As if it isn’t stressful enough to be moving from one house to another. It doesn’t matter if it is across town or across the country. When pets are involved, you need to take special precautions. They get pretty stressed out, too. Here’s a look at some tips to help make your move a little bit easier with your cat, dog, ferret or bird in tow.
1 – The Survival Kit
This is an essential tool that will preserve your sanity like nothing else. When you move with a pet, be sure to keep with you a kit that contains enough pet food, kitty litter, toys and assorted grooming tools for a day or two. This is so you can keep your pet comfortable during the unpacking and the sorting out where everything goes phase.
2 – Hide Them Away
The best way to keep your pet relaxed in your new home is to designate a location, like a small room, that is far enough away from the action that they won’t attempt to get underfoot. You may have to lock Fifi or Rover in a pet carrier in an outbuilding to keep them calm and that’s okay. The less stress, the better.
3 – Contact The Vet
You are going to need to spend some time in your vet’s office before and after moving. Mostly it’ll be for paperwork ranging from updating files with new address information to gathering files to take to a new vet or arranging for them to be transferred. Either way, you won’t want to have to do this during a pet emergency so take care of it now.
4 – Let Them Ride With You
If your move happens to be of the cross-country kind, you can do your pet a huge favour by taking them on the ride in your vehicle. This keeps them calm being around people they know. If you have to stay in a hotel for a night or two, opt for pet-friendly ones so you don’t upset your pet’s evening routine much if they usually sleep on the bed with you.
5 – Sensitive Pets
Birds, guinea pigs and fish don’t normally travel very well over distances. There are exceptions, but you may want to get the advice of your vet on how to best handle the situation. Change is tough on these kinds of pets and they need extra care in these circumstances.
6 – Keep Them Close
For the first few days in your new home, your pet is going to be confused. He/She may not eat regularly and just look depressed and lonely. It is important to try to incorporate the things your pet was used to doing at your old home. If walks or car rides were part of that routine, use them to help settle you pet into your new neighbourhood.
Need The Name Of A Kennel or Vet?
Moving is traumatic even if you don’t feel it immediately. I can help calm some of the storms you may encounter moving to or within the Niagara region with names and contact information that may be of help. Looking for a home here? I can help with that as well. Call me today at 289-213-7031.