My kitty China Girl is about 14. She's mostly been a house cat & if she does go outdoors, she stays close to the house. She's always been litter trained but lately, we have been packing because we are moving down state this summer. I have left some boxes that have been partially packed opened and China Girl has mistaken them for litter boxes and I have had to toss some stuff. What is she doing? I did catch her in a box the other day and chased her out and watched her walk to her litter box. Is she losing her mind or mad because she knows we are moving again? She has been through a few moves in her life time. Mary UPDATE~ 8-25-2008~ China Girl has adjusted well to the move including the 5 hour drive from the old place to the new place. She is a Queen & knows it. She is currently sitting next to me on the couch up on her soft pillow purring for me. TYVM EVERYONE for your responses!! I feel for those that have lost a beloved pet, my pets are my children & I do know how horrible I'd feel if something horribly happened. Mary in Camden, MI. USA

I have heard of this behavior before in older cats when suddely their life is not what it was.  They get disoriented and it will take come time for them to get recalibrated in your new home.  Make sure to give them extra special attention and a new play toy and treats will help.  make sure to also close the boxes so they don't use them for a litter box.

 Hope this gets done and you cat gets back to noral soon.

 SJG

   Sounds to me like China Girl is really upset about the move.  Cats generally do not like changes, and as they get older the dislike grows!  A well trained Housecat does not "mistake" where her Cat Box is.  She is telling you the best way she can that she is really, REALLY UPSET!

Try talking to her gently, and keep reasuring her that this move is for the best, that she will not be left behind, etc.  When you get down close to them, and look them in the eyes and talk to them they do understand what you are saying through "mental images."  Cats communicate with each other telepathicly through their thoughts.  So, as you gently talk to her, visualize what you are saying in your own mind.  China Girl will pick up on your mental images, so think very positive things about her and the impending move.  She just needs your assurance that things are okay and that you will be with her.  Remember, no matter how old your Cat gets, her mental age is about that of a Human five year old.  I hope this helps you.  Madame Joanne

Have China Girl checked out for kidney faliure. My old cat started to pee in the bedroom and in boxes too. at 1st i thought of her as a bad kitty until i took her to the vet. I switched her cat food for a type that would help her kidneys. i don't remeber what the lower ingerdiet i was looking for. but it helped. along with an extra cat box closer to where she needed one. have her checked out. if it is kidney failureit's better to cach it early so you can adjust her diet and she'll do better.

I would visit her vet before moving just to make sure this isnt a kidney problem since she is an older cat. But it could very well be you are upsetting her realm.

 I've been to this kind of experience before.What i can say is thats normal.Cats have this thing or maybe an instinct of familiarity in where he stays.They kinda go crazy if they notice your moving.My experience is i lost my very own cat just because we move to a different house,its some sort of a culture shock to them.My cat just ran away,and from that time i never saw him again.

I'm very sorry to hear that you lost your Cat when you moved.  That's just heartbreaking.  I have never gotten over losing my pure bred Siamese, Tiglon, under similar circumstances. 

After that I developed a plan which has proven very helpful when I have to move. It's so very important to make your Cat feel "included" whenever you need to move, whether they are young or old.  Moving is a pain, that's true, and sometimes we tend to ignore our pets because we have so much on our minds, and that can really freak any Cat out.  Remember to talk quietly to them, almost like you are purring, as you pet them.  Look into their eyes and envision the move in your mind, and include THEM in your vision.  Cats pick up mentally on your mental pictures.  You have to reassure them that THEY are going with you, that it will be better where you are taking them, and (even though it sounds a little goofy) actually ask THEM to assist you.  With each box you open to pack, invite them to "inspect" it first.  The more interaction as you pack, the better. 

Make sure they have a Carrier that they actually like, and keep it out and handy.  Our Cat, Moonshadow, absolutely hated his large plastic Carrier.  Last Christmas we purchased a new "soft" Carrier that unzips at both ends, netting on each side so he can see out, has a Birdie inside to play with, and a soft matt inside that easily lifts out for washing.  Moonshadow absolutely LOVES it!  We leave it down, open on both ends, and he will sleep in it and play in it. 

When you actually begin to move things out, keep your Cat in the Carrier and keep it with you at all times.  DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, LEAVE YOUR PET BEHIND AS YOU TRANSPORT A LOAD TO THE NEW PLACE, EVEN IF YOU FULLY INTEND TO RETURN FOR THEM LATER!  They will feel abandoned for sure if you do!  Dogs can be just as sensitive as Cats, too.  I had a Dog actually come up behind me and bite me on the back of my leg one time.  Turned out he had been left behind as his owners transported their things, and by the time they came back for him he had destroyed the inside of the old apartment, broken out, and I was the third person he had bitten.  He was really angry, and they had to put him down.  A real tragedy!

