Cat ran away after moving house: where to look and who to tell
Search tightly around the new home first, then warn the people at your old address, since a moved cat may hide nearby or try to go back.
Search two places, in this order
Start at the new home, because that is where your cat was last seen and it is on strange ground. Search the house and boxes first, then the yards right around it. At the same time, phone the people now living at your old address and ask them to watch for your cat. Those two jobs matter more than any drive in between. Cat welfare groups warn that a cat moved a short distance may try to get back to its old territory, but a frightened cat in unfamiliar surroundings may also simply hide. You will not know which yet, so cover both from the first day. The rest of this post assumes your cat got out at the new house, whether on moving day or weeks later.
What is actually known
Very little research looks at this. In the main survey of 1,210 missing cats, 57 went missing from an unfamiliar place, and about half of those, roughly 29 cats, went missing after moving into a new home. The study does not report separate distances for them, so nobody can say how far they travel. The UK charity Cats Protection says that how cats find their way over long distances is not well understood. It also says that they recognize old territory by scent and may follow familiar scents back. Humane World for Animals says a cat lost in an unfamiliar area will likely be scared and will not respond to your calls. Treat stories of cats crossing long distances to an old home as stories, not as a likely plan.
Rule out the move itself
Before you go outside, check everything that came with you. Open every box that has not been unpacked, and look behind appliances, inside sofas, in closets and under stairs. Cats also get into the spaces you do not know yet in a new house, such as gaps behind cabinets, an unfinished basement or a crawl space hatch. Then call the movers or the truck rental company. Ask them to check the vehicle, and any storage unit or second load, because a cat could have gone in during loading. Look through the car and trailer as well. If you made stops along the way, write down each one, in case the cat slipped out there. In that survey, a few cats also went missing during transport, mostly from their carriers.
Meet your new neighbors fast
You do not know these people yet, and they do not know your cat is theirs to look for. Go door to door today, starting with the houses touching your property. Say: Hi, we just moved in at number 12. Our gray cat got out and doesn’t know the area. Could you check your garage and under your deck, and call me if you see her? Do not assume anyone has a door camera, but ask. Give each house a flyer with your new address only as cross streets. Your new home has the added problem that the cat does not yet recognize it, so place something familiar outside the door. Cats Protection suggests keeping familiar beds, blankets and toys unwashed after a move, so use one of those.
Make the call to your old address
International Cat Care says to warn the new occupants that your cat may return, and to ask them to contact you if they see it. It also says they must not feed or encourage the cat. If you do not know the new residents, try your real estate agent, a landlord or your old next-door neighbors. Say: Our cat is missing from our new place, and she may try to come back to your house. If you see her, please call me right away, but please do not feed her or let her in. Give your old neighbors flyers, too. If you moved only a few miles, put some up around your old street, and at the vets you used to go to.
Fix the records today
A move leaves several old records in place, and any of them can send a good finder to a dead end. Update your cat’s microchip with the new address and a working number. International Cat Care says to do this as soon as possible after a move anyway. If the chip record shows your old phone or a landline you have disconnected, a shelter may not be able to reach you. Update the collar tag too. Next, file lost reports with shelters in both areas, the new one and the old one, because a move across a city or county line means two separate agencies. Tell your old vet and your new vet. Hold periods can be short, so ask each shelter how long it keeps a stray.
Once your cat is back
Treat the settling-in period as starting over. Set up one quiet room with food, water, litter, a hiding spot and familiar bedding. Keep the windows, doors and any cat flap closed. International Cat Care recommends at least two to three weeks indoors, and as long as possible after a local move. Cats Protection also says two to three weeks, and says to begin outdoor time just before a meal, so your cat has a reason to come back. If your cat keeps trying to return to the old house, International Cat Care suggests talking to your vet, who may recommend a qualified behaviorist. See your vet anyway after any time outside. Add a note on the door for anyone who visits, especially while boxes are still moving in and out.
Sources
Huang et al., Animals, 2018: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5789300. Cats Protection, why cats go back to their old home: cats.org.uk/cats-blog/why-do-cats-go-back-to-their-old-home. Humane World for Animals, how to find a lost cat: humaneworld.org/resources/how-find-lost-cat. International Cat Care, moving house with your cat: icatcare.org/articles/moving-house-with-your-cat.