Top 10 Tips for Moving with a Pet
with Dr. Andrew Bean
Friends and Neighbors,
As the weather gets warmer, we are approaching peak season for moving. Moving homes is a big to-do on its own, but any pet parent knows transitioning their pet is an added task. In this article, Dr. Andrew Bean provides the Top 10 Tips for Moving with a Pet.
Do your research. Before choosing your new neighborhood. Will this area be suitable for you and your pet? If you have a social pup, are there dog parks nearby? If your pet is a senior, you may want to avoid buildings with lots of stairs. If you’re downsizing, consider getting your cat a climbing tree or house! Set you and your pet up for success by choosing an area that you both will do well in.
Condition. Conditioning your pet for the big day is just as important as packing! In the days leading up to the move, make sure they are adequately exercised and stimulated. This will allow for your pet to get out any looming anxiety as they see their owner packing up the home. You can check our Stay-at-Home Enrichment blog for some DIY ideas! For our feline friends, this is a great opportunity to get them comfortable with being in a carrier. Check our next tip for ways to get them comfortable!
3. Use Positive Reinforcement. For any conditioning, we always recommend using positive reinforcement training methods. This means using a positive association to get the response you want from your pet. If your cat hates being in their carrier, you can begin dropping high value treats in there to entice them to enter at their own pace without being forced. Once they begin entering the carrier on their own, you can then transition to short drives while they are in their carrier. The goal is to condition them with positive rewards so they are happy to show the behavior on their own.
4. Have a plan. If you’d like to avoid having your pet be a part of the moving day altogether, have a plan for a sitter. If you don’t have a personal sitter, give yourself enough time to schedule your pet a boarding reservation at your local pet boarding facility. Boarding facilities require up-to-date vaccinations and negative fecal exams before scheduling a reservation, so be sure to account for that when planning your move! If your pet is staying with you throughout the move, consider the use of pheromones. Products like Feliway for cats and Adaptil for dogs are synthetic pheromones that replicate natural calming ones that the animal’s bodies make. They are a good way to let your pet know that their new home is safe and welcoming. Check out Redfin’s Moving with Pets blog for more tips!
5. Keep them away from the action. Do your best to keep your pet out of high traffic areas in your current home and new home during the move. Plan to assemble a quiet room first before you begin setting up the common areas. For example, place your pet’s bed or crate in a quiet, isolated room with pheromones where they can have some privacy while the bigger parts of the home are being rearranged.
6. Pet proof. Check all outlets, exposed wire or gaps in entry ways. Make sure there is no rodenticide or insecticide present anywhere. Let your pet hang in a bedroom while you unpack the kitchen to ensure they don’t ingest any toxic foods or drinks.
7. Update their ID’s. Under all circumstances, make sure your pet is microchipped! Register your pet’s chip with your new address information.
8. Settle in slowly. Let them adjust to one room at a time before they begin roaming this new space. Let them take their time sniffing around and exploring their new home. Make sure they have ample access to litter boxes and food/water bowls. Place their belongings in tucked away places of your home, avoiding high traffic areas.
9. Be respectful of your neighbors. No matter how social your pet is, never let them roam hallways or walkways off leash. If your new home has a private backyard, roam away! However, if you are living in a shared space, be respectful of your new neighbors and their pets by keeping your pet on leash and accounted for at all times.
10. Contact your vet. Contact your primary care veterinarian for medication recommendations if your pet experiences anxiety. Your veterinarian can prepare a treatment plan for your pet for before, during and after the move! If you are transferring to a new veterinary clinic, contact your current clinic so they can transfer your records. Typically, we recommend an AAHA accredited clinic.
We hope you found these tips useful and that they help you keep your pet happy and healthy! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask us. As always, we’re here for you and your pets.
Sincerely,
The BLVD Team