We all love our pets, and we always want them to be comfortable throughout their lives. When it comes to moving, it’s a turbulent time and stressful for our furry friends.
Keep their fears at bay with our top suggestions for moving with a cat or dog!
Think and Plan Ahead
Procrastination and rushing through the process will not help your pets in this situation. Instead, thinking and planning ahead will save you a lot of trouble down the road. Before you move, ensure your pets are up to date on vaccinations and parasite treatments, and ensure you have all their medications, etc., on hand.
Change your pet’s microchip details so the chip is registered to your new address. You may need a new veterinarian, depending on how far you’re relocating.
Is a Kennel or Cattery a Better Choice?
Think about a kennel or cattery as a choice as part of your planning process. If you decide this is the right direction for you, you’ll want to set up your dog or cat’s stay several weeks ahead of time, particularly during busy times of the year. (Definitely don’t procrastinate on this step.) If your pet is extremely nervous and you know a kennel or a cattery isn’t right, see if your pet can live with friends or family while you are busy moving.
Acquaint Your Pet with Its Carrier.
You’ll be using your pet’s carrier a lot when moving, so it’s best to get them used to it. Place it in your living room or the place where your pet spends a lot of time. They will most likely get used to it (and not just associate it with going to the vet!)
Also, try putting treats in the carrier – they might even like it – and if the carrier severely stresses your pet, ask your veterinarian about various pheromones that can calm them down. You can also try Vetpro: Stress and Anxiety Capsules to calm your pet’s nerves.
Cats Will Be Cats
We recommend you get a temporary ID tag for your cat if your cat is an outdoor cat. Even if your cat’s microchip details are updated in time for moving day, it’s still wise to have a plan B. If you’re moving locally, it will take a while before your cat stops returning to its old home. As a result, your cat may get lost along the way.
Before you leave your original home, talk to the people moving in. Tell them about your cat and give them your details so they can contact you if necessary.
Include Your Pets on Your Moving Day
On moving day, try designating one room—in the house you’re leaving and in the house you’re moving into—as the “pet room.” This is where your pet stays during the heavy-lifting ordeal. Try to make the room nice and quiet. Furthermore, surround your pet with toys, blankets, beddings and other familiar items. Then, you, or someone from your family or friends, should check on your pet regularly. Or the person can stay with the pet all the time. The more comfortable and relaxed your pet feels during the move, the better. Setting up the pet room way before moving day is a good idea.
When you move out, remove your pet from their pet room at the last minute and immediately place them in the designated area of your new house. Immediately unpack their toys, and if your pet is having trouble adjusting to the new environment, you can try scenting your pet to make it more pleasant. Pheromones and anything that smells like your pet will help a lot. Also, be sure to remove the smell of any previous pets before you move in! If you’re moving long distances, be sure to include plenty of toilet stops.
Keep Your Usual Routine
Put your pet’s bed in a similar location, keep the feeding times the same, and follow any rules you’ve set. For example, if you don’t allow your pet upstairs, keep it that way. If you’ve moved nearby, try to take your dog out for a walk along old routes while it adjusts to its new home.
It’s best not to wash your pet’s bedding for about a week before moving out so your pet’s blankets will smell like familiar surroundings and make it feel more comfortable.
The only exception to this rule is when you move, keep your cat indoors for two weeks before letting it go outside. If your cat spends its time outdoors, take extra care to keep the litter box clean during this time.
If you are moving with Ark Relocation and have any concerns about your pets, don’t hesitate to contact a member of our team and we will help you as much as we can.
My Story: Gabby Gomes of Ark Relocation
I’m Gabby Gomes, the heart and soul behind Ark Relocation in Milton Keynes. With over three decades in the moving industry, I’ve steered Ark Relocation to be a trusted name, offering everything from house removals to commercial relocations. We’ve also ventured into European and International removals, ensuring seamless transitions for our clients, whether near or far.
