Pets and Moving
Moving can be hard on everyone. Adults, kids, and yes... even your pets! Pets can sense the stress when they see their human family busily throwing everything into boxes. They are creatures of habit, and can become easily confused. Naturally, we want to keep our pets happy and healthy, and prevent them from 'acting-out'. Animals, just like people, can behave rather badly when under stress, so we need to make them feel secure.
Here are some valuable tips to consider.
During The Packing Process
Adhere to the usual feeding, exercise, and bedtime schedule.
When packing, leave your pet's belongings to last. If possible, allow your pet continued access to the same food dishes, litter box, bed, and toys, right up until moving day.
Lessen the chance of any 'mistakes' by keeping your cat's litter box in the usual spot, right until you're ready to go.
Let them explore some empty packing boxes, so they won't be afraid of these new objects.
Moving Day
Remove your pets from the house BEFORE you start moving your possessions. Allowing your pets to roam free in the house while the front door is propped wide open, and everyone is rushing around, is a recipe for disaster.
If it's not possible to remove your pets beforehand, then select an empty room with a door to safely house them for the day. Place their food and water dishes, toys, bedding and litter box in the room as well. Many pets find the background noise of a radio comforting, and it helps to muffle some of the loud and unsettling noises that come from moving heavy furniture and boxes.
Be sure to put collars with identification tags on your dogs and cats, as many pets do escape during the confusion of moving day. To avoid possible injury to your cat, always use a breakaway collar. Although many pets today are micro-chipped, having your pet wear a collar remains a good idea, as only pet care industry workers have access to the tool that reads the chip, while anyone can read your name and phone number on a tag.
For transportation to the new home, cats should be placed in a cat carrier on the floor of the back seat, and dogs should be properly restrained. Dogs should either ride in the back of the vehicle, separated from passengers by a grate, or should sit in the back seat, strapped into a dog seat belt. This protects both your dog, and the passengers in the vehicle - otherwise, a quick stop can send your canine hurtling forward, causing serious injury.
Never leave your pet unattended in a vehicle. While the temperature may seem just a little warm to you, animals overheat quickly. Sadly, every year there are thousands of pets who succumb to heatstroke as a direct result of being left in a hot car.
Bring your pet's dishes, food, leash, toys, bedding, litter box, and any medications in the car with you. Providing consistency is important, so when you arrive at your new home, set up your pet's things in the spots where you intend on keeping them.
Introducing Your Pet to their New Home
Before releasing your pet into the new backyard, take a quick safety check... Is the fence in good shape - no spaces to wiggle through, or under? Can your pet reach the neighbour's pet through the fence, and if so, is he/she friendly? Are there any sharp objects that could pose a hazard? What about plants - are there any that could be harmful if swallowed? Is there any garbage lying around to get into? Is there shade available? After running through all of these checks, be sure to leave a large, cool, bowl of water, and spend some time just sitting in the backyard with them.
It is recommended that cats remain indoors. Cats who are allowed to roam free outside have a life expectancy much lower than an inside cat. If your cat has been allowed to roam in the past, now is the ideal time to break them of the habit. If you keep your cat indoors from day one in the new house, he will consider this his new turf, and sole territory.
Select a room with a door for your cat to use as the 'transition room'. Place a litter box, food and water dishes, toys, and bedding. After a couple of days, when most of the boxes have been unpacked, the furniture placed, and things have generally calmed down - open the door and allow your cat to venture out. Before moving the belongings to where you want to keep them, allow your cat the use of the room for another 2 or 3 days while becoming more confident in the new surroundings.
Small Pets
Birds, lizards, rabbits and other small animals are much easier to move, as they are normally used to being housed in a cage, or at least are accustomed to regularly spending 'quiet time' in one. To make the journey to their new home safely, they should be kept in their cage, or placed into an appropriately sized carrier before being loaded into the car.
Placing a light weight cloth over your small pet's cage will help to maintain quiet and calmness during the car ride; just be sure to allow adequate air flow.
Be sure to leave some food and fresh water in with your pet. Most small animals do well with a drinking bottle that is easily attached to most cages. Remember to bring your pet's supply of food, feeding dishes, and any medications with you in the car.
Small animals overheat even faster than large animals, so again, never leave your pets unattended in a vehicle.
For more information on how to make moving easier on your pets, or if your pet has a pre-existing medical condition that requires special care, please contact your veterinarian.
