Moving The Pets
The following are some tips to help avoid stressed out pets when you move house.
1. Cats and dogs will get very agitated when they see you packing everything into boxes and vans. A few months before you move, move their chosen sleeping place (e.g. a basket or crate) into somewhere which won’t be disturbed when removal men, family and friends are coming in and out and moving things.
2. When you do start packing up, make sure you pack up their sleeping place last of all, and make sure nobody disturbs it when they are moving other furniture and things, so that your pet knows he or she has somewhere safe to retreat to.
3. If you are moving a long way, it might be best to leave a cat carrier open and encourage your cat to sleep there for a few months before you move, so that they will be less frightened on the long journey. If you have a particularly nervous pet who doesn’t like cars, ask your vet if they can prescribe a sedative to help calm your pet for the duration.
4. When you get to the new house, it might be best to shut your pet in a quiet room for the time being with food, water, bedding and a litter tray (or make sure dogs have been to the toilet) as with people coming in and out it is easy for a cat or dog to slip outside unnoticed.
5. You can buy pheremone plug-ins which help to calm a nervous dog or cat, these can be helpful to plug in for the first few days or at least until most things have been moved to their proper place.
6. It is a good idea not to let your dog off the lead for the first few days when you walk him, unless he is very good at coming when he is called.
7. When your cat has settled down after the first week or two, let her out when she is hungry so that she has motivation to return.
8. It is a good idea to get your pet microchipped if it is not already before you move so that if your pet gets lost, it can be returned to you. If your pet is microchipped, make sure the details on file are up to date and add a mobile number if you don’t know the new house phone number.
9. Make sure you have the phone number of a local vet handy if you are moving away from your current one. It will be invaluable in the case of an emergency.
10. No matter how disgusting your pet’s bedding is, don’t wash it until you have been in the new house for at least a few weeks, or your pet seems settled. The smell will be comforting to them and reassure them that they are home.