Moving can be difficult, let alone when you factor in pets. Moving for them is even more stressful than it is for us. We cannot exactly explain to them what’s going on, and it can feel as if their entire world is changing. Due to this, it is incredibly important to make sure we pay extra attention and care to accommodate our pets during a move. Here are 3 tips for moving with your pets. Disclaimer – this article pertains mostly to our furry friends, such as cats and dogs. For more exotic pets, do some more research 🙂
Contact Your Vet
Everything about moving is stressful. Our pets can be more in tune to our emotions than even we are. Furthermore, compounding our stress with the stress our pets are already feeling from their home rapidly changing can be more than overwhelming. Therefore, it is important to contact your vet to see if there are any medications you can give your pet to keep them calm and preferably drowsy. For those of you who are more averse to medicating your pets, there are plenty of natural options as well. CBD for pets has worked wonders for our high-anxiety pooch.
Keep Them Out of the Packing
If possible, it is best to not have your pets be around areas of busy packing. Seeing all “their” belongings being put away into boxes is very confusing to them, especially if it is being done by a moving crew, or to them complete strangers. My daughter claims that when she was packing up her college townhome, her cats went a bit crazy and were obviously very stressed out. This was evident by extra meowing, attention seeking, and running around the home. It is easier for them to essentially feel as if they are just plopped into a new location, one already with the familiar scents and sights of, “their stuff.”
Research Transportation
How you transport your pet from your old to new home is very important and will make a big impact on how your pet handles the move. My husband swears every time we had our first dog fly under the plane, it took years off his life. So much so during the last few moves of his life, my husband opted for 15–20-hour drives, to make it easier on the dog. That being said, some pets handle air travel just fine. Especially if they can sit with you on the plane. Essentially make sure you know all your options before moving your pet. Back to medication, it is so much easier on your animal if they are sedated, so keep this in mind as well.