Chris Gmyr

There is a lot of information available about the challenges of moving with children, but not as much attention is paid to the difficulty of moving with Fluffy and Fido. Unlike children, who can mostly understand the move and who can communicate their concerns (unless they are very young), your pets aren’t going to know what’s going on. All they know is that their homes are being changed drastically (as you pack) and then they are being brought to an unfamiliar place.

One of the most important things to remember when moving with pets is to keep everything as familiar as possible. Try to not alter your pet’s daily schedule. If you always go for a long walk after dinner, for example, keep the walk as part of your routine, even if you are short on time. Also, try to stretch out the move for as long as possible. Start packing when you decide to move instead of rushing during the last week or two. A slower transition will make the move go a lot smoother, for both you and your pet.

Create a “pet room” in both the home you are moving out of, and the home you are moving into. The pet room should have food and water dishes, a litter box for cats, toys, a sleeping area, and anything else your pet needs to feel secure. Put a sign on the door, asking that no one goes into the room, or lets the animals out. If you will be using a moving crate for your pets, leave the crate on the floor, open, so that the animals can investigate it for a day or two. When you let them out of the crate, keep them in the pet room for a few days, while you set up your new home. Not having to see the home with boxes piled everywhere will help the transition.

Make sure you have new tags, with your new address written on them, made up before the move. On moving day, or even a day or two before, put on the new tags. Make sure your leashes are in good shape and readily available at any point during the move. If your dog needs to go out, you won’t have time to dig through boxes.

If you will be moving to a new town, make one last visit to the vet’s office for a final check-up and to get copies made of your pet’s medical file. You will be able to bring these documents to a vet in your new town, saving yourself more paperwork down the road.

If you will be driving long distance with your pet for the move, remember to stop often, every two hours or so, to give them fresh water and to give them a chance to walk around. Rest areas often have pet-friendly areas just for this purpose. Keep the car at a comfortable temperature, and cover the cages, to help the pet feel more secure.

If you will be flying to your new home, call airlines in advance to ask about their guidelines and regulations. Try to choose the airline company with the best pet-friendly policy, preferably one that offers a non-stop flight to your location, reducing the amount of handling required for shipping your pet. Make reservations as soon as possible, and call the day before the flight to confirm.

It may take several days, even a few weeks, for some pets to adjust to a new home. Other pets will experience very little anxiety, and be excited to explore their new environment. It depends on the temperament of the animal and how pet-friendly you can make the move. Be patient and understanding, and provide lots of extra attention, and your pet will settle into his or her new home in no time at all.