While relocating can be a thrilling experience, if you own a pet, you need to give it some special consideration while shifting houses. Your dog, cat, bird, or any other pet animal may not have an idea about the sudden changes happening around him. Packing, people coming and going, shifting of furniture, and traveling to a new place might make him anxious.
Fortunately, if you plan properly, you can shift to your new house in an easy and organized way while making sure that your pet remains comfortable. The key here is to try to keep him as relaxed as possible by sticking to his daily routine, making sure that he is safe during the moving process, and making the adjustment period to the new place gradual for him.
Here is a guide for shifting houses with pets that covers everything that you would need to plan for.
Start Preparing Your Pet Before Moving Day
Pets sense changes in their surroundings. They can become uncomfortable when cartons are beginning to appear, furniture is being rearranged, and the usual routine is disturbed.
Make sure to follow your pet’s schedule as much as possible while moving. Do not interrupt their meal time, walks, playing, and sleep routine.
Pack everything your pet needs separately from other stuff. Your pet’s food, drinking water, bed, toys, leash, accessories, and any other essential things should be in reach.
Do not place all pet stuff into one big carton as you might not be able to find it once you move.
Visit a Veterinarian if Necessary
If your pet has some specific needs, is currently being treated, or if you have doubts about travelling with your pet, consult a certified vet prior to moving.
Check if you have all the necessary papers about your pet’s health, vaccinations, medications, or anything else you might need.
If you are moving to another town or even another region, check if there are any local regulations regarding pets.
It is always better to organize all the necessary papers related to your pet prior to the day of moving.
Update Your Pet’s Identification Details
Ensure that the ID and contact information of your pet is up to date before you relocate.
If your pet wears an ID tag, ensure that all the contact information on the tag is up to date. If you have any other method of identifying your pet, make sure that you follow the process of updating the information.
This becomes essential when relocating because pets can get confused in a new setting.
Keep a recent picture of your pet on your mobile phone. You will find it handy as part of your overall preparations when relocating.
Keep Your Pet Away From Packing Activity
Packing day can be chaotic as well. You might leave doors open, come in and out frequently, and store things in unusual places.
To ensure your pet stays safe and comfortable, set aside an area for them which will be quiet and secure.
This area will have your pet’s bed, food, and toys inside. Ideally, you would be able to ensure that nothing else occurs in this room while packing is happening somewhere else in the house.
Having someone take care of your pet during this time may also help with the entire process.
The key here is to prevent your pet from getting into the areas where packing is taking place.
Prepare a Pet Essentials Bag
In the same way that you prepare an essentials bag for yourself, your pet needs to have one as well.
Have enough food and water during your travel, along with feeding bowls, a leash, bedding, cleaning equipment, and toys.
Don’t forget about the necessary documents and regular pet items.
Your pet’s essentials bag must accompany you and not be packed together with your other things inside the moving truck.
Having all the necessary items at hand will definitely simplify your travel and adaptation period in your new house.
Choose Safe Transportation for Your Pet
Your pet should have proper means to travel based on his species and size.
Don’t assume that the same moving vehicle as your own is fit for transporting the pet. Moving vehicles are designed for carrying house stuff and not animals.
Plan for the pet’s travel arrangements ahead of time and in some cases, transport the pet separately with you or by some other means of transport for pets.
Ensure your pet has a proper travel carrier for traveling.
If in doubt, you can consult your vet to know what the best travel means for your pet would be.
Keep Food and Water Available
A schedule may be affected in the case of a move. Traffic, weather, and unforeseen delays may cause your pet to have a longer trip than anticipated.
Make sure that your pet has access to its regular food and water for the duration of the trip. Do not make any abrupt changes to your pet’s diet unless you have been told to do so by an expert.
If your trip involves extended travel time, you will need to organize stops and care accordingly based on the nature of your trip and your pet’s requirements.
Avoid Leaving Pets Unattended
Moving day can be a rush, and one may think that somebody else will keep an eye on the pet.
Define precisely who will take care of your pet through the various stages of the move. It is particularly critical while doors are open and people carry belongings into and out of the house.
Never leave your pet alone in a car or a new place.
A small plan of responsibilities will do wonders to keep the pet under your care during the whole moving process.
Arriving at Your New Home
As you arrive at your new residence, refrain from letting your animal investigate all of its surroundings right away when the movers are still busy bringing in furniture and packages.
There will be lots of open doors, new territory, unpacked boxes, and people moving about.
Make sure that you create a safe and quiet place for your animal. Provide them with their bed, water, food, and favorite toys.
Once the hectic process of moving has quietened down, then you can introduce them to other places in your new home.
