Moving. Just the word itself can cause one to groan! Moving can be an exhausting task before you even physically lift a finger as you imagine sifting through rooms full of belongings, packing them securely into boxes, hiring movers or loading things into a rental truck yourself, and going through everything again in your new place. Whew!
Make Moving Easier on Your Pet by Heeding these 10 Tips
Moving isn’t fun for anyone; that’s for sure. Parents are often concerned about their children’s reactions to Moving Day, especially if a new school is involved. But many people often forget that moving can also be stressful on their pets!
Keep your cats and dogs as comfortable as possible with these 10 suggestions:
- If you have a dog, take him for a walk in your new neighborhood before moving day. If you’re moving into a house, see if you can take him into his new backyard. He’ll get to experience his new environment before arriving permanently, and it will seem somewhat familiar when the move actually takes place.
- If you have one or more cats, keep them in one room with the door shut on moving day so that they do
not accidentally escape while furniture and boxes are being carried out the door. Be sure to provide a litter box, water, and food. - When you first arrive in your new home, keep your cat or dog out of the confusion by placing him in a designated room with one of his favorite toys or a favorite pet bed or blanket. The objects and their scents will be familiar and help ease any tension.
- Be sure your new home has been thoroughly cleaned, especially if the previous owners or tenants also had pets. Strange odors from other animals can cause cats and dogs to mark their territory with urine.
- Speaking of marking territory, immediately show your cat where her little box is located in her new home. You don’t want any potty accidents. Pee-yew!
- Make sure your dog knows where the doors to your new home are located. When it’s time to use the bathroom, you want him to know where you will be taking him outside.
- You may want to consider boarding your pets for a few days during your move, especially if movers will be helping you. Some dogs and cats are afraid of unfamiliar people and may react violently or try to run away.
- Keep your dog in his kennel until you are ready to show him around your new place. He will be more relaxed and more obedient.
- Never change your pet’s brand of food during a move. There is enough confusion without adding in new foods that could possibly cause an upset stomach. (No one wants his dog or cat to throw up on the carpet in a new home!)
- Resist the urge to toss your pet’s old toys before the move. Those well-worn, chewed-up balls, bones and stuffed animals will provide a sense of comfort and security in a new environment.
- Finally, do not use cardboard animal carriers. Even for seemingly small cats, they are ineffective at securely containing them.
While it’s inevitable that your dog or cat will be a bit “off” for at least a few days after a move, it’s a great idea to make a conscious effort to make things as easy as possible for your pet. After all, pets are a part of the family, too!
Attached Images:
- License: Creative Commons image source
- License: Creative Commons image source
Chris Turberville-Tully works with Clearview Relocation, providing relocation services including your own personal relocation agent to assist in your move.
