Moving with Pets

Moving is one of the most stressful things that can happen in a person’s life, and whether the move is cross-country or just down the street, it can be even more stressful you pet!  But if you are keeping your pet’s health and comfort in mind from the outset, this major life change doesn’t have to be as intimidating. Here are some ways to help prepare your pet — and yourself — for a change of address:

Before the Packing Begins

1. Check the local laws of your new hometown and residence.  From licensing to leash laws, size or breed restrictions to vaccinations and veterinary paperwork, you want to make sure you are prepared before your move so nothing impedes your pets trip to their new home.
   • If you’re moving out of the country, make sure you understand what your pet will need to enter that new country, including vaccinations and signed veterinary statements.  Some locales even require a mandatory quarantine period for all new animals coming into the country.
     
2. Look into new local vetting options before you arrive.  Check with your vet if they have any recommendations, and make sure you have extra copies of your pet’s medical records for yourself and your new veterinary provider.
   • It’s also good to schedule an appointment once you get settled so your new vet can see your pet in their normal health, rather than meeting them first when they are sick or injured.
     
3. Make sure your pet is microchipped, in case something happens during the journey.  Pets with active microchips with current contact information are much more likely to be reunited with their families than pets who aren’t.
   
4. If you’re not moving far, consider taking your pet to the new location beforehand, if possible – especially for dogs.  It will make the new location more familiar and a little less scary with all the other action happening on the big day.
   
5. If you’re driving, get your pet used to the car in the method they will be traveling.  Cats should be contained in their travel crates, and dogs on a pet-seat belt or crate.  If your pet experiences continued anxiety or motion sickness, speak with your veterinary provider about options to help them feel more comfortable during the trip.

Once the Packing Starts

1. Consider leaving packing boxes and bags out in your home before the packing starts.  This will help to make sure your pets don’t associate these items only with moving and develop a fear of them.  However, make sure to leave other packing items – bubble tape, packing peanuts, box cutters – safely out of reach of pets, to make sure they don’t ingest them or otherwise cause injury.
   
2. On moving day, keep your pet away from the action!  Think about if they can stay with a trusted friend or just safe and quiet in an extra room with some of their favorite toys, treats and a bed.  This helps them stay safely out of the way of heavy boxes and open front doors but also away from the hustle and bustle that can cause them stress.
   
3. Pack a separate, easily-accessible bag (or bags) for your pet.  This should include at least 2 weeks of food, 1 week of water, 1 week of medications, bowls, toys, cleaning and grooming products, veterinary records, proof of ownership/ID, bed, preventatives, a pet first aid kit and an extra collar/leash/harness.  This means that whether travel takes longer than expected or moving boxes don’t arrive when scheduled, your pet should have the necessities until everything gets back on track.
   
4. Make sure your dog gets a healthy amount of exercise before your trip begins.  It will help them feel less stressed and may have the added benefit of aiding them in sleeping during the journey.

During the Move

1. If you are traveling a longer distance, make sure your pet is always supervised (crated if necessary) during overnight stays, to help ease stress and make sure they don’t slip out of an unfamiliar hotel room.  Be especially careful when taking dogs out to make sure they cannot get loose or lost in a foreign place; consider a harness even if your pet does not normally wear one.  If your trip isn’t too long and your pet can handle it, just don’t let them out until you’ve arrived.

Unpacking and Your New Home

1. When unpacking, you once again want to keep your pet away from the action, and give them their own space with their familiar objects.  Depending on the type and personality of the pet, you may want to introduce them to the rest of the new home over the course of hours or even days.
   
2. Once in your new home, make sure to update their information: registration, microchip, ID tags and anything else that you have registered with an address (and potential new phone number).
   
3. As your pet explores their new home (and even before), make sure you’re keeping an eye out for potential hazards that did not exist in your previous residence, like electrical cords or toxic plants that weren’t previously accessible.
   
4. If you are letting pets out into a yard in your new home, pay extra special attention the first week to make sure that they aren’t finding weaknesses in fences or other hidden safety hazards in their new space.
   
5. Try to stick to their routine as much as possible, both during and after a move.  Animals are creatures of habit, and nothing makes them feel more comfortable than the same daily routine for feeding, sleeping, exercise and more.
   
6. Give them time!  A move is going to be a big change for everyone, and just like it might take you a while to get used to your new bedroom set-up, a pet is going to need some time to make their new home their own.  Have patience with occasional accidents or irregular behaviors as they do so.

Other Considerations

If you’re flying, talk to your vet about your pet’s health and whether they should be flying, as well as any considerations that should be taken to make the journey more comfortable for them.   You should also work closely with the airline to determine their specific animal travel requirements, including crates and veterinary approval, as different airlines have different requirements.

The rule of thumb for litter boxes is to have at least one litter box per cat, plus one additional litter box, but as cats are getting used to their new space, it may be beneficial to have extra litter boxes, to help them find the spaces that make them feel safest.  Over time, you can remove the litter boxes they aren’t using, but it will help to have fewer house-soiling issues as they are finding their way in their new home.