How to Move with Pets

For pet owners of all types out there, tackling the moving process efficiently means more than just packing up your items and heading to your new home – it means having to factor your pet’s feelings and comfort into everything you do, including your choice of home and the moving process itself.

Moving can be a pretty complicated process, and taking your pet into account during this process can make things even more complicated, so staying prepared is key to not only keeping their stress levels down but yours as well. After all, trying to coordinate your move while simultaneously trying to factor in your pet’s safety and stress levels and getting them to your new home at the last minute isn’t exactly ideal for anyone.

If you’re worried or anxious about how your pet might adjust to moving, channeling this anxiety constructively into planning and anticipating your pet’s needs will help you in the long run. The care and attention to detail you’ll take as a result of this will let you and your pet get through this with minimal stress, and giving yourself plenty of time to plan will also make things easier on your entire household.

So how do you prepare your pet for a move, and what do you do come moving day? No matter the distance of your move, getting your pet adjusted to the moving process and ready to go on moving day will make a huge difference in the success of your relocation. Keep reading to get the best tips to take care of your pet come moving day.

How to Prepare a Pet for Moving

No matter where you’re headed, moving with your pet in mind is essential to making sure everybody is happy in your new space, and that your relocation will go smoothly overall. When looking at new places, always take into account their pet policies and the environment your pet will be in once you move, and make sure that you think they’ll be happy there.

Try to ease both yourself and them in the moving process and the idea of moving itself. Of course, you can’t just explain that you’re moving to them, but easing them into the transition by packing gradually and keeping their routine consistent throughout your planning and packing process will make a huge amount of difference.

How to Move with Your Pet

Once you’re moving day rolls around, keeping your pet as comfortable as possible while your furniture and items are moved out is important not just to keep them comfortable, but to keep them safe as well. There’s nothing worse than trying to move very heavy or awkward furniture or boxes and accidentally hurting your pet because they were loose and running around your house anxiously during the move-out process.

What to Do with Your Pet on Moving Day

In the best-case scenario, you should try to bring your pet to a friend or family member’s house during your moving day so that they can be safe, entertained, and out of the way of all of the chaos going on as your things are brought out of your home. Make sure it’s somebody your pet already knows and is comfortable with, and have them drop your pet off or pick them up once your things have been moved out. If you regularly have a sitter for your pets, see if you can bring them to their house or introduce them to a new sitter they’ll stay with ahead of time.

If you don’t have a place to take them, try to set aside a separate room for them to stay in while things are moved around. Outfit the room with their bed, blankets, toys, food, and water so that they’re surrounded by familiar items that can bring them comfort. If you don’t have an area to relocate them to in your home, try to keep them in a carrier or on a leash and as safe and out of the way as possible. Otherwise, try to keep them secure and with you at all times and reassure them as much as possible.

No matter where you keep them, keeping your pet safe and out of the way should of course be your top priority to keep them calm and less anxious. Especially if your pet is easily stressed or anxious to begin with, they can easily get in the way of you or your movers and hurt or spooked during the process.

How to Travel with Your Pet

When traveling to your new place, make sure that your pet is with you and is embarking on your trip by your side. This is especially important for long-distance or international moving, which has a lot of other factors at play.

If you’re driving with them, make sure that they’re comfortable and familiar with traveling over longer periods, and take them out of the car frequently for breaks or water.

If you’re flying or moving overseas, try to break up your flights over a day or two if they’re especially long to give them a break and bring them out of the airport. Make sure they’re fully tired from exercise and have had time to eat and destress before your flight. It might make your journey longer to break up your flights (especially long travels), but it will be worth it to keep your pet safe.

If flying, you should also try to avoid having your pet travel in the cargo hold of the plane if possible. Research your airline’s rules for pet travel, and see if you can buy them a seat on the plane with you. Having them travel underneath the plane can be extremely dangerous, not to mention stressful for your pet, so keeping them with you at all times should be a priority. For overseas trips, try to buy them a seat on the plane with you, or you can even research private chartered flights for pet owners (especially for those with large or senior dogs), which will give you the option to fly safely with your pet, and split costs with other pet owners headed to the same area. You can do this by joining Facebook groups or by talking to specific brokers who are experienced in bringing pets overseas.

Stay Calm and Patient

No matter where you’re headed, the most important thing to remember is that your pet is stressed because they love you, and doesn’t want you to leave them. Your home is their home too, and not understanding what’s going on can be extremely stressful.

Devote some extra time to them just to give them a little extra attention and care, and try to reassure them as much as you can that this process is temporary, and that you’re not going anywhere without them.

Looking for the best movers for your transition? No matter the size or scope of your move, see what working with Carey Moving & Storage can do to absolve you of any unneeded stress or disorganization during your moving process. Learn more or request a free quote from us today!