What’s the best way to make moving house less stressful for you and your pets?
Australis removalists have moved thousands of families between Adelaide and Melbourne over its 30-plus years in business, and we know that pets are as much a part of the family unit as any human member. We also understand from experience that moving is stressful enough for people, but that it’s even harder on our beloved pets who don’t understand what’s happening or why they’re being dragged from their homes.
Fortunately, there are lots of things you can do to make the move easier on them.
Like all things related to moving house, there’s much to consider when it comes to relocating your pets. So to make things easier, Australis has broken this topic into two posts and this first one focuses on things pet owners can do before moving to ensure a smooth transition for their furry, feathered or scaly friends.
Travel Checklist
Start by preparing a travel checklist. Before you begin the packing process, consider your pets’ needs. Think about all of the following things and what applies to you and your pets. You’ll need to either keep these things handy during the move or have them packed separately for easy access once you arrive at your new home. But either way, having a checklist prepared will make moving day much easier for you and your pets:
- Veterinary records, ID chip details, certificates, and recent photos — do you have up-to-date records for all of these?
- Carriers and restraints for use during travel—have you got travel-worthy ones?
- Your pet’s usual brand of food and plenty of water—don’t leave this to the last minute as sudden diet changes can cause upset tummies.
- Bowls for water and food—have these handy for the move itself and once you arrive in your new home.
- Can opener, spoon, and containers with lids—for easy feeding on the go.
- Toys, chew bones and treats— have these handy to keep Fluffy happy.
- Leashes for both cats and dog—you don’t want your furry friend making a dash for freedom on the freeway!
- Usual pet beds with unwashed blankets or other bedding—familiar smells help ease pet anxiety when everything else is new to them.
- Plastic doggy bags and poop-scoops for dogs—don’t forget these when you’re traveling, especially if you have a long way to go, like from Adelaide to Melbourne.
- Litterbox and litter fill for cats—have them in your car and ready for your new home
- Transportable cages with cage covers for birds and rodents—are your cages small and sturdy enough for travel purposes? Do you need travel-specific cages?
- Paper towels and baby-wipes for messes—not pleasant in your car if you don’t have these handy.
- Food and litter supplies for the first few days in your new home—so that you’re not shopping for Fido in a new location at midnight.
Things to consider before you move
Before your existing home descends into chaos, there’s a bunch of stuff you can do to prepare your dog or cat for your move. All these small steps together will add up to a happier, less stressed pet on moving day. For less typical family pets, you might need to consult your vet for advice on how best to prep your pet.
Stick to routines
Dogs and cats react to stress with behavioral problems (often perceived as “naughtiness”) and can even get sick if they’re overly stressed. Try to keep the weeks leading up to moving day as normal as possible for them by sticking to their usual food, walk and play routines. By paying them the same sort of attention as you normally would (nothing more, nothing less), they’re less likely to twig that something is up.
Get a vet check-up
Make sure your pets are healthy in the lead-up to moving day, that they’re up-to-date with their vaccinations and that you have all scripts filled, a copy of their de-sexing and other certificates. If your pet is old, an anxious traveler or has health problems, speak to your vet about whether a mild sedative might assist them during the move. If you’re moving out of your current suburb or town, get your vet to recommend a new vet in the place to which you’re moving.
You can also ask your vet about the benefits of an AP (Appeasing Pheromone) plug-in device to use before, during and after moving. The AP calms your pet by releasing a scent which mimics the scent a mother releases to her litter. This device can help calm your pet during the move as well as help your pet transition more easily into your new home when everything there is new to them.
Visit your new home
If you’re moving to a place nearby, rather than moving interstate, take your dog to visit the new home. Let your pet see the new place, smell the local neighborhood, and show Fido that you’re relaxed in this new environment. So long as you keep them secured in a carrier, this can also work for cats. If your pet has visited your new place before you move, they’re less likely to immediately try and escape back to their old home. Vets also advise that if you place your cat or dog in a boarding kennel or cattery for a week or so before moving, they’ll be less likely to bolt straight back home. The ‘rest’ at the boarding place breaks the circuit association with going back to whence they’ve come.
Pack familiar things last
To keep your pets calm amidst the chaos of packing, make sure you leave their favourite toys, bedding, and essential equipment till last. They’ll get some comfort from having these familiar items around. It’s also a good idea to confine cats to a quiet room (like a bathroom or laundry) while the rest of the house is packed. Depending on your dog’s temperament, this can be a good idea for Fido too.
Consider your carrier
Is your cat carrier in travel-worthy condition? Would it withstand a long-haul trip such as Adelaide to Melbourne? What about your dog? How will you transport your dog safely in your car? Even if your dog is a happy traveler, some proper restraint is needed to keep your pet, you, and other drivers safe. Depending on how big your dog is, you could consider a dog crate, or a special car harness designed to fit with seat belts. Your local pet supplies store can probably advise what’s best, safest and most comfortable for your pet. Don’t leave this essential consideration to the last minute or it will be tempting to just shove your pet in the backseat.
Those are a lot of considerations you pet owners need to undertake in addition to everything else involved in moving house. So, we’ll leave it there for now and in our next post, we’ll give you our tips for what pet owners can do during the actual move and once you’ve arrived at your new home. Who said fur babies were easier than kids?!
