Should the cat stay in the carrier for the whole move?

Yes, a secure carrier protects your cat from stress and stops it slipping out during the moving chaos. Choose a sturdy carrier with enough ventilation and put familiar blankets inside. Short breaks in quiet places can make sense, but the cat should not roam freely in the removal van or the empty flat.

How do I calm my cat on moving day?

Gentle calming sprays with pheromones and familiar objects such as blankets or toys help many cats. Speak calmly to your animal and avoid hectic movements near it. A separate, quiet room during the actual move considerably reduces additional stress and gives the cat a sense of security.

When should I take the cat out of the flat on moving day?

Ideally, move your cat to a quiet, separate room or to friends before the actual moving work begins. This prevents it escaping through open doors or being stressed by the moving commotion . Only once all the furniture has been transported should the cat be brought back into familiar surroundings.

How do I get my cat used to the new flat quickly?

First set up a single room with food, water and a litter tray so that your cat can slowly get used to its new surroundings . Give it time to explore the rooms gradually by itself, without pushing it. Familiar smells and objects from the old flat make settling in even easier.

Does my cat need sedatives for the move?

Not every cat needs sedatives , but for very anxious animals a consultation with the vet can make sense. Natural alternatives such as pheromone sprays or Bach flower remedies are often well tolerated. It is important that any medication is discussed with a vet beforehand so as not to endanger your cat's health.

What should I have ready for the cat during the car journey?

Have a secure carrier , water, an absorbent pad and familiar blankets ready. A small litter tray can also be helpful for longer journeys. Avoid direct sunlight and make sure there is enough fresh air in the vehicle so that your cat feels comfortable on the way to its new home.

How do I make the new flat cat-proof?

Check windows, balcony doors and cables for possible hazards before you let your cat roam freely. Secure tilt windows in particular, as these can be dangerous for cats. Remove poisonous plants and make sure all escape routes, such as doors to balconies, stay closed at first until your cat has settled in.

Should I see a vet before the move?

A visit to the vet before the move is worthwhile: they read the microchip, check the cat's health and advise on calming remedies for very anxious cats. You then change the address in the pet register yourself. If you are moving to another EU country, your cat also needs a valid rabies vaccination and the EU pet passport.

How long does settling into the new flat take?

The settling-in period varies from a few days to several weeks depending on the cat's character. Give your animal enough time to get used to new smells and sounds. Retreats and familiar objects considerably speed up the process and provide more security in the new surroundings.

What do I do with the litter tray during the move?

The litter tray should be packed as late as possible and set up again immediately in the new flat. Ideally use the usual litter to give your cat a familiar smell. Place the tray in a quiet spot so that your cat can find its bearings quickly.

Can I leave my cat with friends during the move?

Yes, temporary care with familiar people can make sense to protect your cat from moving stress . What matters is that the surroundings are calm and there is contact with familiar people. Once the move is complete, bring your cat to the new flat promptly to make settling in easier.

STRESS-FREE MOVING

Moving with a cat

Q: How do I best prepare my cat for the move?

Get your cat used to moving boxes and the carrier early by placing them open in the living area. Familiar smells and favourite blankets help reduce stress. A quiet retreat on moving day is particularly important. Also allow enough time for settling in at the new flat so that your animal feels safe.

A quiet room, the familiar carrier, settling in step by step – this is how your cat gets through moving day.

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FROM BERLIN-MOABIT

Guide: cats & moving

Moving with a cat: first one room, then the whole flat

How it settles in

Unsere Firma is based in Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and clears the flat – meanwhile your cat waits in the closed room.

Cats are attached to their territory and often react to boxes, noise and strangers by withdrawing or running away. When moving with a cat, we agree with you which room stays closed until the end: the cat waits there with its carrier, water and litter tray until everything is loaded. We clear this room last, and in the new flat we set up this room's furniture first on request. This gives your private move a process you know in advance.

You transport the cat yourself: a removal company is not liable for live animals under § 451d HGB, and the cat is better off in its familiar carrier with you in the car than between furniture in the cargo area. For your removal goods we are liable under § 451e HGB at €620 per cubic metre; additional insurance is possible. We quote the price as a fixed price after a survey. If you are moving to another city, you can find routes under long-distance moves.

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PERSONAL CONSULTATION

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Fixed price after a survey

For your move with a cat, we quote a personal fixed price after a survey. Call us on 01625978461: we will discuss the date, the order of the rooms and which room stays closed for the cat until last. That way you know in advance when the carrier needs to be ready.

Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.

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DOORS SHUT

What we plan for cat owners

One room stays quiet until last

We are based in Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and agree before the first box which doors and windows stay closed, so that your cat does not slip out during the move with a pet. A sign on the cat's room shows all carriers that this door stays shut. We charge a fixed price after a survey; for your removal goods we are liable under § 451e HGB at €620 per cubic metre. Places with their own pages can be found in the locations overview.

Packing Service

We pack the litter tray, scratching post and favourite blanket last and label them, so that with the packing service the most important things are back in place first.

