Moving Day Escape Prevention: Isolation Room Rules and Door Signs
๐จ Check first
Moving day's biggest risk: While movers leave entry and room doors wide open to carry out large furniture, startled cats often bolt out the door and disappear. Escaping in an unfamiliar new neighborhood or around an empty old home makes finding them extremely difficult.
๐ The answer in 3 seconds
- One hour before moving work begins, completely isolate your cat in an empty room where all boxes have been cleared out (or a lockable bathroom, changing room, or toilet) along with a hard carrier, litter box, and water.
- To prevent family members or movers from accidentally opening the door, tape a large warning sign reading 'CAT INSIDE: DO NOT OPEN' over the doorknob with masking tape and secure the door with a lock or tape seal.
- During transit to the new home, never open the carrier in the car or train. Wait until moving into the new home is completely finished and the front door is closed before letting your cat out into their isolation room.
๐ Flowchart
- Step 1Before movers arrive at the old home, put your cat, a familiar litter box, water, blankets, and a hard carrier into a washroom or an emptied room, secure your cat inside the carrier or crate, and close the room door.
- Step 2Place an X-pattern of masking tape over the doorknob of the isolation room so it cannot be turned, attach a sign stating cats are inside, and verbally remind the moving crew leader.
- Step 3After all items are moved out and the front door is shut, place your cat in the car inside their carrier. At the new home, isolate them in a single room with a warning sign first, and only let them out after movers leave and all windows and doors are confirmed shut.
โญ Step-by-step fix
Step 1 ยท What you can do at home right now
Before movers arrive at the old home, put your cat, a familiar litter box, water, blankets, and a hard carrier into a washroom or an emptied room, secure your cat inside the carrier or crate, and close the room door.
Step 2
Place an X-pattern of masking tape over the doorknob of the isolation room so it cannot be turned, attach a sign stating cats are inside, and verbally remind the moving crew leader.
Step 3
After all items are moved out and the front door is shut, place your cat in the car inside their carrier. At the new home, isolate them in a single room with a warning sign first, and only let them out after movers leave and all windows and doors are confirmed shut.
โ Never do this
- Leaving a cat in a soft carrier in the corner of the living room during the move because they are normally calm (overwhelmed by the noise of strangers and shouting, they can tear through zippers and escape through an open front door).
- Taking your cat out of the carrier to hold them inside a car at a highway rest stop where doors may be opened.
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