Top Tips for Moving House With Pets

The prospect of moving house is so exciting: it’s a brand new chapter in your life.  Everything is planned to perfection, right from the labelling of moving boxes (maybe?) to telling all your family and friends.  However, you’ve not been able to sit down with your furry friends and explain to them that their world is about to change!

On the run up to the move you may want to check your cats and dogs into a cattery or kennel so that you know they’re safe and not distressed by all the upheaval in the house.  The best thing is to base your plans on their personalities, if they’re confident and relaxed then you have no reason to worry about them on moving day.  What about if they’re not?

Your pets may struggle being in a new house that doesn’t have their own scent, and this could affect how safe they feel.  Blue Cross recommend taking a cloth and rubbing it gently over your dog or cat’s face and then transferring their scent onto walls or furniture.  This will help give them a sense of familiarity and keep them calm.  ADAPTIL diffuser plugs can have a calming effect on your dog and create a nurturing environment in your new home.  It would be useful to have it in a room that your dog spends most of their time in.  Feliway is the equivalent for cats and it contains a synthetic copy of natural cat pheromones which will make your cat feel more comfortable in their new environment.

With cats being more independent than dogs you may need to keep an eye on them when letting them outside.  If you haven’t moved far away, you can the run the risk of your cat picking up old routes and finding a way back to your old house.  To be on the safe side, keep your inquisitive feline indoors until they are more settled.  It would also be useful to update your contact details on your pet’s microchip so if they go walkabout, you’ll be able to locate them.

If you’re travelling further away to your new home and you know your pet isn’t a good traveller it would be worth popping into your vet for a chat about ways to help.  Vets can prescribe drugs that’ll combat travel sickness making for a stress-free journey.

When taking your dog for a walk in your new neighbourhood, keep them on an extendable lead, so that they have a chance to explore.  This is the perfect way to help your dog acclimatise to their new surroundings.  To make sure they have positive associations with your new house, give them plenty of attention (they won’t complain)! Give them a meal routine, plenty of playtime and grooming during exercise and at home.

If you keep your pet content and happy in their new home they’re less likely to pine for their old one.  It will most definitely make your own transition a lot more smooth sailing.

  Back to news