Tips For Moving With Pets
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Here are tips for moving with your pets to a new home. Planning ahead will make the transition as safe and stress-free as possible.
Number of pets, your pets age, and the health of your pet should be taken into consideration when planning your move.
You might check into daycare services for your pet on moving day so you’ll know they’re safe, and you can focus on the task at hand. You could also ask a friend or relative to keep them at their home during the move.
Have a well-laid plan in place so there is less disruption and confusion when moving with pets.
It’s a good idea to walk around the new neighborhood to determine whether the area seems safe for your pets. Be on the lookout for neighborhood dogs that seem aggressive or are left unattended.
Plan A Vet Visit Before The Move:
It is a good idea to make an appointment with your vet several weeks before your move to make sure your pet is healthy. Check to see that all vaccinations are up to date. Get a current rabies vaccination certificate if you think it might be needed.
You might also need a copy of your pet’s medical files. Ask your vet for a recommendation for a new vet if you’re leaving town. If your pet is micro-chipped, don’t forget to update their information online.
Make sure you are stocked up on your pets regular prescriptions. If you are moving to a new town, make sure to get your new vet’s name and location in case you need it. You want to prepared for emergencies.
Also check pet laws if you’re moving out of town. If you’re moving to an apartment, make sure you know the terms for having a pet in your new home. Ask about pet deposits.
If you must stay somewhere overnight during the move, make sure you know the rules for accommodations with pets.
Packing Boxes & Pet Crates:
Your pets don’t like change. So ease them into it gradually by bringing moving boxes in early. Pack boxes gradually to get them familiarized with what is different in their home.
In between packing, give your pet lots of positive attention to help ease their stress and keep them entertained. Stick to their normal routine in terms of feeding, playing, and going outside.
Many pets haven’t spent much time in crates or cars. Prepare your pet by acclimating them to their crate before moving day.
After the crates have been visible for a few days, try carrying your pet in the crate around your home. You might take a short drive with them. Provide treats at the end of crate time to make the process a positive one.
On Moving Day:
You want your pet or pets to be as comfortable as possible. Prepare a kit with pet supplies. These will include food, water bowls, and treats.
If you have a dog, make sure to pack a leash in the overnight kit. Also pack medications, grooming tools, cleaning supplies, and waste bags. If you have a cat, have everything you will need for a litter box before you arrive.
Keep your pets in a quiet room with the door shut, or at a friend’s house. This will ensure that your cat or dog won’t get scared and run away while the movers are loading up the truck.
During the moving process, try to keep your pet’s routine as normal as possible.
You may be tempted to set your dog or cat loose in the house to explore. However, a new and unfamiliar space can be overwhelming to your pets. Following these tips for moving with pets will make the process smoother.
Don’t leave a dog unattended in your backyard while you move. And make sure you have a photo of your pet in case your pet escapes.
Moving Your Pet In A Vehicle:
When moving in your vehicle, the best place for your pet is in a crate or carrier in the backseat. Secure seat belts in case of an accident. Make sure there are no loose objects or boxes that could fall and hit your pet.
If you think it will help, put a blanket over the pet crate. Talk to them in a calm manner during the drive.
Unpack Pet Items First:
Unpack your pet’s items first when you get to your new home. Seeing their familiar objects can help to make them more comfortable in their new surroundings.
Start by putting your pet in one room of your new home. Put favorite toys, food, water, and water bowls in the room. Set up a litter box for cats. Gradually introduce them to other rooms but keep other doors shut.
Pet Proof Your New Home:
It is a good idea to pet-proof your new home. Tuck away electrical cords and plug up nooks where your pet could get stuck. Make sure all the windows have secure screens.
Look to see if there are any pest-control poison traps that have been left anywhere in the house. And finally, check outdoors for any poisonous plants that could harm them.
Planning ahead will help your pet have an easier transition in their new surroundings. Follow these tips for moving with pets to make the experience better for both you and your pet.
Welcome to your new home!
Great post! Wish I’d had this advice before my last move. Will be saving this. Thanks.
Sandra
All good advice! I hadn’t thought about updating the microchip information online. My dog has a collar with her name, my name, and my cell phone number on it, in case she ever gets lost. She also visits my son’s house, regularly, so I’d just leave her there. I don’t have a cat, but if I did, I like Teresa’s comment about locking them in a room with a sign saying the pets are inside. I also think, in addition to their familiar toys, that giving your animal a blanket or clothing with your scent on it will help to comfort them. Do you think Ivy knows something’s going on? She’s a pretty smart kitty, not to mention she’s been through it before.
That reminded me of my first move with a pet. I left my cat August in the last room to be moved with the door closed. When that room was ready to go, I put her in her cage while we finished, By then it was dark and I couldn’t find her in the cage. We looked for quite a while, I was devastated and felt horrible for being such a bad cat mom. Later when we got ready to leave, I heard a meow. She was scared and she squashed herself at the very back of the cage in her blanket where we couldn’t see her. She was black. Happy dance then finished relocating to new home that she loved.
I made sure that when I moved that I put big sign on the door that the pets were in. Do not open! Pets inside! Even better if you can lock that door so that no accidents happen.
Many years ago, my youngest brother and his family moved out of their home. They thought they had their cat secured but when they went to get her in the room she was supposed to be in, she wasn’t there. Panic ensued. They tore the house apart, dug through boxes, searched for blocks outside, all to no avail. They had to move, new owners would be coming the next day, so they left after notifying their neighbors and the family that would be moving in the next day about the cat’s disappearance and left contact information in case they saw a cat – any cat. My brother went back to the house daily to check around outside to see if their cat had reappeared and was around the house. They also had a check at the local Humane Society. Some of the rooms in their new home hadn’t been fully painted, so some of their furniture went to a storage facility temporarily. Three days after the move, my brother went to the storage facility to check it – just in case, although they had pretty much lost hope by that time they would ever find their cat. When he raised the metal door he heard meows but he couldn’t see the cat! Some time while the move was taking place, she hid in a box mattress. He was just thrilled to find her, got her home and she was fine after eating and drinking a lot of water. The next move they made many years later they made sure their dog and the same now elderly cat were kept safe and secure at his in-laws’ home.
Oh my! What a story! As I was reading I kept hoping there was a good ending. And there was.