Moving With Your Pet

Moving is stressful- for you & your pets!

Here are some things to keep in mind when you are PREPARING to MOVE.

Preparation is everything! While packing, try to organize your moving boxes in one room, so that your pet doesn’t scratch or chew up all of your moving supplies. Puppies combined with bubble-wrap, tape & cardboard isn’t going to end well.

Make sure to pack all of your pet’s essential belongings in a separate, clearly-labeled bag. You’ll want to take this with you to get through the moving day & the immediate days following. Pet items to consider bringing with you, include:

* Poop bags

* A few favorite toys

* Something for your dog to chew on

* Leash

* Kitty litter, box & scooper

* A crate, doggy gate or carrier

* Blanket/bed

* Water & food bowls

* Food (if you are bringing raw food, bring a cooler with ice to keep it fresh while you travel)

* Treats

Also consider:

- Don't wait until moving day to introduce the crate. Introducing your kitty to their cat carrier by placing treats inside & cozying the space up with a blanket. Many dogs find their crate to be a place of comfort, especially if they are crate-trained. You want to create a positive association with the crate.

- Take your dog for a walk around the new house & neighborhood before the move. For dogs, smell is the most important sense they possess, so introducing your pet to the common smells around the home is a great way to make them feel comfortable in their new surroundings.

- Make sure your dog/cat has identification. Get a tag with your name & phone number.

- Finally, if you’re moving to a new area, begin your research for a new veterinarian ASAP. Also, make sure to look up & write down the addresses & phone numbers of the closest pet emergency hospitals & 24-hour care centers. If something unexpected happens to your pet during the moving process, it’s best to be prepared.

ON MOVING DAY

Figure out a way to keep your pets contained during the chaos of the day & keep them in the quietest area possible. Unfortunately, moving day involves a lot of open doors, & – if you’re not careful – ways for your pets to escape. Desperately searching for your beloved cat or dog on the streets of your new neighborhood is the last way you want to spend the first night in your new home.

Ways to keep your dog or cat contained include:

- keeping them in a crate;

- installing a gate in a doorframe;

- sending them to a pet daycare;

- or having someone else watch them during the day.

If you’re helping to load & unload moving boxes, you won’t be able to watch your pet as carefully as you may like. Given that it is a new neighborhood, it’s also much more likely that if your pet escapes, they’ll become hopelessly lost. For this reason, make sure your pet has a tag with its name & phone number on it during moving day.

Take the pet to the new house in your own vehicle. Cats & small dogs can be put in a carrier in the back seat, which can then be secured with a seatbelt. A bigger dog can be moved in a kennel in the back of the car; you may need to put seats down if possible. Some animals feel more comfortable if you throw a blanket over their carrier during the car ride, so they can't see the environment changing outside.

Move the house before you move the pet. Set up as much as you can, even just in a room, before you introduce the animal to the new home. Confine them to a section of the house while they slowly adjust to their surroundings. Give your pet lots of attention & introduce familiar objects like toys or blankets as soon as possible. Make them feel as at home as you do!

SETTLING IN

Adjusting to a new environment can be difficult for some pets. While dogs may have an easier time getting used to their new home, cats usually have a harder time adjusting at first. The best thing you can do for either pet is to maintain consistent mealtime & bedtime routines for your dog or cat. Make a designated place in the new home for their food & water bowls, their bed, as well as litter boxes. Take your pet on a little tour of the house to help them familiarize themselves with the different rooms & unique smells. Finally, a tired dog is a good dog. To lessen their anxiety over moving, make sure to go for daily walks & provide them with plenty of exercise opportunities throughout the day.

Pet-Proofing Your New Home

It is a good idea to pet-proof your new home. Tuck away electrical cords, plug up areas where your pet could get stuck (like crawl spaces in the basement), make sure that all windows have secure screens, remove any poisonous houseplants or substances, & confirm that no pest-control poison traps have been left anywhere in the house. Check that you don’t have potentially dangerous items like cleaning supplies or human food out. (See the tab Safety in the Home, Pet Poisons for more info)

With patience, your cat or dog will be enjoying your new home in no time!

Information from:

https://www.rover.com/blog/moving-with-your-dog-how-to-help-pets-adjust-new-home/

https://www.youmoveme.com/articles/10-tips-for-moving-with-pets

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/moving-your-pet

https://www.moving.com/tips/how-to-move-your-pet-to-a-new-home/