Moving is always challenging – and it’s even more so for cats and dogs. That’s why we’ve put together some tips to help you prepare them for the big change and help them settle into their new home.
Moving to a new home is not easy, both for us and for our pets. A new place, unfamiliar sights, smells and sounds, all of which are a source of stress for them. However, if you prepare well, your dog or cat will be able to handle the move and get used to their new home quickly and without any problems.
Prepare your pets for moving
If you have the opportunity, it’s a good idea to start preparing your dog or cat for the move a few months in advance. The following tips will help:
Go to the vet.
- Make sure your pet has all necessary vaccinations and is on preventive antiparasitic medication on time. This will protect them from possible parasite infestations during travel or in a new environment.
- Check his microchip, tags, and health records. All should be up-to-date and include your new address.
- Talk to your vet about how to calm your dog or cat down during the trip and help them adjust to their new home. Your vet may also recommend anti-anxiety medications to help them cope with the stressful time of moving.
Plan your trip
- Pack your dog or cat their own carry-on bag with food, treats, and other essentials they’ll need during your trip.
- Line the travel crate with a comfortable blanket (you can also spray it with a calming pet pheromone) and leave it in a room where your pet spends a lot of time. By the time you move, your pet will get used to it and will be happy to be put in it – or even get in it themselves.
- If you’re driving to your new home, get your pet used to shorter trips in advance. This will help them cope with longer journeys. And if it’s not too far, wait until after you’ve moved the furniture and everything else before transporting them – this will help avoid the most noise and chaos.
- Whether you have a dog or a cat, line the bottom of the crate with absorbent puppy pads. Even the best-behaved pet can have an accident on a long and emotionally demanding trip.
- Keep a good, current photo of your pet (or pets) on your phone in case it gets lost.
Prepare your new home
Hopefully, the previous owner left you a clean and tidy house or apartment. But even a house that looks spotless can still harbor fleas. It’s best to leave nothing to chance.
Thoroughly clean the interior upon arrival
- You can get rid of fleas or ticks that may have remained in the new home from the previous owners’ animals by using an anti-parasitic spray for environmental treatment.
Don’t forget the garden
- Strange pets, as well as wild animals such as hedgehogs, deer, foxes and others, can leave a mark on your garden in the form of ticks and fleas. To prevent these parasites from choosing your pet as their next target, eliminate their hiding places: trim the foliage, mow the lawn, and clear bushes and undergrowth.
- Some pets, both dogs and cats, try to escape and find their original home after moving. So check your garden fence carefully and secure all gaps, holes and weak spots where they could crawl or dig their way out.
- First, take your pet on a leash to a supervised and secure garden and let him get to know it in peace.
Help them adapt
Your new home is clean and your pet can start exploring it safely. But they still need to get used to their new environment and adjust psychologically. Do you know how to make it easier for them?
Close off access to potentially dangerous hiding places
- When stressed by a new situation, your pet may feel threatened and seek shelter. Allow him to crawl where he feels safe – sooner or later he will emerge again (at the latest when he gets hungry). However, to be on the safe side, block access to places where he could get stuck or hurt himself.
Confine the cat to a smaller room with food, toys, and a litter box.
- Cats feel safe in small spaces and with familiar smells. Take advantage of this when introducing your cat to a new home and let it acclimate slowly in the chosen room before letting it out into the open. Visit it often and pay attention to it so it doesn’t feel abandoned. Once it gets used to it a bit and overcomes its fears, it can explore the rest of the house.
Bring an old bed and toys with you
- Moving can be tempting to throw out worn-out items and buy everything new. But when it comes to dog beds and toys, resist! Your dog will appreciate his old “equipment” with its familiar smells and will be a reminder that his world hasn’t changed that much after all.
Acclimatize outdoor cats
- Even for a cat used to being outdoors, it will be better if they spend their first few days in the safety of their home. Open the windows a little to let in the scents of the outdoors, or place a favorite piece of furniture by the window as an “observation booth.” Once they get used to their new surroundings, the outdoor adventures can begin!
Find a new veterinarian
If you are moving far away, one of the first steps in your new home should be to register with your local veterinarian. Choose by:
- recommendations from neighbors who also keep dogs or cats,
- reviews on the internet,
- comparing the offers of individual veterinary clinics and practices according to their websites (some places even offer virtual tours),
- personal impression – before you choose the right one that will ideally suit you and your pet, don’t be afraid to visit several veterinarians.