Just like for humans, moving can also be stressful for your pets. With all the action, large boxes, and the people going in and out of your place, they can easily get anxious, making the transition a bit of a challenge for you and everyone involved.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways that you can do to avoid pet-panic when relocating, which can include the following:
1. Get Familiar With Your New Areas Pet Rules And Regulations
Whether you’re moving to a city, town, or province, it’s important to conduct research about your new location’s pet rules and regulations. For instance, there may be specific pet breeds you can only bring to your new area. Also, the different homeowners’ associations and landlords may have certain pet rules that should be followed from start to finish.
Not only that but your pet may require additional medical certificates, medications, and vaccinations, depending on the place you’re going. Because of these things, be sure to check all the laws, rules, and regulations concerning pet ownership and care. That way, you can ensure you adhere to the guidelines once you arrive at your new area.
2. Contact Your Veterinarian
Before the move, be sure to call your veterinarian to inform them about the upcoming transition. Also, if you have time, bring your furry friend to them so they can get checked medically and take medical records and prescriptions with you. Lastly, don’t hesitate to ask if your existing veterinarian can recommend another one in your new neighborhood.
3. Prepare An Overnight Kit
Just like your own personal belongings, it’s also essential to pack an overnight kit to make sure your pets will be kept comfortable, entertained, and sustained throughout the whole relocation journey. When preparing an overnight kit, below are the following items to be included:
- Food and treats
- Food and water dishes
- Temporary litters if you have a cat
- Towels and blankets
- Favorite toys and other essential enrichment items
4. Hire A Pet-Friendly Moving Company
Regardless of whether you’re moving more exotic animals or the usual pets like cats and dogs, it’s best to hire professionals who offer pet-friendly moving services long-distance to handle the relocation for you.
Unless you’re an expert at moving, having movers by your side can make the process less stressful as they can use special equipment, materials, and skills to pack your pets’ belongings. And since they’re known for doing this stuff, don’t hesitate to ask for some recommendations for the transportation. That way, you can rest knowing that moving with pets doesn’t have to be a daunting task.
5. Keep Things Normal For Your Pets
A few days or weeks leading up to the moving day, it’s a good idea to maintain normality with your lovely furry companions. You can do this by packing your pets’ stuff over a long period of time such as leaving the food and water bowls until they last. Also, make sure to keep things normal like the usual feeding times and the schedules of their walks. By doing all of these things, you’re able to keep your stress level to a minimum.
6. Provide A Separate Place For Your Pets On The Moving Day
When moving from NYC to LA or wherever you may be located, your pets may get too stressed with all the action going on such as movers running back and forth to your house to transport all your boxes. Thus to avoid this situation from stressing you out, you may consider arranging a separate room in the house for your pets on the day of the relocation. Be sure to clear it with some other items and place your pets there along with anything that gives them comfort. These can include food, water, litter trays, beddings, and toys.
Once you have them there, don’t forget to keep your windows and doors closed and put a sign on your door to inform your movers why they shouldn’t enter the room. However, if you want someone to watch them, you may ask help from a family member or a friend to do it for you, thereby removing them from the chaos of relocating.
7. Pet-Proof Your New Home
To ensure your pets’ safety in your new home, be sure to pet-proof it by checking your house’s perimeter before letting them out and inspecting if there are holes or gaps in your fence. Also, conduct a full house inspection to make sure your furry friends are safe and secure in their new location. Lastly, try to walk them on a leash so they can get used to their new place.
The Bottom Line
Indeed, relocating your pets can be a challenging experience. Therefore, if you want to reduce the stress brought about by this process, keep the tips mentioned above in mind and you’re good to go. You’re now ready to snuggle up with your pets and enjoy your new place of abode.
