Moving home is stressful enough on your own but when pets and children are involved, the stress-o-meter level can get quite scary! Forgetting the kids for now, let’s just think about how we deal with pets during the move.
If you are moving abroad then taking your pets with you becomes a whole thing in itself and this is beyond the remit of this article. Needless to say, customs and border controls in each country may vary but you are almost certainly going to need permission to take an animal across an international border and if using public transport you’re going to need to make special provision for transit.
Here are 10 top tips to help make moving home with pets less of a headache;
1: Have a plan in place for when you get to your new home. If you have a dog make sure it is secure in your garden or out of the way where it can do no damage. If you own a cat you might want to keep it indoors during the move so as to stop it wandering off!
2: Keep your pet undisturbed in a room until the last minute. Pets will get disturbed by strangers and noise so try and keep them away from it all until the last minute. Better still, ask a friend or family member to look after your pet for a few days or book it into kennels for the duration (remember to get its shots up to date).
3: Vets can supply soothing pheromone sprays to calm your cat if you think it necessary.
4: Make sure it’s you that is transporting your pets. They are also just as likely to suffer from car sickness, so if it’s a long journey consult your vet for advice. Take the pet’s bedding with you and bring a supply of water and food for long trips.
5: Make sure you pack the water bowls, pet food, basket, litter and chews in a box you can access quickly and easily. This might be something you pack in your own car so as not to lose it.
6: Ensure that your pet is properly collared or tagged and if your pet is chipped make sure the chip data is updated. In case you lose them, leave a note with your buyers with your forwarding address. This is always useful for stray bills, but cats and dogs have been known to return to their old homes long after their owners have moved on. Just think what it’s like for the owners of racing pigeons!
7: We all know this, but never be tempted to leave your pets in a vehicle. It’s too easy to forget them with so much going on and losing a much-loved family pet on a hot summer’s day because you all forgot about him is no way to start life in your new home.
8: Once your pets are at your new home introduce them to their bed and feed them. Get them back into a routine and make sure the garden is secure before you let them into it. In the case of cats, perhaps wait 24 hours before you let them out.
9: Try and make your new home as familiar as possible as soon as possible. Pets rely on smell to mark territory, so stroking your dog or cat with a soft cloth and then wiping it on some surfaces around its bed will help it feel at home faster.
10: Once you’ve settled in make sure to make an extra fuss of your pet. You want your much-loved pet to associate good things with your new home as soon as possible. This will help it settle in and reduces the chance of it wandering off in search of its old territory!
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