Moving an outdoor cat

Question
We are moving to a new home and want to take our 2 outside cats with us.  The new house is about 5 miles away.  The cats will be about 2 years old when we move.  If I crate them in the garage for a while will that work?  Thanks.

Answer
Hi Karol.  I'm not sure if you're intending to bring these kitties with you and keep them as outside cats.  If so, there's a bit of a complication.  Cats have what's called a homing instinct.  They've got a cluster of magnetized cells in their brains that act as a compass to point them toward home when they are taken away.  Cats have been known to make it back home over thousands of miles when their family moves.  If you allow your kitties outdoors when you get to the new place, chances are good they'll disappear, and most likely reeappear in your old neighborhood.  I had a cat who traveled several miles back to our old home when we moved - three times.

It takes 3-6 months for the magnetized cells to be reprogrammed to the cat's new home.  If you want to be sure you won't lose your kitties, you'd really need to keep them indoors for a minimum of three months.  Keeping them in a garage during that time should be okay IF it will not become too hot or cold, they have plenty of toys to keep them entertained, a scratching post, and of course, food, water, and litter.  I wouldn't recommend crating them, though.  If their activity is limited, as it would be in a crate, they will suffer from muscle atrophy, and they'll become weak and will have difficulty with small things (like running, jumping, and climbing) once they're let back out.

Ideally, I'd love to see you keep your kitties indoors permanently.  It's the safest place for them.  The average lifespan of an indoor cat is 12-15 years, while the average lifespan of indoor/outdoor cats is only 3-4 years, and only 1-2 years for outdoor only cats.  And by the time your cats stay inside long enough for their inner compass to rework itself, they'll be accustomed to living indoors only.

Best wishes to you all!

Jessica