Make your move easier on your pets

Moving day can be stressful for everyone – including your pets – so take a look at our guide to ensure a smooth move for you and your animals.

The sudden activity in the home during the build-up and on moving day can cause undue stress for your pets, not to mention the new environment. Strange noises, smells, and people can make it overwhelming, so we’ve put together some tips on how to make the experience a little easier.

Keeping stress to a minimum

If you can, you should try and book some kind of care for your pets, whether it’s a doggy daycare, a cattery, or just having them stay with a friend or family member. Keeping them away from the chaos of moving day will do wonders for keeping those stress levels down.

If your pet is staying with you on the day, try to keep them in a safe space in the home, away from the noise and commotion. A crate in an empty, quiet bedroom would be the safest option for dogs. Cats, however, would prefer the freedom of the whole room.

Making your new home safe

When you’re in your new home, make sure that everything is secure before letting your pets roam their new environment. Plus, you’ll want to create them a safe space: placing your pet’s bedding and favourite toys in a quiet room will help them feel more settled and at home.

For dogs, take them on a little lead walk of your garden, letting them take their time and take in all the new smells. For cats, we’d recommend keeping them inside of the house for at least a couple of weeks, so that they’re familiar with their new surroundings before going outside.

Sticking to a routine

Routine is important, especially for pets such as dogs. Try to keep their walking and feeding schedule as similar as possible after the move, so that the transition is a little easier.

For cats, similar feeding times help to reassure them that things are normal and there’s nothing to be afraid of. Keep a litter tray close to where they have chosen as their safe space while also keeping another tray in a more permanent location.

Ask the experts

Before the day of your move, speak to your vet about your pets. They are the experts and can tell you everything you need to know and what to look out for. Plus, while you’re there, you can update your pets’ details and microchip.