Moving into your new UGA apartment can be stressful, even more so if you're bringing a pet with you. If you're an animal lover, living with a cat is a great option to help manage stress, improve mood, and help with loneliness or homesickness. However, it's also a lot of work! Don't think that just because you don't have to take your cat on walks means that you can slack off caring for your pet. Responsible cat owners know that there are some steps you can take to ensure a smooth transition for you and your cat into UGA off campus housing, and this article will give some helpful tips for keeping your cat happy and healthy.
Kitty Compatibility
The first step is to find apartments in Athens that will be the right fit for your cat. Make sure to notify anyone you're planning on rooming with of your pet in case they have allergies or other complications. If your apartment has roommate matching, you can include your cat's information to be paired with someone who doesn't mind your pet's presence. If you're by yourself in a one bedroom or studio apartment, make sure your chosen UGA apartment is pet friendly. Note that apartments are legally obligated to allow service animals and emotional support animals regardless of their pet policy and without any extra fees. For more information, read more about emotional support animals on the American Kennel Club website.
Keeping your Cat Comfortable in Athens Apartments
Moving to a new apartment can be stressful for both you and your kitty. Cats also suffer from anxiety when moving to a new home filled with unfamiliar sights and smells, so make your apartment smell like home. Cats can become disoriented in a new setting and may find it difficult to relax among all the different smells. A cat's sense of smell is fourteen times better than a human! To combat this, take some of your old clothes or blankets and spread them around the new environment. Clothes that you've been wearing and blankets that you've been laying on will carry your scent and placing them around your new apartment will transfer the comforting scent of your cat's caretaker onto the new environment so that it smells less foreign and more like home. If you don't want clothes laying around, you can also pick a corner of your room where you want your cat to feel comfortable and make a cozy and compact nest for them there instead.
Consistency
Cats, like people, enjoy having a set routine. Moving often throws off whatever daily routine you have with your cat, which can cause stress. Try to keep your feeding and sleeping schedule as consistent as you can in your new home to give your cat the sense of safety and security that they felt in their old environment. If your old litter box was in the bathroom, keep your new litter box in the bathroom as well. Try to bring your cat's old scratching post and toys along in the move so that they have something familiar to play with. Finally, give your cat lots of love! Moving is a lot of work, and as you get caught up in unpacking and setting up furniture, your cat may begin to feel ignored at a time when they need you the most. If you make sure you continue to give your cat lots of pets and attention, and your relationship will carry you through the transition without trouble.