So right now I'm pretty much living between my Mom's house and my boyfriend's apartment. Eventually when we have our own place without a roommate I would like to take my cat with us. She is 8 years old and is an indoor/outdoor cat. I never wanted her to be an outdoor cat, but we have always had a dog door so I didn't have a choice. She's lived there all her life, and I'm afraid to move her. She's very attached to me and always runs to greet me when I come in and likes being carried around. She's tolerant of our dog at my mom's (15 year old Cocker Spaniel) but is absolutely terrified of all other dogs (probably because she grew up with the Cocker Spaniel).

So I'm wondering what would be best for her. Conan, our Corgi generally has no interest in cats. He's been around tons of them and will smell them but even when they run away he just watches them but never follows. I will go through the steps of introducing them to each other gradually but I just wonder if she will be truly happy there. I don't really want her outside if we move, because I'm not sure if it's true that cats will try to run back to their old homes. And my mom's house is in a nice community, and we'll probably live off busier streets that I don't want her running around in. Not to mention all the other dangers. It's just safer inside.

Overall I just want her to be happy. Do you think moving in a strange environment with a strange dog and not being able to go outdoors will be too stressful? Should I just leave her with my mom? My mom loves her and my cat will grow on anyone who feeds her pretty quickly, but she's defintely closest to me. I've never moved with cats before so I really don't know how to go about it.

I would leave her at your mom's house. The main thing is she is used to go outside. If she feels terrible at your mom's house without you living there you can try it later. One of my former cats lives at my parents home for main reason that she needs to go outside. Most cats are not happy when you take roaming away. It does work with some tho. I guess she could get used to your new dog as she is already used to living with a dog.
Would you havve the possibility to secure your new yard? My cats are not allowed to roam but I do feel very strong that they need at least some limited outdoor activity one can provide with a secured yard.

Thanks, that's probably the best idea. I'm not sure if we'll be able to enclose the backyard area but I'll definitely keep it in mind when looking for a place. It will be hard to leave her because she's my baby but I don't want her to suffer for the sake of my happiness. Luckily there are plenty of cats that need homes.

I got my cat when I was young. I took him with me when I went to University. He was always an indoor cat (I agree with you - in cat vs car, the cat usually loses - not to mention poisons, dogs, trash, wildlife, mean people, etc).

When I went to university my cat was 7 years old. I moved a LOT (lived in 5 homes in 4 years) and we even survived a house fire. Then I moved back into my parents home and then bought my own home and my cat came with.

I kind of view my animals as being part of my family, not part of a building. My cat lived wherever I did, he was my baby, and he was honestly no worse for wear. It took him time to acclimate to his new surroundings, but I started slow at first having him only in my bedroom until he was comfortable and then letting him out for gradually longer periods until he "owned" the place. (He was not the most outgoing kitty, but not really shy either).

Cats are smart, they can learn to live indoors (given plenty of exercise and interaction) and adjust well. The dog might be the biggest adjustment if she has never met him.

I would say: bring your cat, and if she honestly has trouble adapting after a reasonable amount of time has passed (say, 6 months) and your parents will agree to it, you can always give her back if need be.

I got my cat when I was 18, moved 4 times in 2 years and she also lived for 6 months at my parents house without me when we had a roomate with a malamute that thought she would be a tasty snack.


She has done fine through all of those moves, I just make sure to give her several days of peace and quiet each time and put her food and litter boxes in a relatively similar place in each house.

I agree though that if after a couple of months she hasn't setttled down and gone back to normal she could certainly go back ot living with your mom.

You also just have to be more stubborn than she is when she has fits to go outside, and provide more indoor stimulation and toys for her.

Baby gates are also great to establish dog free zones where she can escape and feel safe.

Would it be possible to spend some time with your dog at your moms house so the kitty could meet him, and learn that he is safe on her home turf?

 Quote: Jennifer Lee

Baby gates are also great to establish dog free zones where she can escape and feel safe.

That's a good idea! Never thought of it. It's definitely something I'll do.

 Quote: Jennifer Lee

Would it be possible to spend some time with your dog at your moms house so the kitty could meet him, and learn that he is safe on her home turf?

I'll try this. Right now she hides under my bed at my mom's (which is a Malm bed from Ikea, super low to the ground) when anyone strange comes over (she's afraid of anyone new, though if you stay in the room long enough she'll come out eventually). He can't reach her under there so maybe we'll just stake out in the room and see if she eventually warms up or really is just too afraid to come out.

Thanks! She's really active in the house too, so I think there's a possibility she'll adjust. We'll just have to see!

Never underestimate the power of really yummy treats, even for cats when it comes to getting them to come out of hiding, allow you to touch them and may other lovely things!!

Little bits of cooked and shredded chicken and nitrate free bacon can work miracles!!

Good plan!! That should work really well actually.. she's such a food hog. When we feed the animals we have to feed Kitty (I know, totally original cat name) before Dolly because she'll try to squeeze her head into the bowl to steal some of the dog's food while Dolly is eating! Good thing we don't have food aggression problems!

Ditto on the pro - taking cat with you plan.
They are adaptable little buggers, and they do generally settle in to a new place fairly easily.
I got my cat from a military buddy who was deploying overseas and couldn't take his cat. He didn't want to take her to a shelter because "she is the best cat in the world, and the most boring, plain tabby you have ever seen". He was afraid she would be overlooked because she really is VERY plain looking.
At his house, she was an indoor/outdoor/only pet/no kids cat. When I was still in SC she was going to be able to be outdoors at times... but then I moved. Now she is an indoor only cat with two dogs and a kid.
20 hour drive, two weeks of sulking, and she is now perfectly content. At first, I left her in the bathroom, with her litter box so she could adjust in a small area. After about a week I left the door open for her to explore on her own. Eventually I moved her litter box to it's home downstairs. She even adjusted well to the dogs - at first she was terrified. Over the course of this summer she has taken to Ivan quite a bit. Now she and Ivan will even curl up together sometimes.
So I say give it a shot. If it doesn't go well, you can always take the cat back.

Thanks! It's good to hear two happy ending stories

It won't be the end of the world if she doesn't adjust, because she'll still be loved and well cared for. But she's just my kitty and I don't want to part with her any earlier than I have to! She's just a plain black cat, and at 8 years old I don't think she would be adopted. Sweetest thing though once she warms up. In fact, right now she's squished herself in between my laptop and my stomach. She's half on the keyboard so it's hard to type and move the cursor around, but that's okay I'll do all the things suggested. Hopefully it will work out! Thanks again!