How to Prepare Your Cat for Environmental Changes: Tips for a Smooth Transition During Home Renovations and Visitors

Changes to a cat’s physical environment can be disconcerting for them especially if they are exclusively kept indoors. Being ahead of the game when disruptions such as redecorations, renovations, or even when visitors are due, can prevent emotional upset and the subsequent triggering of behaviour problems.

• Create a refuge room (https://petcourses.co.uk/free-resources/creating-a-refuge-room-for-cats) and give them freedom to access it.
• In multi-cat households provide several refuge areas for each faction or cats that prefer to spend time alone.
• The cat(s) may benefit from being given a natural calming preparation and/or surrounded by a synthetic pheromone or suitable herbal aromas a week or so prior to the change.
• If not already done, begin introducing the cat(s) to mentally enriched feeding regimes and a range of different interactive toys and puzzle games.
• When expecting visitors, limit incoming luggage to the guest room.
• When expecting trades people, limit materials and equipment to the work area or in a garage or shed.
• Increase availability of elevated space and provide additional places to hide.
• If a cat shows distress at being confined to their sanctuary, allow them freedom to leave and return.
• If routes to gain access to other locations or outdoors are blocked, or they feel insecure with strangers in the home, provide alternatives. For example, an open window to get outside, create safe, hidden pathways behind furniture or lay down tunnels so they can stay hidden whilst moving from one location to another.
• When decorations or building work is complete (and trades people and equipment have been removed), harvest and transfer the cat’s odours to the changed environment before allowing them back in. Repeat twice daily for at least a week.