Removals and Storage

…for your moving day:

1. Prepare a box of ‘essentials’ - i.e. coffee, tea, sugar, a few mugs, toilet paper, mobile phone charger, local takeaway menu’s and a bottle of wine - and keep it in the car so it doesn’t get lost amongst your other belongings on the day.
   You will definitely need this for that first evening (and maybe second and third) when you’re unpacking your things, and everything is just generally hectic.
2. Save important ‘on-the-day’ numbers in your phone, don’t just write them down.
   Your removal company’s number is most important, just in case you need to get hold of them. Perhaps you could take down the number of your local storage company, locksmith’s and cleaners too - you never know what could go wrong!
3. Carefully secure your pets and try to keep them calm during the move.
   The last thing you want is a runaway dog, or your removal men being attacked by a stressed out cat.
4. Keep a few toy, books and some food unpacked for your children, and designate them an empty room to play in, or give them a small task to keep them occupied, during the move. Moving day can be very boring or confusing for the little ones, so a little free space goes a long way (and hopefully they will be less upset when they see their things being hauled into a van!).
5. Don’t freak out.
   Stay calm, drink lots of fluids and eat regularly. Moving is hectic and stressful (and it can be upsetting seeing all your memories packed into boxes) but stay calm and remember that in a weeks time when everything is over and unpacked, you will have a lovely new home to fill with new memories.

Good Luck!

When moving home don’t underestimate the extent of the effect that this may have on your household pet.

Of course some pets will hardly notice the move such as fish, however; most pets will at least be aware of the disruption around them and others may become positively stressed.

Animals that are kept indoors and in cages such as hamsters or rabbits can be moved with reasonable ease. Make sure that their containers are clean and secure before putting them into transportation.

If you are moving a considerable distance a purpose built travelling cage, available from most pet shops is advisable.

Once they have arrived in the new property try to ensure that they have some familiar sights such as their immediate cage decorations and some familiar furniture.

With larger pets such as dogs or cats a period of introduction may be necessary whereby they are not able to leave the property for the first fortnight or so.

A dog can be taken out on a lead to familiarize him with the immediate area. This can sometimes be done prior to moving. If you are moving with dogs ensure that you leave a note for the new owner of your property detailing your dog and your contact number in case they make their way back!

Also make sure that you change their collar tag to reflect your new location.

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.

Moving your pets doesn’t not have to be worry. make sure you have a tag made with your name, new phone number (and mobile phone number if possible) so that it is ready to put onto his/her collar for the day of the move. If they escape during the move or immediately after, this will increase their chances of getting back to you.

Try to avoid putting the animals name on the tag as anyone who finds them and wants to keep them will find it easier to bond with your animal. If you are planning to move a long distance away and your dog or cat suffers from travel sickness or severe anxiety in the car, talk to your vet about medication to make the journey less stressful for them.

Cats should always be transported in a safe container. Leave the carrier around for a few days or even weeks before your move, so that the cat becomes used to the sight and smell of it. although i sat with one cat on my knee with a lead on its collar.Leave the cat in the carrier until you have one room set up to accommodate him. This should contain water, food and a litter tray. When the room is ready (all doors and windows shut and fireplaces blocked) let him out of the carrier.

Make sure that you leave him with some familiar bedding and if it is a cold day, a hot water bottle wrapped in a blanket. This should make him feel more secure.

When the removal van has left, the exterior doors are firmly shut and you are ready to collapse in a heap, let your cat out to explore a little. It may be wise to confine this initial exploration to just a couple of rooms so that he is not totally overwhelmed. when i moved our cats we sat outside the back door with the door open and let them explore in there own time, when moving dogs leave packing the dog toys, bedding and other equipment to the last moment so that he/she is comforted by the presence of familiar things.

Do not wash bedding until a couple of weeks after the move, so that they will have something familiar smelling in the new house. we got from a neglected home we took him home and fed him , i had never seen an animal eat so fast we then took him in the park in the dog section and when we let him off his lead, he never left our side side pobably because he had had more affection in 1 hour than he had had in 6 months, if i walked him towards where he used to live he would pull the other way , so in my experience a loved animal will be happy as long as you are close to them.

Be patient with your dog in the new home and make allowances for ‘accidents’ on the carpet if they should happen. Don’t make a fuss, punish your dog or draw his attention to them as this may make the problem worse. Quietly pick up the mess and clean the area with a biological solution, or special cleaner from the vets or pet shop to properly remove the smell. Once your dog has settled in they should stop.

Always praise him when he goes to toilet in the correct place (i.e. outside!) so that he knows where to go. After the move take your dog for a walk straight away. Aid your dog to become well-known with the fresh neighbourhood. Let it smell around and mark its territory.

If your dog is micro chipped, then phone Petlog to get his records changed to your new address