When you get to your new place, Cat in Carrier in hand, make sure all doors and windows are closed, and gently introduce your Cat to their new place:  Put their Carrier down right next to where you put down their old familiar food and water dishes, full, and next carry them to where you want them to use their old familiar Litter Box, and show them that all their old toys and there for them to play with.  Next, pick them up and while petting and talking to them, walk around and let them see everything, then set them down and let them explore as you tag along behind.  Give them plenty of time and patience.  When you unpack, let them play in the empty boxes and wrappings.  When it's time to go to bed, put their Carrier where you want them to sleep (preferably at the foot of your old familiar bed in your new bedroom), and don't forget their same old heated Cat Bed (if you have one of those).

Cats are very sensitive creatures.  If you keep them close to you and make them feel that the things that are most important to them are still there in the new surroundings you will be ahead of the game.  Love, attention, reassurance, and patience.  They just need to feel SAFE AND LOVED!

 Thats very nice of you,thanks for the concern.I will  remember all the points you've said.I really miss my cat.

I feel your pain, I realy do.  When I lost Tiglon I nearly went crazy.  I canvased the neighborhood with posters, spent months chasing false leads, checked with all the Animal Shelters until everyone knew me by first name, but never found her.  However, I knew that she was really smart, and exceedingly beautiful, so she hopefully found a new family. 

Tiglon was so beautiful that one time I had two little girls carrying a big box come up tp me one sunny afternoon when both my Siamese Cats were playing on the front lawn and ask me to help them get "that Cat" into the box so they could take her home.  I was really SHOCKED!  I had to take a few deep breaths before I could gently explain to the little girls that "that Cat" was MY cat, and that I had had her since her birth and had the papers to prove it.  They were very disappointed. 

I still pray to this day that Tiglon's beauty and great personality found her a good, loving home.  I pray that YOUR Cat also did the same. 

Too bad I didn't have a Pettag Collar on Tiglon with an I.D. Tag when I lost her.   We didn't have Pettags back then.  I'm so happy that we have them now.  In fact, Moonshadow now owns six sets, just in case.

 I'm sure Tiglon is in a safe and loving home right now.Too bad you did not have the chance to have her again.I wish the same for my cat.By the way my cats name is kuting.

How long ago did you lose Kuting?

 Its been a year now since i lost kuting.I just one hope day she would come back.but i know that wont happen.I hope she is still alive.

So do I.  She could still turn up, you know.  Years ago I had two friends who lived in Haight Ashbury, San Francisco.  The had a beautiful Siamese Cat named Chickie, and they kept a Bell on her Collar so they could hear her wherever she was, and they never let her out.  Well, she learned how to trot and keep the Clapper in the Bell from making any noise.  Smarty Cat!  She managed to slip past my friend, Bill, one day and took off!  They both searched for her for well over a year, and finally gave up.

Believe it or not, almost ten years later as my Bill was driving home he absolutely could not find a parking place for his Motorcycle close to their house.  So, he had to park a few blocks away and walk.  It was a Saturday night, and as he passed this one house where a boistrous party was going on, he looked up and at the top of the steps he saw the Front Door was wide open, and there was a Siamese Cat that he thought looked just like Chickie!  Without thinking about it he called her name, the Cat turned to look at him and cried back as she ran down the steps and into his arms!  He didn't even pause to think about it, he put her inside of his Motorcycle Helmet and took her home!

Two years after that they had to find her another home because they had moved to Manhattan Beach and couldn't keep her.  I adopted Chickie, The Wonder Cat, and she came to live with me for about one year.  One day she disappeared, and when I was going door to door with a photograph of both of my Siamese Cats, Rasputin and Chickie, I chanced upon a home where the family pointed to Chickie in the photograph and told me, "That's our new Cat!"  Oh, my, I had to tell them that she was my Cat, and I thanked them for being so kind to her, told them that if she chooses to visit them every once in awhile it was okay but to please not feed her because she was older and on a special diet.   Well, they knew who I was and where I lived, and Chickie just insisted on going out, and then one day she didn't come back and I found out that the family she liked to visit had just moved away.  I just know they took Chickie with them.  What an interesting life that Chickie led.  Once she had tasted freedom she just couldn't be kept inside.  Cats are notorious for "adopting" more than one home at a time!

Anyway, the point I was trying to make before I got deterred, was that it's only been a year since you lost your sweet baby.  Miracles do happen, and I firmly believe in the power of prayer.  Since your Cat ran away just after you moved she may have tried to get back to your old location.  Are you in touch with anyone from your old neighborhood?  Have you notified anyone there that she is lost?  I wouldn't give up if I were you.  She was obviously very special to you.  Keep putting notices up, keep checking with the Shelters, just don't give up.  Pray with all your heart that you will find her, and pray that if you don't that at least she has found a good home.  Go to your old neighborhood with flyers with her photo and how to contact you and deliver them to every single home you can find.  You just never know.

 I almost tried everything i guess.But you just gave me hope.And your story is very touching.I feel much better now.I suddenly felt the urge to start the search again.I hope i will experience a story  just like yours.And i do believe in Miracles,Thank you very much for the concern.

You are very welcome!  Keep in touch. My prayers are with you.