Settling an indoor cat into a new home abroad — how long did it take?

Sophie Dubois ⭐ Helpful member

21 Jun 2026, 04:33

My cat has been under the bed for four days since we arrived and I'm quietly heartbroken and worried. The flight and the new smells clearly rattled her. For those who moved with an indoor cat — how long until they came out and acted like themselves again, and did anything actually help speed it up?

6 replies

Emma Thompson ⭐ Helpful member

21 Jun 2026, 18:42

About two weeks for ours. We set up one room first with all her familiar items before opening up the rest of the flat gradually.

Grace Kim 🏆 Community expert

22 Jun 2026, 10:30

The under-the-bed phase is so real, ours did exactly the same thing.

Viktor Ivanov ⭐ Helpful member

23 Jun 2026, 23:37

A familiar-smelling blanket brought from the old home seemed to help more than anything we bought new for the occasion.

Paolo Bianchi ⭐ Helpful member

9 Jul 2026, 17:32

Does confining them to one room actually speed up the adjustment, or does it just delay it?

Elena Popescu ⭐ Helpful member

13 Jul 2026, 12:40

Helped in our case — gave the cat a safe, small base to retreat to rather than the whole unfamiliar space feeling overwhelming at once.

Sophie Dubois ⭐ Helpful member

25 Jul 2026, 18:06

OP here — four days already feels like forever, really appreciate all of this.