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I’M MOVING HOUSE WITH A PET! WHAT DO I DO?

June 18, 2023 by SuperbMovesUncategorized


Are you moving to, from, or within Streatham with a four-legged companion? If so, it is vital for you to know that moving house is extremely stressful for your pet, even more so than it is for you. This is because our pets lack a human’s ability to cope with the stress and changes that come with moving

Dogs and cats are territorial and routinary by nature. A house move can be pretty disorienting, scary, and anxiety-inducing for your pet. Fortunately, there are a few ways for you to minimise their stress and help them get through this difficult time. However, it will be challenging for you, as it will require a lot of patience and a lot of understanding from your end. If this challenge is something you are ready to take on, we’ve provided some tips that you can use to ease your pet’s stress. You may also use this to provide them with a good and happy moving experience!

Happy Family Moving into New Home

IS MY PET STRESSED?

Before you help your pet, you should also know how to identify the signs of distress on your pet. Here are some you should be on the lookout for:

For Dogs

  • Ears flat or close to their head
  • Panting or holding their breath
  • Tucked tail
  • Diarrhoea
  • Excessive licking or drooling
  • Biting
  • Flight-risk tendencies
  • Lethargy
  • Withdrawn behaviour

For Cats

  • Diarrhoea
  • Vomiting
  • Bald patches or sores all over the body
  • Poor appetite
  • Poor coat condition
  • Runny nose and eyes
  • Excessive scratching or meowing
  • Aggressive behaviour
  • Frequent urination and head shaking

9 TIPS FOR MOVING HOUSE WITH A PET

Maintain Their Routine

Helping ease your pet’s stress due to a house move long before the physical act of relocating to another location. Instead, it begins as soon as you start preparing to move house.

During this time, it can be easy to disregard your pets’ needs in favour of preparing and organising your move. However, as you already know, domestic animals like cats and dogs are highly routinary. That means, when you forget to take them out for exercise, to spend time with them, or to feed them on time, they become anxious and insecure.

removals

And so, while it is impossible to completely relieve them of the stress and changes associated with moving home, it is best for you to keep their routine going. Additionally, you will also want to keep their belongings in place for as long as possible and pack their bed and toys last.

To help you make sure you don’t get consumed by all the planning and organising, here are some tips you may refer to while planning your move.

Help Them Acclimate To Travel

Pets can get skittish or even car sick when inside moving vehicles. Hence, it is important to slowly ease your pet into travelling, especially when you will be driving to a faraway place.

Long before the move, drive around with them in a car to get them used to the feeling of being in a moving vehicle. This may help minimise the stress they might feel during the actual journey.

If you are going to travel with them in a crate, it is best to get them used to it during this time, too.

Hire A Moving Company

By hiring a Streatham removals company, you wouldn’t have to worry about transporting any of your big or bulky items in your own car, as most moving companies have a large enough vehicle to accommodate almost all of your belongings.

That means you can ensure that your canine or feline friend is happy, comfortable, and safe during the journey. Here’s how:

  • Your car will be free of objects that may fall on their crate (this will cause them a lot of stress!), or worse, crush them when you make a sudden stop.
  • Your pet will not be cramped and will have more than enough room to stretch out and relax during the journey.
  • You’ll be able to pay more attention to your pet’s needs while the movers pack up your belongings and transport them to your new place in an efficient and timely manner.

Need some tips on how you can prepare for movers coming in to help you with your move? Click here.

Keep Your Pet Away From The Chaos Of Moving

Moving day can be chaotic, especially if you’ve got professional movers or friends over to help you out with the packing and transportation, and you wouldn’t want your pet to be caught in the middle of all this chaos.

Instead, you may keep them in a room with items familiar to them like their bed and their toys. Alternatively, you will want to hire someone to keep an eye on your pet during this chaos.

If you are moving close by, it would also be wise to have your pet stay with a friend or a relative while you get settled in your new home.

Refrain From Feeding Them Too Much

Both stress and motion sickness may cause your pet to have an upset stomach, and you wouldn’t want to deal with animal vomit, do you? To make sure they don’t get too sick, feed them an amount that will get them sated, but not too full.

This, however, does not guarantee that your pet will not get sick. So, if your pet does get sick, be gentle with them. Scolding or punishing them may only add to the stress they are already feeling.

Consider Using Anxiety Aids

Before the move, talk to your vet about using an anxiety aid for your pet so that they can stay calm and relaxed on moving day. There is a wide array of aids you may consider. Some of these include:

  • Collars
  • Medication
  • Treats
  • Toys

Keep Them Comfortable During The Journey

Aside from keeping your car free of too many objects, you may also keep your pet comfortable during the journey by:

  • Making sure your car is well-ventilated. Extreme temperatures like excessive heat or cold may be dangerous and uncomfortable for your pet.
  • Make frequent stops and allow them to eat, drink some water, go to the bathroom, and stretch.
  • Provide them with a bed or crate suitable for travel

Let Your Pet Adjust At Their Own Pace

Lastly, do not pressure your pet into adjusting and becoming comfortable all at once. It will take some time, so be patient with them. Let them acclimate with your new place on their own, and do not get angry at them for failing to do so at a pace ideal to you.

However, to help them out during this time, you should unpack their bed and toys first. Keep them unwashed so that your pet’s scent will be retained. You may also rub a washcloth on your pet and rub it onto your furniture to embed their scent into your new home.

Some pets will find it much difficult to cope and will instead run away. Hence, it would also be best to make sure their microchip details are up to date so that finding them will be easier if they do decide to run away.

What If I’m Moving With A Different Animal?

If you are moving with an animal that is neither a cat nor a dog, here are some tips you should keep in mind:

  1. Keep the temperature in your car warm and comfortable.
  2. Refrain from making any sudden motions with your vehicle.
  3. Generally, fish wouldn’t survive long-distance moves, so it is best to give them away instead. However, if you are moving close by, or decide to take your fish on a long-distance move, make sure they are put with old tank water in a plastic bag placed in a cooler or styrofoam container.
  4. For small pets, lizards, tortoises, fish, and other insects and reptiles, make sure they are put back in their terrarium or aquarium as soon as possible.
  5. Birds should always be kept in a cage during the move.

Ready To Move With Your Pet?

Even with the tips above, each pet may take to moving house differently. So, remember always to be kind, patient, and loving to your pet, and soon they’ll be acclimated and well-adjusted to your new home!