Moving with Pets
If you’ve got pets in your home, you know how important it is to keep them happy and healthy. During a move, all the unexpected activity can stress your pets out. And since they don’t understand what’s happening, the changes can feel scary.
Luckily, a bit of planning can help make the move easier for everyone involved. Here are some of our top tips for moving with pets.
1. Maintain Their Routine
Most pets are creatures of habit, so do your best to maintain their routine. It’s easy to get distracted with packing, planning, and arranging your move, but it’s also important to keep things as “normal” as possible. Try to plan your day so you can maintain the same schedule for feeding, walks, and playtime. This will help alleviate some of the anxiety and uncertainty your pet may be feeling.
2. Create a Quiet Space
From boxes and piles of clothes and disassembled furniture, getting ready for a move brings a lot of potential for chaos and clutter. If you can, designate a calm, quiet space where your pet can retreat if it gets to be too much. A small room or even an open closet should be enough. If you have children, instruct them not to bother your pets when they retreat to their quiet space.
3. Visit with Your Vet
Your vet should know a thing or two about helping pets manage stressful situations. Take the time to ask how to best deal with your pet’s anxiety well before you’re planning to move. This will give you time to put their advice into practice and pick up any recommended medications.
Before you move, you’ll want to make sure your pets are up to date on their vaccines and get a copy of their veterinary records. Your vet may also be able to provide recommendations for vets in your new neighborhood.
4. Keep Them Away from the Action
On your moving day, it’s best to keep your pets as far away from the action as possible. From people coming in and out of the house to movers with boxes and heavy furniture, there are far too many opportunities for pets to get hurt or run away. If possible, have them stay with a trusted friend, family member, or a kennel.
If this is not an option, put your pets in their carrier or crate and keep it in a bedroom with the door closed until you’re ready to leave. Don’t forget to check on them regularly and feed and walk them at their usual time.
5. Introduce Them Slowly
Don’t let your pet out of their crate or carrier until you’re inside your new home. Even if they’re usually well behaved, they may take off if they’re let free. For the first few days, stay close by and give them some time to adjust. Also, don’t let them off-leash in the backyard until you’ve had a chance to thoroughly inspect it to make sure there are no escape routes.
Start Planning Your Move Today
Hiring a professional moving company is one of the best ways to make your move less stressful. At John’s Moving, we go out of our way to make every move easy and hassle-free. Contact us today to request a quote.
