Dogs and cats are creatures of habit and they can have trouble breaking away from their daily routine and leaving their comfortable and familiar surroundings.
Cats and dogs are very sensitive creatures who enjoy their set routine, love the comfort of their home and feel safe and protected by the familiar surroundings. Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they will not fail to react to an impending move. However, how strongly your animal friends react to the relocation will depend on a number of factors, such as their specific breed, relative age, distance of the move, mode of transportation and most importantly – the love and cares they receive from their owners during the highly transitional period called moving.
How to move house with pets? Read the following pet relocation tips to find out what you can do to make the move less stressful and confusing for your loyal friends.
Pre-Move Preparations
The days leading to your moving day will be rather confusing for your dog or cat. They can easily sense the building moving stress in the form of uncharacteristically loud noises, chaotic piles of moving boxes and a score of unknown faces coming in and going out the house. When moving house with dogs and cats, your pet won’t be able to understand the reasons for these changes and will grow more and more anxious the each passing day. And the worst part of moving with your pet is that you don’t speak their language and therefore, you can’t possibly explain to them what is happening at the moment and what lies ahead. Nevertheless, there are a few important things you can do to reduce the anxiety of your dog or cat and show them how much you care for them.
Taking your dog or cat to the vet’s office for a complete checkup is a must-do step before the move.
Show your love: Yes, getting ready to move house is an arduous process which will most likely take up all your time, attention and energy. Without a doubt, if compiled the right way, your moving calendar will be filled to the brim with various relocation tasks while free time will be a luxury you will seldom enjoy. And yet, your pets (and your children, of course) will definitely be the ones in dire need of attention and affection. Prioritize your free time no matter how scarce it is and make sure you are there for your cat or dog to respond to their needs in this period of constant changes, as well as to drive away their fears and worries with quality playtime.
Visit your vet: It’s essential that you take your cat or dog to the veterinarian for a full medical checkup before the actual move. Moving with pets across the country may turn out to be tougher than you thought and your pet friend needs to face the new stage in their life in good health. While at the vet’s office, ask the doctor for any last-minute expert tips before the trip to your new home, as well as recommendations for a good colleague veterinarian in the city you’re moving to. Finally, be sure to get copies of your pet’s medical records which you are expected to hand over to your new vet.
Visit your new home: Sometimes it might be possible to visit your new house or apartment, especially if you’re performing a local move. If this is the case, you are advised to take advantage of this unique opportunity to ease the initial shock of your pet when the entire family steps over the threshold of your new residence. Besides your cat or dog, such exploratory visits will surely prove beneficial for your children as well.
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“I’m ready to go. Buckle up and let’s hit the road!”
When the culmination of the long moving preparations knocks on your door, think of how to provide a safe environment for your dog or cat. Moving day is the day when anything can happen, so you need to be extra vigilant and keep accidents away from your doorstep.
Having your pet roaming free among the intricate maze of removals’ feet and moving boxes is a bad idea indeed. Keep your dog and cat in a separate room and keep an eye on them on a regular basis. If you notice any worrisome changes in their behaviour, leave your animal friend with a trusted neighbor or a good friend until the hired professional removal team is gone.
The transportation of your cat or dog to your new home rests with you because pets fall into the category of non-allowable items and removal companies will not agree to relocate them for you. Thus said, you are left with three options: move your pet with your own vehicle, fly with your pet to your new city or hire specialized pet transportation services.
The trip in your own family vehicle will be more pleasant for each family member of you bring something from your already old home to comfort your cat or dog on the journey. Consider taking your pet’s most loved blanket, preferred toys, and favorite food treats so that the fundamental link with their old world keeps them from getting too scared while on the road. If you are forced to spend the night at a hotel or motel, don’t forget to check in advance if the accommodation is pet friendly. You should never leave your best animal friend to spend the night in your car.
