Moving house can be a stressful time for everyone and if you have pets, it’s important to do what you can to make the experience as easy for them as possible.
For National Love Your Pet Day, we look at how you can make moving home with pets a simple and stress-free process.
When you are packing up your home ready for a move, empty one room first and put your pet’s belongings like their food and water bowls, their bed, toys and litter tray in there. Make sure you do this a few days before moving day and allow your pet to get used to spending time in that room. As this room is already empty, it will give you somewhere safe to put your pet while your removals firm tackles the rest of your house so they won’t be disturbed by all the disruption. It also means they won’t get in the way while heavy boxes and furniture are being carried.
Travelling can make many animals anxious, especially if it is something they don’t do very often. Avoid giving your pet a large meal just before travelling as this can make them sick. It is better to give them small amounts of their usual food throughout the day. Not only is this kinder on their tummy as they are likely to feel more unsettled and nervous than usual but it will help keep them busy and distracted while you are busy with the move itself.
If you have a cat or dog, you may want to try a pheromone diffuser to reduce anxiety and help them to relax. These plug-in devices release synthetic versions of pheromones – calming natural scents which are undetectable to humans but comforting for animals. Make sure you buy a pheromone diffuser for your pet’s species as devices aimed at cats won’t work on dogs and vice versa. You can also buy other types of products which use pheromones, including collars, sprays and wipes.
Moving to a new and unfamiliar area can make it more likely that your pet will get lost so make sure they are microchipped before the move. A microchip will allow a vet or anyone with a microchip scanner to identify a lost pet and reunite it with its owner. It is also important that you update your details after the move so the microchip is registered to your new address. While you are updating your details, make sure you change your address with your vet and pet insurance company too.
If your pet is likely to become really anxious from the presence of a removals crew in your home, it may be worth asking someone else to care for them during the day of the move. You may also want to consider booking them into a kennels or cattery so they are out of the way while you are packing and moving your belongings. That way, you can do some unpacking and settle into your new home before bringing your pet there.
In your new home, make sure you have familiar items your pet knows and loves. Put their toys, bedding and food and water in one room in your new property so they can settle in gradually. It will also be helpful to give them some clothing which smells like you. These kind of familiar smells are very reassuring and comforting to animals. Remember your new home will smell very different so surrounding them with old things will help them to adjust. Now is not the time to replace all your pet’s belongings with new ones, if you do want to buy new things, wait until they are fully settled.
There will be a lot to do in your new home but try to set some time aside to be with your pet and help them to settle in. Check your property is secure before allowing them to roam freely, especially any outdoor areas. If you have a cat, keep them indoors for at least two weeks so they can get used to their new environment before you let them out to explore. When you do allow your cat outside, put something from your old home which smells familiar in your garden to make it easier for them to find their way back.
Pets thrive on routines and like consistency so try to get back to a regular timetable as quickly as possible. Stick to the same times you would normally give their meals or take your dog for walks so that life starts to feel similar to how it did before very quickly.
