The First Time We Moved Houses With Gogo 🐾

The first time we had to move houses with Gogo was challenging in ways we had never imagined.

We were moving from one rented apartment to another, and honestly, we had no idea what to expect. There wasn’t much information available online about moving homes with cats, and we didn’t personally know any pet parents who had gone through the experience either.

So, like we had done with every major step since adopting Gogo—we planned as much as we could.

We decided that I would take Gogo to the new apartment early in the morning before the movers and packers arrived. To make things slightly easier for ourselves, I had already started packing most of the fragile kitchen items nearly a week in advance. Thankfully, my house help, Nidhi, was always around and incredibly supportive throughout the process.

Even with all the planning, we were both nervous.

Cats are creatures of familiarity and routine. A new environment, unfamiliar smells, and loud noises can all feel overwhelming for them.

Introducing Gogo to the New House

Gogo and I reached the empty apartment early in the morning.

I kept him safely inside his carrier while I swept and mopped the floors, so the space would feel clean and comfortable enough for him to explore.

Once everything was ready, I slowly let him out.

Curious as always, he cautiously began walking around the house—sniffing corners, observing walls, and quietly mapping out this unfamiliar place that would soon become home.

Meanwhile, my husband stayed back at the old apartment, handling the chaos of movers and packers, supervising the loading process, and eventually bringing everything to the new house.

That’s when the difficult part truly began.

The Chaos After the Move

The real challenge began once the unloading started.

Heavy furniture was dragged around. Beds were being assembled. Boxes were everywhere. Dust filled the air. The house became noisy and chaotic within minutes.

And Gogo was terrified.

To keep him safe and calm, I carried him around in his carrier bag almost the entire time while the setup continued around us.

By the time the workers finally left in the evening, we were exhausted—but the house still felt far from livable.

The floor was dusty.
Boxes were scattered everywhere.
Our cupboard hadn’t been assembled yet.
And to make things worse, there was no AC installed.

All of this was happening in the middle of summer.

What worried us most wasn’t the mess—it was Gogo’s health.

A while ago, Gogo had suffered from a ringworm infection that he had caught during a stay at a cat sitter’s house. Ever since then, we had become extremely cautious about dust, dirt, and hygiene around him.

So despite being physically drained, both my husband and I stayed alert the entire night, making sure he didn’t get access to dusty corners, fragile objects, or anything unsafe.

Honestly, we barely slept.

Between the heat, the unpacked house, and the constant anxiety of keeping Gogo safe, it felt like one of the longest nights we had experienced.

The Moment He Finally Felt Safe

The next day, the carpenter and the AC installation team arrived at the same time.

And the moment everything was finally set up, something changed.

As soon as the cupboard was assembled and the room became cool, Gogo quietly climbed inside the cupboard, curled himself into his little comfort position, and fell asleep.

For six straight hours.

It was almost as if he had finally found the one thing he had been searching for since the move began—

A small, enclosed space that carried the familiar scent of our clothes, where he finally felt safe enough to let his guard down.

The AC also made a huge difference. During summers especially, a cool environment helps cats regulate their body temperature better and reduces the stress caused by heat and overstimulation.

And while he slept peacefully, we finally got the chance to properly set up the house.

What This Experience Taught Us

That move taught us a lesson we will never forget.

Now, whenever we move houses in the future—regardless of the situation—the first things we will set up are the cupboard and the AC.

Because for cats, comfort is not luxury.
It is security.

Having a cool, enclosed, quiet space filled with familiar scents helped Gogo regulate his stress far more than we had expected.

What We Learned About Cats During Moves

Cats generally prefer enclosed and familiar spaces when they feel overstimulated, anxious, or scared.

If you are moving houses with a cat:

• Always ensure they have constant access to food, water, and their litter box
• Avoid exposing them to loud drilling or hammering noises whenever possible
• Create a quiet, enclosed “safe zone” for them early during the move
• During summers, ensure the room is cool enough for them to stay comfortable
• Give them time to adjust at their own pace instead of forcing exploration
• Cover their carrier and place a T-shirt that you wear regularly inside it to help them feel comforted by a familiar scent

Sometimes, what looks like “hiding” is simply their way of feeling safe again.

And honestly, watching Gogo slowly settle into our new home reminded us of something simple—

Home is not just a place.
It’s where they finally feel safe enough to sleep peacefully again.