Moving House with Pets: Tips & Advice
Like children, pets can be sensitive to change.
But, unlike children, you can’t involve them in the moving process. If you’re able to leave them with a friend, relative, boarding kennel or cattery for the day, this will make your life easier.
However, this isn’t always possible. If this is the case for you, here’s some vital advice for moving house with pets.
What to do before moving day
There’s so much to think about in the run up to the big day, it’s easy to forget some important details! In the list of things to do when moving into a new home, add these considerations to the list:
- Get your pet a new identity disc with your new property details on it, ready for when you arrive. If they’re in an unfamiliar place and wander off, the chances of finding their way back to your new home are very low
- Update their identity chip with your new house details
These tips generally only apply if you’re moving house with your dog or cat. While these won’t necessarily reduce stress for your furry family member, they will provide a safety blanket should something go wrong.
Moving house with pets tips
Once the day of the house move arrives, here are some top tips for keeping it as stress free as possible:
The night before
Ensure cats are kept indoors- trying to locate an AWOL moggy on moving day is a stress you could do without. Lock or block up your cat flap, keep windows shut and bring in a temporary litter tray for them.
Try and confine pets to a quiet room of your house or flat. Keep the door shut and give them familiar and favourite toys to play with and their bed to lie in. Pop a note on the door so everyone knows not to enter and accidentally let them out.
Travelling with your dog or cat
If you’re transporting them in a carry cage or box, put these in the room so they get used to them and can use them as a hiding place if it all gets too much.
Consider using de-stress sprays or plug ins to reduce their anxiety! It may also be a good idea to feed your dog or cat as a distraction.
What to do after you move
Upon the arrival at your new home, keep them in their carry cages or securely tied up until you can allocate them a quiet room in your new home.
Put all their familiar things in the room before letting them explore their surroundings, i.e:
- Bedding
- Scratch post
- Litter tray
- Toys
- Food and water
With dogs, try and stick to their regular walking and feeding times if you can.
Making a house a home
All members of the family deserve to get settled in as quickly as possible! Particularly if you’re moving to a new city, it can be particularly tough.
So, how can you make your cat or dog feel at home?
- It’s a good idea for cats and dogs to furnish the house with their scent. Gently stroke a cloth around their head and neck and dab it around the room/s at their respective heights so their scent builds up around the property. This will make them feel more relaxed and ‘at home’
- Due to the independent, inquisitive nature of cats, it’s important to keep them inside for at least two weeks, possibly even four if you can. This will give them sufficient time to get used to all the new scents and sounds so they can easily find their way back if they decide to roam
- Your cat might return to your old home once let out, if it’s not too far from your new house. It can be a good idea to notify the new owners and ask them to chase it away wherever possible
- If you have a garden, check all fences and walls for escape routes, you don’t want your dog walking off and getting lost
- Try and get your old routine up and running as quickly as possible. This will help them settle and adjust to their new surroundings
Choose a good removals company
While moving house is stressful enough as it is, pets can only complicate this further. However, choosing the best removals company will help alleviate some of the stress on the big day!
Having a professional team load up the removal van can make all the difference.
Need help finding the right company? Whatever the size of your move, tell us your requirements and we’ll connect you with experienced movers. Get your free removals quotes here.
Last Updated: November 1st, 2024
