own room with his own food, water, and litter box. This will make it less stressful for him. Once you move in together full time, start introducing him slowly to the other cats and the rest of the home. Best of luck.