A moving experience, but it's different with pets

Q: I am moving with my pets to an apartment. The last time we moved, the dog was fine, but the cat went missing. We found her in our old neighborhood, but there's a freeway between the new place and the old this time. How can we keep her safe?

A: The best way to move with your cat is to confine him before and after moving day in a "safe room." Choose a room where your cat isn't going to be disturbed, and outfit it with food and water, a litter box, a scratching post, a bed and toys. Confining your cat not only reduces his stress, but also prevents him from slipping out, which is a danger at both the old home and the new. Your cat should be confined in his safe room the day before packing begins, moved to his new home in a carrier, and then confined again in his new safe room until the moving is over, the furniture arranged and most of the dust settled.

Trying to force a scared and stressed-out cat to do anything he doesn't want to do is hazardous to your health. After you arrive at your new home, don't pull your cat out of his carrier. Instead, put the carrier in his safe room, open the carrier door, and let him come out into the room when he wants to. After he's a little calmer, you can coax him out with some fresh food or treats if you want. But don't rush him and don't drag him out - or you may be bitten or scratched. When you have the rest of the house settled, open the door to the safe room and let your cat explore his new home - on his terms. If your cat has been an indoor-outdoor pet, moving is the best time to convert him to indoor-only, because he won't fret about territory he never had.