7 Tips Everyone Moving With Pets Should Follow

Do Pets Know When You Are Moving?

Did you know that around 38.4% of households have a dog and 25.4% a cat, according to the US Pet Ownership Statistics? If you’re one of them and currently planning to move to a new city and wondering how do I move my pet to another state, there are a few things you should consider. Animals experience things differently than humans, but it’s inevitable that your relocation is going to affect them in some way. Animals have a tendency to stick to their routines, usually even more than humans. The reality you provide them is the only thing they know about.

Assuming you’re here because you love your pet and you’re willing to do anything to keep them happy and genuinely care about their well-being, we will give you some useful tips. You’ll learn how to keep your furry friend happy during and after the relocation while reducing their and your relocation stress as well.

They are aware that a change is happening, and the same way as children, they can notice if you’re upset or nervous about your upcoming relocation. Your emotions will affect them, so you should take proper care of them during this process and not let them experience any trauma. This won’t be hard with our convenient tips so keep reading.

What Is the Best Way to Move With Pets?

Just like every human is different and experiences these changes differently, animals have a personality of their own and tend to have different reactions to this process. One thing is certain – if they don’t feel alone and you provide them enough attention, it will be much easier for them to go through this transition. Who knows your furry friend better than you? You’re the only person who knows them well enough to think of the best ways to help them.

For example, if they love late-night walks, try not to skip that part of their routine. If they are used to sleeping next to you, this is something you should continue doing even after the move to make the process less stressful for them. The best thing you can do is to be patient and give them enough time to adapt to changes, even if this means giving them more attention than usual.

#1 Stay Organized and Plan Your Actions When Moving With Pets

Relocating in a hurry isn’t the best way to handle this situation, so ensure that you start planning everything as soon as you find your dream house and enough reasons to move. Animals are very sensitive, and they can feel if you’re stressed or anxious, sometimes before you’re even aware of it.

In order to provide them with enough attention and comfort, you need to stay organized and handle everything from your relocation to-do list appropriately. If you stay on the right track and have enough energy for all of your responsibilities, such as changing the address or even organizing important documents, you’ll also have enough time for them, and that’s one of the most important parts of this process.

Get Suitable Packing Materials

Start organizing your move by getting suitable packing materials. If you get everything you need in advance, you won’t be overwhelmed with tasks when the relocation day approaches. While thinking of your belongings and things you’re going to bring to your new house, think of your beloved animal as well.

If their old sleeping pillow is in bad condition, you should consider getting a new one, but if it’s still functional, you can bring it with you to give your furry friend a feeling of something familiar, even at a strange place. Once you start packing, don’t pack all of their stuff immediately. You can pack some things they don’t use frequently, but keep essentials available until the relocation day comes.

#2 Prepare Your Pet for What’s Coming

If you have never taken your furry friend for a car ride before and you feel like this is going to be a stressful experience for them, try training them before the move. If your next home is not that far and you plan to drive there, practicing short rides can be a good method for them to adjust. While you’re training them, don’t forget about petting them and feeding them with some delicious treats, so they can get adjusted to car rides as something positive and comfortable.

Visit the New Home With Your Pet Before the Move, if Possible

Once you find your dream house or apartment and you’re done with house-hunting, visit it once before the move if possible, and take your furry friends to explore their new territory as well. Let them get to know the space and get slowly adjusted to the upcoming change. It will be much easier for them to adapt later if you move them to a place they’ve already been to.

While you’re there for the first time, give them enough attention and try to remember their reactions to certain parts of the house. If you think they like some particular corner better than the rest, this might be an ideal spot to place their bed once you finally move in.

#3 Consult With Your Vet

Consulting a vet during this process might be a smart thing to do, especially if you’re moving across country. Your veterinarian is someone who can give you good advice on how to handle the situation. Not only have they already advised other pet owners, but they also know how your furry friend reacts to some specific situations and how to comfort them when they are stressed, upset, or in pain.

