Tips on How to Move with Your Pet
Whether you are looking at a new house, just moved, or are planning for the future, taking your pet into consideration during this time is important. Knowing how to prepare and guide them through this big life change will be beneficial for you and your pet, making the transition smooth and stress-free!
Preparing Your Pet Before the Move
You can best prepare your pet by slowly acclimating them to the types of situations, environments, and equipment they will see during a move, before you even begin the move. You can bring out packing materials, like boxes and tape, to have them explore and get used to having around, before you even fill them. Making this exposure a positive and fun experience will help them to adjust from the moving out period to the moving in period. You can even make it a game by having your cats play on and around empty boxes or hide treats under empty boxes for your dog to find. If they are at all scared or reactive to noises, practicing with a tape dispenser or other noises associated with the move while still in their familiar environment will help.
Make sure to stick to their daily routines as much as possible during the move. If you reduce their walks and exercise or throw off their feeding schedule as you get closer to the move it can be stressful and can make the actual move even harder for them. We understand this can be hard the busier you get with the move, but it will be easier in the long run with your pets’ anxiety and stress being well managed throughout the entire process. Keeping them active in general can help reduce some of their stress as they get anxious with the changes in general, even if they don’t do much normally.
Leading up to the moving day, cats and dogs should be handled differently.
Dogs should be involved with the packing and moving of boxes and be able to explore freely as these changes occur. Having them isolated or crated as these changes happen, especially if they are not crate trained, will frustrate them which can lead to behaviors like hyperactivity, barking, or jumping.
If at all possible, take them on a few walks in the new neighborhood to get them familiar with all the new scents and smells, so it is not so strange once you move. You can even allow them to hang out in the new house, if you are able to go inside early.
Cats can be kept in an empty room with the door shut, while things are gradually being moved in and out to separate them from the chaos and reduce their overall anxiety. This will also reduce the risk of them running out of the open door as you move. Just make sure to include a sign on the door, so no one accidentally lets them out during all the activity!
If you have access to your new home in advance, it is important to deep clean it so that old scents from previous pets are no longer present. This can add to the stress for your pets as they move in and cats are especially sensitive to this. Make sure to check your back yard for hazards like metal, wiring, exposed lawn edging, or other foreign objects that could cause injury to your pet could or toxins they could potential ingest.
Moving Day
If at all possible, try to find someone to watch your pet on the actual moving day. This should be someone that your pet is familiar with, but that will not be involved with helping you for the physical moving aspect at all. This will help your pet to relax away from the chaos with someone they trust, while giving you peace of mind that they are being taken care of. It also reduces the risk of losing your pet as you juggle the move to your new home.
When you are actually physically ready to move them, be aware if they are usually nauseous for air or car travel. Plan accordingly by feeding several small meals that day to reduce the chance of vomiting. You can also ask your Veterinarian if additional medications may be necessary, especially for longer distances of travel.
After the Move
Slowly introduce them to the new house. This is also done differently between dogs and cats.
For cats, leave them in one room of the new house when first introducing them. Make sure their litterbox is out with access to food and water. As they settle in, slowly allow them further access to the rest of the house.
For dogs, walk them through the house on a leash with you for the initial tour. This will give them a sense of security to be near you and not over stimulate them all at once by having run of the entire house right away. Once they have seen the house with you nearby you can allow them to walk around on their own.
Another tip for both cats and dogs that is good for any move or new environment is having their safe space established. Have a corner or spot in the house that is designated for them with their bed and favorite blanket or toy. This should be a place that they feel they can retreat to, so it should not be a high traffic area. Once established in your old house, it can then be transferred to your new house and your pet will settle in much faster to their same items. Pheromones such as Adaptil or Feliway can be used in this area as well to help promote and encourage a sense of calm while reducing stress. Thundershirts are an additional aid to prevent anxiety throughout the move.
Don’t forget to schedule out an initial exam with a new vet in your area if the move has been long distance. This will help create a good baseline for the Veterinarian to see your pet at a healthy state so that if anything changes, they already know your individual pets “normal” and can better treat any issue that arise later on.
So next time you decide to get that new house, just consider the entire process for your pet to make the best move for all of you!
See links below for videos with additional information when traveling and moving with your pet!
Cats:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-XnKG67whE
Dogs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-0m7GNVNjc
Resources:
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/moving-your-pet
https://www.purina.com/articles/dog/training/tips-for-moving-with-dogs-and-cats