Aug
06
7 Moving Tips to Help Your Furry Friends Cope

Preview

Moving day can be hectic. But if you’re bringing along your cat or dog, you might have an even more difficult time if you’re not prepared.

From the agitation they’ll feel moving to a new environment to controlling their behavior as movers enter your home, dealing with these minute issues can add up to an already stressful ordeal.

Here are some moving tips to help your furry friends cope with the move.

1) Prepare them a bag for the first night

The first night in your new home can be scary, unfamiliar, and exhausting for your pets. Your furry friends will require plenty of rest and sleep so make sure you give them the best opportunity to recover from their travels well. If their stamina gets depleted easily, it's advisable to prepare an overnight kit to give them an easier time to adjust.

This kit can include (but may not be limited to):

• Dog food
• Kitty litter
• Toys
• Grooming tools
• Hygiene products

Make moving days less stressful for them by stacking familiar household items around their temporary quarters. Keep their pet bed in a corner of the room to ease them in with a familiar scent. Make sure they have a comfortable place to sleep the night away so they can get right back to being their energetic selves the next day.

2) Schedule a vet appointment

Taking some time off to give your pet a thorough check-up can save you time and health worries down the line. There may be some health developments from your last visit to this one, so it is best to have the clearest picture of your pet’s health as much as possible. Inform your vet about the move and take any prescription medicine and your pet’s history of records. Arrange for copies of all pertinent medical records, including lab reports if applicable.

You can also take this time to ask for any leads from reputable veterinarian clinics in your new city. This can help you know whom to contact in case of emergencies. And in best-case scenarios, you can transition your vet checkups to their referred veterinarian much more seamlessly with them contacting each other behind the scenes.

3) Ensure your new home follows safety protocols

It can be a great source of confusion if your pet eats or touches something it shouldn’t have. Considering that you’re also newly relocating, you may not be well-versed as to where your pet can squeeze into or chew up before it’s too late.

But as much as possible, you want your new home to be as safe as possible for your pets. This means making sure there are no sharp objects on the property or around the house that could hurt them. In addition, it's very important to keep the electrical system in an efficient, safe state so there won’t be any sparks flying around and harming your furry friend.

Get familiar with your garden and plants and get rid of any toxic plants that they may ingest. Pets should be able to go wherever they please without the worry of being harmed while inside.

4) Place them in a quiet room on moving day (or with someone else)

During the moving day itself, your home will be subjected to all types of movement. The sudden change in the house environment can be terrifying for cats who've grown accustomed to their surroundings, causing them to act unruly and run around the house like the frightened animal they are.

To prevent this, it's a good idea to place them in a quiet room, like the master's bedroom, before the movers show up. The constant noise will feel less of an immediate threat to them in enclosed places, and they'll also feel less burdened by strangers moving in and out of the room. Give them a toy, a bed, and a litter box for them to get nice and cozy before you relocate them in their moving cage.

This will make it a more comfortable experience for both your pet and you. Alternatively, you can call a friend or a kennel to keep them company in case your home doesn't have its own dedicated space to give your pet some temporary lodging.

5) Let them ride in your vehicle, not in the moving truck

Put your small cat or dog in a carrier in the back seat. Make sure they’re tightly fastened with a seatbelt. If you have a large dog like a Labrador or Golden Retriever, ensure that they can fit in a kennel in the back of the car. Try to perform a trial run to see if they can fit inside your car beforehand or if you’ll need to adjust your plan accordingly.

If it’s their first time in the car, it’s ideal to give them a toy or something to play with or chew on. This can ease their anxieties, especially if the ride is expected to take a while. Give them something soft to ease them throughout the trip too, like a blanket.

6) Update their microchip information

If your dog or cat escapes your new home, you’ll have a hard time trying to find them without a microchip. Contact your vet and update your pet’s microchip and tags with the new address to prevent any mishaps down the line. This will help you reunite with them in case your pet goes missing.

7) Be gentle when handling your guinea pig

Are you bringing along a furry friend of a much smaller stature? They need gentle love and care too!

Guinea pigs are curious creatures, and they’re particularly receptive when it comes to changes around their surroundings. As you move out, you should ensure that they’re in a secure cage where they won’t be susceptible to getting jostled around.

Bring them along with you in your car; putting them in the mover’s truck is not ideal considering the fragile bodies. Consider their cages too and ensure that it’s well-ventilated, soft, has ample space, and has good bedding. If you want to take the pet out for some fresh air, have a leash secured on them so that you won’t run the risk of them escaping.

You can find furniture movers on sites like Muval to help take a huge load of physically demanding work off your plate. Alternatively, you can call a friend to babysit your furry friend for a little while if you’re just moving within the city.

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