In order to move your cat or dog on the plane with you, the very first step is to contact the airline company you have chosen and ask them about any specific regulations and requirements they may have for transporting pets. In most cases, two distinctive things are required to relocate your pet by air – a health certificate issued by a licensed vet that clears the cat or dog for air travel and a suitable shipping container. Provide food and water to your loyal companion around 4 hours before the flight and be sure to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before take-off.
You can also entrust your dog or cat to a professional pet transportation company if the two previous options are not good enough for you (and if you can afford it, of course). Expert pet carriers will make sure your pet is taken good care of and reaches your new address safe and sound. Leave them specific handling instructions and your phone number in case of emergency.
Post-Move Acclimatization
The period right after moving into your new home can prove to be rather confusing and disorientating for your dog or cat. Make sure you keep a watchful eye on your pet, respond to their needs and secure your house or apartment so that they won’t escape in a desperate attempt to comprehend better the unfamiliar surroundings.
After the move, it’ll take some time before your cat or dog regains their former confidence.
When moving your pet across the country, your animal friend may start experiencing separation anxiety which is usually characterized by excessive barking or meowing, fear when left on their own or loss of appetite. Do your best to spend more time with your cat or dog, engage them in entertaining games and show them the new residence through play.
The golden rule of the following acclimatization period is to give your little friends enough time to get used to the change. Depending mostly on the breed, age and the cares they receive, some dogs and cats will have it much easier than others, but eventually your pet should bounce back in their usual self a few weeks. In case the abnormal behavioural patterns persist, contact a good veterinarian in your new city and ask for advice or schedule a visit.
Dogs and cats have much more developed senses of smell than humans, and they can easily register any traces of other pets who may have lived before in the house or apartment. To avoid unnecessary territorial markings or signs of hostile behaviour, clean your new home thoroughly to get rid of any residual canine or feline scents.
Dogs vs. Cats
Although the process of moving house with your dog or cat should be carried out in a very similar fashion, there are some specific differences between the two types of relocation.
How To Move House With Dogs
The sooner your dog finds suitable playmates after the move, the better.
As a dog owner, you know that dogs are very territorial creatures so your pooch will probably not be too excited about leaving their familiar and hard-earned territory behind. Your dog needs reassurance that things will be alright, so the best way to give them the courage to face the new challenges is to talk to your friend. Explain to them in plain English the reasons behind the upcoming change and how you’re both going to have to work together for a happy relocation ending.
Dogs need and want their walks. When you’re moving your dog in your car, don’t forget to stop frequently along the way and calm down your pet’s nerves with brief refreshing walks. Of course, keep the leash on, for moving brings a certain degree of unpredictability for all participants involved.
During the first several days in your new home, take your dog on short exploratory leashed trips around the new neighbourhood. In the best case scenario, your new home will be located close to a city park where your pet can meet and play with other dogs, which in turn will significantly accelerate the adaptation process of your loyal friend.
How To Move House With Cats
Remember to transport your cat only in a specialized pet carrier for safety reasons.
Cats are known to be very vulnerable when taken away from their comfort zone and more often than not, they prove to be more problematic to move to a new home than dogs. The main concern for cat owners is the increased possibility of their sensitive friend to just run away scared and confused. And this is exactly why your cat should always be transported in a specialized carrier, even when they are travelling in the car with you.
Once you arrive at your new house or apartment, keep your cat confined to one safe room for the first several days with sufficient food, water, and favourite toys. This will let your friend get used to the new smells, sounds and sights without being too overwhelmed. Later, show your cat the new settings slowly, room by room but make sure there are no open doors or windows to eliminate the risk of a sudden escape.
Moving is a stressful affair as it is, even without adding the additional worries that moving house with a dog or cat can bring about. The above tips on moving with dogs and cats will help you have a relatively trouble-free pet relocation to another part of the country.
Besides multiplying the attention, playtime and treats for your furry friends, perhaps the most important moving advice you can ever receive and then follow when moving house with your dog or cat is to remain cool-headed before, during and after the move.
Why? Dogs and cats are able to pick up on human emotions and the more self-controlled, composed and assured you sound and act, the more relaxed, peaceful and calm they will remain during the move.
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