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Moving With Pets - 6 Top Tips

Couple and dog moving

Moving house can be stressful. Moving with pets can be even trickier. It isn’t as though you can explain to them what’s happening. While you’re aware that all the upheaval is worthwhile, your pets are liable to see a move as an unwanted disruption and that can take its toll if you aren’t careful. 

As well as worrying about packing and making arrangements with moving companies like Chess Moving, it’s vital you take time to plan a move with the least possible stress for your pet. This is crucial for owners of dogs and cats, but it also matters for owners of nervous animals like rabbits and guinea pigs.  

No matter your pet though, you can guarantee that failure to consider their needs will end in unnecessary distress or even health problems. That’s any owner’s worst nightmare and it’s something which you can easily avoid by considering these helpful tips before, during, and after your move.

1. Make veterinary arrangements

Before your moving day itself, it’s vital that you contact your pet’s vet. They’ll be able to provide you with any records which you need in order to make the transition to a vet in your new area as seamless as possible. The veterinary world is also rather small, so you could well find that your vet has some reliable recommendations for their replacement. You may also want to take this opportunity to get the details on your pet’s microchip changed in advance. That way, you can rest easy they’ll be safe even if they escape on moving day.

Dog in car window

2. Find your pet somewhere to stay on moving day

Moving with a pet is hard enough without having to worry about them while your movers are unloading your belongings. If your pet is in the house during this process, they could easily sneak out of the door and get lost in an area they don’t know. Failing that, they could cause accidents by getting in the way. Not to mention that all this upheaval could further any stress which they experience.

Make sure that doesn’t happen by making alternative arrangements for them on the day itself. This could be a few hours in a kennel or a day with a loved one. It doesn’t matter. The point is that you need to guarantee that your pet is somewhere quiet and safe. Then, you’ll be able to leave all those doors open for a more straightforward moving process. This also ensures you can welcome your pet into a much more settled new home to help them feel relaxed in that unfamiliar space.

3. Keep pet supplies in easy reach

The first few days in any new house are usually a chaos of boxes. No matter how well you label everything, the chances are that it’ll take a while before you get your bearings. This is something which you need to consider when moving with pets. Your dog won’t want to wait for their food because you can’t find it, after all. They also need their toys straight away to give them at least some level of familiarity and comfort. That’s why it’s essential you keep pet supplies within easy reach. For the most part, merely packing them into a separate box which you keep with you should be enough here. That way, there’s no risk of this box ending up piled beneath your other belongings for untold amounts of time.

Cat in moving box

4. Stick to a routine

Pets are creatures of habit, mainly because they live within the routines we set for them. Most pets know when it’s time for their food, for instance, or when they’re liable to go out for a walk. Many pets even understand when it’s time to wake up in the morning. As much as everything might be up in the air during a move, then, it’s vital that you stick to those routines. That way, your pet will be able to settle into their new home much faster than they might if even the routines they knew were gone. This can help to calm them during a stressful period and should make moving with pets much easier for you, too. 

5. Set up a pet room

Before unpacking any other room, it’s also worth setting up a space just for your pet. Place their belongings and bed within this area, and bring them here straight away. This will become something of a haven for your pet during the transition process. With their things all around, they’ll soon come to relate this as a safe place. And, knowing they have somewhere safe to return to could give them courage when exploring the rest of the house.

6. Keep your pet inside to start with 

It’s also vital that you keep your pet inside your new house to start with. For cats especially, it’s advised that you keep them inside for at least three weeks after a move. Dogs, too, could benefit from spending some uninterrupted time in the house before venturing out to a new neighbourhood. The thing to bear in mind here is that you don’t want to overwhelm them with too many new experiences at once. Be sure that they’re settled before letting them loose on their new outside surroundings.

Dog in moving box

Conclusion 

There’s no denying that moving with pets is stressful for you and them. But, with the right precautions in place, it’s entirely possible to help them settle into that new home as fast as you do. By hiring an experienced and knowledgeable removal team like Chess Moving, you also ensure you’re working with individuals who have experience in the pet moving process. That means you’ll be better able to get everything set up right to ensure that your pet finds their place fast. Other than that, this is all about going slowly to ensure your pet has time to adapt to a move which you’ve known was coming for months.

If you need help with pet transport contact Chess Moving. We offer a range of pet transportation services so whether you are moving locally, interstate or ever overseas we have you covered. Give us a call today on 13 14 69 for more information.

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