Moving is a stressful time for everybody - especially your pets. Think about it: all of a sudden their comfort zone is heaving with removal men, and their favorite toys, once dotted around the house, are packed up into boxes. But not to worry, here are 6 things you can do prior, during and after moving to help settle your pets into their new environment.
1. Help your pet get familiar with their new area prior to the move
If your new location is within driving distance, think about walking your dog around the area before the big move, giving them a chance to acclimatize to the surroundings and take in all those new smells. This way when you arrive for good it won’t be such a huge shock for them.
Once you've moved into your new house, check that your garden is fully secure before letting them out.
2. Try to keep their routine
When it comes to your pet adjusting to a new environment, keeping to their normal routine is super important, even if it means stopping in the middle of a task. Try to stick to their usual feeding and walking times to help maintain stability and avoid too much confusion for them.
Variations happen, but the more you can stick to your dog’s usual daily routine when you’re settling in, the better they will be able to adjust to all of the changes taking place around them.
3. Make sure they are cared for on the day of your move
It's a given that you’ll be very busy on the day of the move, so think ahead and make sure your pet is still well looked after and supervised for the day, especially if there will be unfamiliar faces coming in and out of your home. There’s also the risk that if someone accidentally leaves a door or gate open, your pet could go missing.
Instead, think about keeping your pet with trusted friends, family or a pet sitter for the day, away from all the chaos at home. If no one is available, keep them secured in one room with anything that will keep them comfortable for the duration, such as bedding, food, water, toys and litter trays.
4. Set up their space straight away
Once you arrive at your new home, you’ll want to find somewhere quiet and out of the way where your pet can stay while you move everything in. Again, make them as comfortable as possible with their familiar items such as toys, bedding and a fresh bowl of water. This doesn’t have to be the place you intend to keep these things indefinitely, but even a temporary corner will go a long way toward easing stress and keeping your pet comfy.
It’s also a good idea to avoid washing their bedding/toys for a few weeks so they can still smell the old house and feel at home, despite being somewhere new.
5. Allow your pet to explore the new environment
Once you’re all moved in, it’s time to introduce your pet to their new home. For dogs, allow them to explore the new environment in their own time. Accompanying them on this tour can be reassuring as some dogs are more weary than others and will benefit from having you there.
The exploring process needs to be taken more slowly with cats, who are strongly territorial and likely to find any move quite stressful. The RSPCA encourages keeping cats in an enclosed area rather than letting them roam freely, and access to an outdoor escape-proof enclosure is highly recommended as this can increase the opportunity for stimulation for contained cats.
6. Give them lots of attention
Although moving is chaotic and time consuming, your pets will need extra attention to get through it. Be generous with affection and encouraging words, and allow for some quality time together in between tasks.
Taking a couple minutes to throw around their favorite toy or to give out belly rubs will assure your pet that everything is okay and that, while you may be running around, they are still a main priority.
7. Stay home as much as you can to begin with
Ideally, your dog shouldn’t be left alone in the new home for more than half an hour for the first few days, so do your best to stay with them, even if it means turning down some plans or working from home (if you can). If you need to pop out, try and take them with you or see if a friend or family member can look after them while you’re gone.
For the first time you leave them for a longer period of time, tire them out on a long walk prior to leaving, in the hope they sleep while you’re gone.
Written by Kate, on behalf of Falconer Removals.
