How to Take the Stress Out of Moving ... for Pets
Follow these tips to make the move easier and help settle pets quickly
Not many people enjoy moving house. It’s a time of great upheaval and requires enormous amounts of planning and energy. But in-between dealing with solicitors and packing up rooms, spare a thought for your pets. Cats and dogs often find house moving stressful and disorientating, too.
Cats are territorial and create strong connections with their patch, so moving transfers them from a well-understood environment to a new area that has none of their familiar marks. Similarly, dogs use their nose to identify their home, so a new house will have none of the familiar scent marks of their old place, which can unsettle them. Just like us, they can and will adapt to a new home, but it’s important to plan the move day and beyond in advance, for a happy transition with minimal stress for you and your pets.
Cats are territorial and create strong connections with their patch, so moving transfers them from a well-understood environment to a new area that has none of their familiar marks. Similarly, dogs use their nose to identify their home, so a new house will have none of the familiar scent marks of their old place, which can unsettle them. Just like us, they can and will adapt to a new home, but it’s important to plan the move day and beyond in advance, for a happy transition with minimal stress for you and your pets.
Travel by car
Before you pack up the last room where the cat is secured, pop it into its carrier and then take it, by car, to your new address. Don’t let it travel in the removal van or in the boot of the car and, if it’s a hot day, do not leave your cat in the car if you stop for a break.
Before you pack up the last room where the cat is secured, pop it into its carrier and then take it, by car, to your new address. Don’t let it travel in the removal van or in the boot of the car and, if it’s a hot day, do not leave your cat in the car if you stop for a break.
Create a safe space
Once you arrive at your new place, try to unpack one room first and then shut the cat in it. It can then relax and recover from the journey in there, safely confined, while you get on with the rest of the unpacking. Ideally, one family member can hang out with the cat for a while as it explores, and also offer it some food.
Once you arrive at your new place, try to unpack one room first and then shut the cat in it. It can then relax and recover from the journey in there, safely confined, while you get on with the rest of the unpacking. Ideally, one family member can hang out with the cat for a while as it explores, and also offer it some food.
Allow time to explore inside
Once the removal men have left and things have calmed down, let your cat investigate the house one room at a time. It’s important that you are really calm as this happens to show the cat it has nothing to fear. Keep all windows and doors to the outside shut at this point.
Once the removal men have left and things have calmed down, let your cat investigate the house one room at a time. It’s important that you are really calm as this happens to show the cat it has nothing to fear. Keep all windows and doors to the outside shut at this point.
Invite it out – eventually
Keep your cat indoors for around two weeks to settle in before letting it outside. Plan its first trip into the garden on a weekend when you are around, so you can keep tabs on its movements and also accompany it on its first trip into the garden. Don’t carry it, though – allow it to explore as it likes, and keep its route back into the house open, so it can retreat if something frightens it.
It’s a good idea to release it just before a meal time, as a hungry cat is more likely to return. Make sure it is microchipped or wearing a collar with ID, too, in case it decides to go wandering.
Keep your cat indoors for around two weeks to settle in before letting it outside. Plan its first trip into the garden on a weekend when you are around, so you can keep tabs on its movements and also accompany it on its first trip into the garden. Don’t carry it, though – allow it to explore as it likes, and keep its route back into the house open, so it can retreat if something frightens it.
It’s a good idea to release it just before a meal time, as a hungry cat is more likely to return. Make sure it is microchipped or wearing a collar with ID, too, in case it decides to go wandering.
Dogs
Shut your dog in on moving day
You might consider booking your dog into a boarding home or leaving it with a trusted friend for a few days before and after the move, as packing and your own raised stress levels can make it anxious.
If you decide to keep your dog with you, though, early on the day of removals, put it in one room where it can safely be confined. Make sure it has water and stick a sign on the door so the removal men don’t accidentally let it out. Feed it as usual, but not too close to the time of departure to avoid illness during the journey.