Check the New Home for Pet Safety
Before your pet is allowed to explore the surroundings, examine the place thoroughly.
Examine the doors, windows, balconies, gates, and any other places from where your pet might accidentally escape. See that no unsafe things remain easily accessible to your pet.
Make an examination of the home to look out for any loose wires, cleaning solutions, small things, or other such household items that might be safely kept.
In case there is a balcony or outdoors for your pet, see that it is checked before the pet is allowed there.
Spending a few moments to examine the surroundings prior to your pet exploring the place can prove to be helpful.
Help Your Pet Adjust Gradually
A new house means new scents, sounds, rooms, and surroundings.
Expect that your pet will not be entirely comfortable at once. Give them time to explore slowly and get used to the new surroundings.
It is best to maintain consistency regarding feeding, walks, and sleep for the first few days.
Place things that they are familiar with in the new place, like their bed, blanket, and toys. It would help if you made the environment less strange for them by placing familiar things.
Do not move their bed and place of their food and water bowls too much in the first few days.
Keep Your Pet’s Routine Consistent
It is important that when you move and take your pet along, you make the transition easier by sticking to a regular routine.
You should keep feeding them around the same times and continue the walking or physical activity that they were used to doing regularly.
The place may be new for both of you, but it is the routines that will make it familiar for them to adapt.
Take some time out with your pet after the move and let them take their own time getting comfortable in the new surroundings.
Introduce Outdoor Areas Carefully
In case your pet is accustomed to being outside, do not hurry with introducing him/her to a new outdoor place.
First of all, ensure that there are no openings or gaps in fences or barriers and examine the surroundings.
The surroundings might have some unknown traffic, people, animals, and noises. Spend some time getting acquainted with the environment before creating a new outdoor routine for the animal.
As for the pets who need walking, select appropriate routes.
Inform Your Packers and Movers About Your Pet
It is important to inform the packers and movers in advance about having a pet at home.
This will ensure that the moving team knows that there may be an animal involved in the process of packing and loading.
You can even inform them about which particular room or area will be left alone for your pet when the moving process takes place.
Informing the moving team in advance about the special needs at your home can go a long way in ensuring smooth and coordinated moves at Sunrise Packers & Movers.
Don’t Pack Everything Your Pet Recognizes
It might be easy to start packing all of your belongings at once, but it is best to keep some belongings handy until the very end.
Some examples include your pet’s favorite bed, their favorite toy, favorite blanket, or even the same feeding bowls they have been using.
These items will help your pet feel at home amidst all the chaos and change occurring around them.
When you finally arrive at the new house, these things can be placed out immediately.
Plan for the First Night
Moving into a new place is a strange experience for all of you, including your pet.
Arrange a comfortable sleeping spot using familiar beds wherever possible. The surroundings should be peaceful and no unnecessary changes should be made to the schedule of your pet.
Ensure that food, water, and any other necessities are within reach.
It is not necessary to arrange everything inside your house in one day; rather you should give priority to making a comfortable place for both your family members and your pet.
Moving Long Distance With Pets
Relocation to a distant place needs more planning compared to a short one.
Take into account the total travel time, resting places, food and water needs, accommodation, weather, as well as the specific requirements of your pet.
Don’t expect that the same method of transportation that is good for a short trip will fit a long one.
In case of any doubt regarding a long trip with your pet, contact a professional veterinarian beforehand.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Moving With Pets
A common blunder is to leave pet plans to the last minute. It may cause you to forget supplies or travel plans or put unneeded stress on moving day.
It is a mistake to make too many changes at once. Moving is a big change, so you should keep your pet’s food and possessions consistent for now.
It is a mistake to leave the care of your pet to “whomever is available.” Appoint one person who will be responsible for your pet while moving.
The last mistake is to allow your pet immediate access to a new place without first making sure it is safe.
Final Thoughts
When moving with your pet, there is going to be some extra work needed, but that does not mean that the move cannot be done successfully.
Make sure that you maintain the pet’s routine, prepare another bag for their necessities, plan safe transportation, and assign someone to take care of them during the busiest times of moving.
Upon arrival in the new place, start with preparing a calm and safe environment with familiar things for your pet. Let them get used to the place while you create a routine of your usual activities including feeding and walks.
At Sunrise Packers & Movers, proper communication and planning can ensure that each aspect of the house moving is done properly. In case you are moving with a pet, make sure to notify your moving team in advance in order to organize the process according to the necessities of your family.
Some additional preparations can make things much easier. With good planning, familiar routine, and patience, you will manage to facilitate the transition of your pet to the new place.