Give Them Medicines if Needed

If a veterinarian believes that some dogs won’t handle this situation very well, they might suggest you give them some medicines to comfort them during and after the transition. If this is necessary, don’t hesitate to follow their advice. Sometimes it is much better to make your doggo calm during the process by giving them meds than to let them experience potentially stressful situations. So that is also one of the things to consider when relocating to another state.

#4 Make Sure Your New Home Is Pet-Proofed

Another thing you should think through when relocating with your furry friend is making your home a safe and secure place for them. You don’t want to risk any injuries, so make sure you pet-proof all the parts of your new home before letting your dogs or cats inside. That’s one of the essential things to do when relocating to a new home. The same thing applies to the backyard. If you notice that the fence is broken or that some sharp wires are out and might hurt your furry friend, ensure you secure everything before letting your dogs out of their travel carrier to play unsupervised.

Keep Them Away From Action

Once the relocation day finally comes, you should avoid having them around – whether you’re relocating alone or hiring professionals for assistance. Having your cat or dog running around freely might disturb you and your helpers. Your dog can, for example, make some of the cross country movers uncomfortable if they are afraid of animals, or they can run between their legs while they are relocating heavy furniture and other large items that might be dangerous. You don’t want some fragile items to get broken, so make sure your pet stays at a safe distance or closed in a room to avoid any contact with the crew.

Ask Someone to Take Care of Them on the Moving Day

If you feel like you already have a lot on your mind and you can’t provide your pet enough attention, maybe asking someone to take care of them while you handle other tasks isn’t a bad idea. This can be another family member or your friends who already have a good relationship with your beloved animal. They can be in charge of walking and feeding them regularly, so you’ll have enough time to handle all the other responsibilities.

#5 Pack Their Essentials

The same way you pack moving essentials for yourself, you should think of packing your pet’s essential items. This can be:

• Their favorite toys,
• Some extra food and treats,
• Clothes,
• Medicines,
• Documents,
• Water.

Keep all of these essentials close to you because you’ll probably have to comfort them during the relocation process.

Their Favorite Toys Can Bring Them Comfort

Your pet’s favorite toy isn’t just a toy – it’s a thing that provides them comfort and a feeling that they are safe and taken care of. The smell of a favorite toy or a blanket probably reminds them of you and your old home, so it will help them go through the transition smoothly and easily. Check out this video about moving with pets tips that will calm your cat and help her prepare for moving cross country.

#6 Give Them Enough Time to Adjust to Changes

Once the adventure of relocating to a new city is over, and you finally are there, you have to be patient with your furry friend and give them enough time to adjust to the unfamiliar environment after they traveled there. The adjustment period can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, so be patient, after that, you can enjoy all the benefits of relocating with your furry friends.

Pay More Attention to Your Pets Than Usually

During this period, you might notice that your beloved animal isn’t acting as usual, but that’s normal. Try giving them more attention than usual, even if you have a lot of things to unpack and handle and walk them as often as possible. If they know they have you by their side, it will be easier for them to adjust.

Ask Your Neighbors for Help

If you feel like you can’t pay enough attention to your cat or dog after moving into your new home, maybe this is an excellent opportunity to meet your neighbors. Ask them to pay attention to your pet while you’re at work or handling some other tasks. You’ll benefit in two ways – you’ll meet your neighbors and potentially make some friends, plus you won’t leave your pet unsupervised. If they are pet owners themselves, they’ll understand your struggle, plus they might recommend you a good veterinarian in the area.

#7 Hiring Professional Cross Country Moving Company, so You Can Have More Time for Your Furry Friends

Now that you know how to move pets across the country and handle all of the potentially problematic and stressful situations, you should also consider doing something for yourself. Professional assistance might be very beneficial in this process. If you don’t know many relocation hacks, and you did not get many relocation tips from your friends and family, opting for only one of the professional relocation services such as the packing service might be life-saving in this situation. Relocating with dogs or cats will be much easier, and you’ll have a stress-free relocation with your furry friend.