Shut your dog in on moving day
You might consider booking your dog into a boarding home or leaving it with a trusted friend for a few days before and after the move, as packing and your own raised stress levels can make it anxious.
If you decide to keep your dog with you, though, early on the day of removals, put it in one room where it can safely be confined. Make sure it has water and stick a sign on the door so the removal men don’t accidentally let it out. Feed it as usual, but not too close to the time of departure to avoid illness during the journey.
Appoint a responsible person
Make one member of the family solely responsible for the dog on the day of the move. This means that in all the upheaval of moving, one person knows where the dog is and is looking out for it.
Make one member of the family solely responsible for the dog on the day of the move. This means that in all the upheaval of moving, one person knows where the dog is and is looking out for it.
Don’t let your dog roam free at first
When you get to your new home, rather than letting your dog romp around it, confine it to one room, making sure the windows are closed, while you unpack and prepare the rest of the house. Provide it with it bed, water, familiar toys and even a blanket that smells of your old house for comfort. Again, a sign on the door will ensure everyone, including the removal team, knows the dog is inside.
When you get to your new home, rather than letting your dog romp around it, confine it to one room, making sure the windows are closed, while you unpack and prepare the rest of the house. Provide it with it bed, water, familiar toys and even a blanket that smells of your old house for comfort. Again, a sign on the door will ensure everyone, including the removal team, knows the dog is inside.
Make it smell like home
Your previous home would have been full of familiar scents, but the new house will contain only smells alien to your dog, which can make it feel insecure. To help, take a soft cloth and rub it around your pooch’s face to pick up the scent profile that’s unique to it. Then dab this around the rooms it will be in at dog height, so it starts to feel at home and bonds with the territory. Repeat this daily to build up the scent through all the rooms within the house. Don’t worry, only it can smell it!
Your previous home would have been full of familiar scents, but the new house will contain only smells alien to your dog, which can make it feel insecure. To help, take a soft cloth and rub it around your pooch’s face to pick up the scent profile that’s unique to it. Then dab this around the rooms it will be in at dog height, so it starts to feel at home and bonds with the territory. Repeat this daily to build up the scent through all the rooms within the house. Don’t worry, only it can smell it!
Help it settle with food
In the first day or two, help your dog settle in with small, regular meals, which will boost contact with it and help it feel reassured. After that, revert to your usual routine, so it can predict when it will be fed and will feel less anxious.
In the first day or two, help your dog settle in with small, regular meals, which will boost contact with it and help it feel reassured. After that, revert to your usual routine, so it can predict when it will be fed and will feel less anxious.
Get out there
Unlike with cats, there’s no need to keep your dog in for a period before letting it out to explore the garden. Make sure all fencing is secure, though, especially if your dog is small. Go with it on it first trips into the garden and, when you explore the area around your new home, keep it on a lead initially.
TELL US
Do you have any tips for helping a dog or cat settle into a new home? Please share them in the Comments section.
MORE
Doggy Decor: 10 Ways to Make Your Dog Feel Like Part of the Family
Pet Talk: A Guide to Dog and Cat Safety in Your Home
How to Put an End to Your Biggest Pet Peeves
Unlike with cats, there’s no need to keep your dog in for a period before letting it out to explore the garden. Make sure all fencing is secure, though, especially if your dog is small. Go with it on it first trips into the garden and, when you explore the area around your new home, keep it on a lead initially.
TELL US
Do you have any tips for helping a dog or cat settle into a new home? Please share them in the Comments section.
MORE
Doggy Decor: 10 Ways to Make Your Dog Feel Like Part of the Family
Pet Talk: A Guide to Dog and Cat Safety in Your Home
How to Put an End to Your Biggest Pet Peeves
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Confine your cat to one room
On the day of the move, shut your cat into one room, leaving food, bedding, a litter tray and its travel box wide open. Make sure the removal team know where the cat is so they don’t let it escape in the chaos of moving. It’s worth putting a notice on the door that clearly states the room is to remain shut.