Moving can be extremely stressful. If it’s stressful for us, then imagine how it must feel for our pets, who don’t know what’s going on. Moving with pets adds an extra complication to your move, although good movers like Freedom Moving & Storage can help.
However, there are plenty of things you can do to help your pets deal with a move. Knowing how to move with pets correctly can make everything go smoothly for you and then.
Prepare Your New Home
Make sure that your new home is properly prepared before asking your pets to move there. If you have a fenced in yard, check that the fence is dog safe. For cats, close off vents and passageways that a scared cat can hide in in both homes. Cats will hide in the most ridiculous places. Secure window screens. Replace horizontal blinds with vertical ones cats can’t climb.
When setting up new electronics, secure and tape all wires. If you have house rabbits, get the chew proof containers set up. Check the back yard for toxic plants, including if your cats are indoor only. You might not intend for them to get out.
Acclimate to the Crate or Carrier
This is particularly important if the only time your pet usually goes in the carrier is for a trip to the vet. Take your pets on trips to interesting places. If you have a carrier-reluctant pet, feeding them in the carrier can be extremely helpful.
The last thing you want on moving day is to somebody ending up in the ER because the cat tried to shred them because she did not want to go into the carrier.
If you don’t take your dog in the car often, drive to places where they can have a fun walk. For short distance moves, consider taking your dog for a few walks in the neighborhood before you actually move them.
Reduce Change Anxiety
Pets don’t like change. Keep their routine as close to the same as possible in the time leading up to the move. Feed and walk at the same time. Get boxes early and set them out so that they become part of the environment. Cats in particular will definitely realize something is going on when you start to pack. (While packing, you may want to leave an extra box out for the cat to sit in, boxes make cats more comfortable).
Plan for Transportation
If you’re moving across town, you can just drive your pet easily enough. For longer trips, however, things can be more complicated. If you are driving a van and towing your car, your pet should stay in the van with you, in a crate and carrier. Make sure to stop frequently so your pet can stretch their legs, go to the bathroom, and get a break. Harness training a cat can make longer trips easy, although not all cats will tolerate it.
If you are driving for more than a day, book your hotel in advance and make sure it is pet friendly. You don’t want to be desperately driving around, especially in a van, looking for a motel that will take you. This is particularly important if you have a large dog, or a pet other than a dog or cat.
Avoid flying large pets if possible. If you can take your cat or small dog carry on, then this works, but make sure you research airline policies, provide health records if needed, and have a plan for if the airline refuses to allow your pet on board.
Putting dogs in the cargo hold should be avoided as much as possible. It’s highly stressful and potentially safe. If you have no other alternative, avoid peak travel times and plan for as few transfers as possible. Consider using a pet transportation company, ideally one which will transport your dog by ground.
For pets other than cats and dogs, look into species specific needs. Pocket pets may be able to simply travel in their cage, but remove any heavy or sharp animals. Animals that live in larger cages will need to go in a carrier. Same note with birds, secure bird cages with a seatbelt and keep the vents pointed at them. Reptiles should have hot water bottles or similar near their carrier. Fish are best transported in bags half filled with water, as fish tanks can easily be broken in even a minor incident. Put them in a styrofoam container.
Secure Pets During The Move
Cats and dogs can be escape artists. When the door is open during the move, secure the pet. This might mean putting them in a crate, or in a room you’ve already emptied, such as the bathroom. You might also want to send the pet to a kennel or a friend for a couple of days, out of the way.
Bear in mind that skittish pets, some cats and dogs, and also large rabbits, may try to escape by other means to get away from the stress. Keep all doors and windows closed that are not being used for the actual move. If shutting the animals in, leave them food, water, litter box or paper, and toys.
It’s even more important to confine animals at the destination. Both dogs and cats have been known to escape and try to return to their old home. They also may get out and simply get lost. Make sure their tags are on, even if they don’t normally wear a collar at home.
Pack Their Stuff Properly
The animals come first. Pack your pet’s stuff last so you can unpack it first. If transporting the pet yourself, you may want to keep their favorite toys (and certainly their favorite blankets and similar) with them. If you’re going to be waiting for movers, take their food and equipment with you so you can set up a safe space for them, in a quiet corner, where they can get used to their new environment.
Leverage Your Vet
If you’re moving far enough that you need to change vets, ask your existing vet for recommendations. Ask people in the area. Make sure you have a vet secured at the destination prior to the move.
Schedule a checkup for your animals a few weeks before you move. Make sure all vaccinations are up to date, get extra of any prescriptions they take, and make sure you get a copy of your pet’s medical records. Don’t trust that they will be transferred to your new vet.
If you know your animal will be particularly stressed by the move, ask your vet about calming supplements. Extremely nervous pets may benefit from anti-anxiety medication. If your pets are not chipped, now is a great time to do it. If they are, make sure you update their information.
When moving with pets, you need to be careful and remember that they don’t know what’s going on.
Keep everything organized and use good movers. If you’re planning on moving soon, contact Freedom Moving & Storage to talk about our stress free moving services.