Office Move

If an office with an office cat is moving, we plan a closed room for the office relocation until furniture and equipment are loaded.

Senior Move

If an older person is moving with a cat, we set up the cat corner and favourite armchair first during the senior move.

Furniture Transport

We dismantle the scratching post, pad it and set it up again at the destination, so that familiar things are quickly back after the furniture transport.

PREPARATION

Six steps for cat owners

With a move with a pet, the order is what matters: the cat stays in a quiet room until last and moves into a single room first in the new flat.

Open the carrier beforehand

Put the carrier out open in the flat days beforehand and place a blanket inside – then it is no longer a strange object.

Cat room

On moving day the cat stays in a closed room with water and a litter tray; a sign on the door helps all the carriers.

Check the chip

Have the vet read the microchip and then change the address yourself in the pet register where your cat is listed.

Journey in the carrier

The cat travels in the carrier with you in the car, never loose in the vehicle and never in the furniture van – no removal company is liable for animals.

One room first

In the new flat the cat first gets one room with food, water and a litter tray before it explores the rest of the flat.

Secure the windows

Tilt windows and the balcony door stay shut for the first few days or are secured with a net until the cat has settled in.

FOR SMALL LOADS

Part loads for small volumes

The budget-friendly alternative

For smaller moves with few pieces of furniture, a shared load is often worthwhile: your removal goods travel with other consignments and you share the costs. The furniture then arrives within a time window – until then, set up a room with the essentials for the cat.

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CATS & MOVING

Your
move – fully organised

One team, every service

Besides the logistics, moving with a cat comes down to three things: a carrier it is used to, a quiet room on moving day and gradual settling in at the new flat. For very anxious animals a talk with the vet helps; sedatives are only given after consultation. For smaller moves a shared load is sometimes worthwhile. If several animals are moving, our article pets on moving day will help.

Planning safe and relaxed

Plan who looks after the cat on moving day and which room stays shut until last. That way your private move, senior move or student move stays calm – also for the animal, which does not know what is happening.

Furniture, boxes, transport routes

With a packing service, careful furniture transport and a small transport for the scratching post and litter tray, the familiar things arrive first and are quickly back in their place.

Costs, timing and special cases

The fixed price depends on volume, floor and route. With a shared load or furniture taxi a time window applies – set up the cat's room in the new flat with the essentials beforehand.

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FAQ

Frequent questions

Preparation, carrier, the journey, vet and settling in – answered briefly.

Get your cat used to moving boxes and the carrier early by placing them open in the living area. Familiar smells and favourite blankets help reduce stress. A quiet retreat on moving day is particularly important. Also allow enough time for settling in at the new flat so that your animal feels safe.

Preparation: getting your cat used to the move

Weeks before the actual moving day, leave moving boxes open in the living area so that your cat slowly gets used to the change. Put familiar blankets or toys near the carrier so that it becomes associated with positive smells. A quiet, separate room away from the moving commotion helps your cat feel safe on moving day.

Bring the carrier into the living room a few days beforehand and feed your cat in it to create positive associations. A visit to the vet to check the microchip and collar tag is also advisable before the move. That way your cat is well prepared when the removal van pulls up.

On moving day: calm and safety for your cat

On moving day, it is best to keep your cat in a separate, closed room where it stays undisturbed until the transport is complete. A sign on the door tells our movers that there is an animal inside and the door must stay closed. This stops your cat being stressed by the commotion or slipping out unnoticed.

After arriving in the new flat, it is advisable to set up just one room for the cat at first, complete with food, water and a litter tray. This lets your animal slowly get used to the new surroundings before exploring the rest of the flat. With this method, settling in is much more relaxed for everyone involved.

Your move – our prices

Whatever the size of your flat, we have the right rate: 1-room flats from €349, 2-room flats from €599, 3-room flats from €879 and 4-room flats from €1,324. Houses and villas are calculated separately – you always receive an individual quote. For long-distance moves a price from €4.15/km applies. It is best to arrange a free survey straight away to clarify all the details.

Calculating moving costs – the basics

Every price calculation is based on volume and distance (from €4.15/km). On top come the floor, lift and a possible parking restriction zone (Halteverbotszone). For furniture assembly or a shared load we are happy to prepare an individual quote.

Our services around moving

So your moving day proceeds relaxed, we offer the following services.

Home move – Your move into the new flat, well organised.

Move with assembly – Furniture assembly and disassembly included.

Company move – Your business moves without a long interruption.

Part load – cost-effective thanks to a shared load.

Clearance – professional clearing of items no longer needed.

Furniture transport – single pieces of furniture transported safely.

With a cat to another city

For moves to other cities we drive from Berlin (Stromstraße 21); the cat travels with you in its carrier. Routes can be found under long-distance moves, places with their own pages in the locations overview.

Family & Pets

Beste Umzug Redaktion

September 3, 2026

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Family & Pets Moving Tips