Moving with Pets: A Comprehensive Guide for Pet Owners

We love our pets. They’re cuddly, fun to play with and provide countless years of joy and companionship. Like people, however, they have unique needs, habits, and routines. Moving with pets presents several challenges, no matter what kind of animal you own. 

Whether you’re thinking about booking professional moving services or handling things alone, it’s important to understand that your pets deserve careful planning and consideration, especially if you’re traveling long distances. 

Let’s explore some unique ways to make moving as a pet owner as stress-free as possible.

Preparing Your Pets for the Move

Moving is stressful on its own. Adding a furry friend or any other kind of animal to the mix can dial that anxiety up even further. Thinking about how to move with pets involves careful planning and preparation. Consider the following tips for getting your pets through the process.

Update Pet Identification

One of the first steps you should take for your move is to update your pets’ identification tags and microchip details with your new address and phone number(s). Doing this early will increase the odds that your pet is safely returned if it gets lost during the move. It’s also one less thing to worry about amid the chaos of unpacking at your new home. Prioritize this simple step for peace of mind during your transition.

Maintain Their Routine

Your pets can sense when something is wrong. Dogs and cats are finely attuned to their owners’ stress levels. The anxiety of moving that impacts you could, in turn, impact them.  

That’s why you should keep their daily routines as normal as possible while moving. Yes, they might have to navigate boxes as you pack and their favorite hiding spots might disappear, but normal feeding times, walks, and play should remain part of their daily life.

Pack Gradually and Mindfully

Much like your own belongings, you should pack for your pets gradually and mindfully. While you can probably adjust if something gets packed a little early, your pet has different needs. Pack non-essential items first, but keep your pets’ familiar objects — toys, bedding, and food — easily accessible. It will reduce their stress. 

 You have your box of essential items. Your pets should, too. Keep a designated box or bag handy with everything they need during the move. This thoughtful approach ensures a smoother transition for your furry friend(s).

Familiarize Pets with Their Crates

Your pet’s crate will likely be their safe space before, during, and after the move. Get them comfortable with their crate or carrier in advance. Start by placing it in a familiar space with an open door, allowing them to explore it at their own pace. Gradually introduce bedding, toys, and treats to create positive associations. Once they’re comfortable, encourage them to spend short periods inside. This helps them realize the crate is a safe space to go, which is important if they’ll be riding inside a carrier for long periods during the move.

Planning for Different Types of Pets

We’ve generalized the anxiety of moving pets, but how does each type of animal deal with the stress? Your preparation and planning for moving with a pet might differ depending on how many and what kind of animals you own, especially if you’re moving with multiple pets. Whether you’re looking at hiring long-distance moving services or handling everything yourself, consider the following advice for each animal.

Moving with Dogs

Relocating with your canine companion is a careful balancing act. If you’ve got concerns about moving with a dog, these tips can help: 

• Dogs can be territorial, especially around strangers. Movers are strangers. You can offset this by letting the movers greet your dog with treats and a friendly hello. If you know this won’t work, try to place them out of the way in their crate or carrier while moves are in your home. 

• Ensure your dog gets plenty of physical activity before and on moving day to reduce stress. 

• Provide familiar toys and bedding to offer a sense of security. 

• Gradually introduce your dogs to their new home, one room at a time, to ensure a smoother transition. Arranging your furniture in a similar pattern to the old home can help reduce anxiety.

Relocating Cats

Cats, like dogs, can be quite territorial. They’re also perceptive and sensitive to their environment. For these reasons, moving with a cat is easier when you follow these tips: 

• In the days leading up to and following your move, give your cat plenty of familiar things. Toys, water and food bowls, blankets, and a bed are all essential items. Remember to familiarize them with their crate or carrier in advance. 

• When traveling, cover your cat’s crate or carrier with a blanket to reduce or minimize visual stress on your feline friend. 

• Because cats are touchy about changes to their home environment, it is important to slowly introduce them to new spaces. When you restrict them to one or two rooms at your new home, it gives them time to get adjusted. 

• Maintain their regular feeding and litter box routines as much as possible to provide a sense of normalcy.

Transporting Small Pets and Aquariums

Fish and small animals like hamsters, birds, guinea pigs, and lizards may not have the same emotional needs as dogs or cats, but moving them still requires careful preparation:  

• Small pets, including gerbils, hamsters, and guinea pigs are sensitive to drastic temperature changes. Protect them from direct sunlight or cold drafts. Most of the time, these animals can travel in their cages. Just make sure it’s sealed well to prevent escape.
   

• Moving fish is tricky. Place fish in bags with a mix of new and clean water from their aquarium. Reduce crowding as much as possible. Put rubber bands around the tops of the bags and place them in a dark, insulated cooler to keep the fish safe. Upon arrival, let your aquarium filter run for a few hours before you return the fish to their tank. If possible, limit their time away from the normal habitat. No more than 48 hours.
   

• Birds should be protected from the sun at all times. Use the right-sized carrier and cover its bottom with litter. Always secure carrier doors from the outside with twist ties or string. Transport food and water from your old house and gradually introduce new supplies.

Special Considerations for Larger Animals

Moving with multiple pets gets even more complicated with larger animals. Horses, for example, require a well-ventilated trailer and multiple rest stops. Large animals need a travel kit with food, water, and medical supplies. Plan your route carefully to ensure you have plenty of time to get there and make the necessary stops along the way.

The Big Day: Moving with Pets

Not planning your move well in advance is one of the most common moving mistakes. Adding pets to a chaotic, cluttered move only exacerbates the situation. Create a plan to manage your pets, ensure their safety, and minimize their stress on moving day. 

Create a Pet Transportation Plan

Whether moving with multiple pets or just one, draft your pet transportation plan ahead of time. Will pets travel in your vehicle or with professional pet movers? How will you manage rest breaks? Will they stay in their carrier or have the freedom to move about your vehicle? 

 Making decisions about this can influence the rest of your move.

Consider Pet Boarding Services

Booking pet boarding services during a move can reduce stress and ensure safety when moving with a pet. Boarding offers a controlled environment away from the chaos of your move. It prevents accidental escapes and minimizes anxiety, too.   

Building a moving budget that includes pet boarding might require adjustments, but the peace of mind it provides can be invaluable. Evaluate the pros — professional care and fewer distractions — against the cons (additional costs, temporary separation). If it balances out, boarding your pets can make moving smoother for everyone.

Secure a Pet-Safe Space

Your pet needs a quiet, secure area away from the hustle and bustle of moving. Designate a room with familiar items that will keep them calm and safe. If you’re moving long distances and need overnight stays, pre-book pet-friendly hotels to ensure your furry friends’ journey is stress-free. Calm environments and proper accommodations can make a big difference in lowering their anxiety during the move.

Prepare a Pet Essentials Bag

We’ve mentioned it before as part of our moving tips, but the pet essentials bag is a must-have for moving day. But what goes into the pet essentials bag? Consider packing the following items and keeping them with you: 

• Food and water 

• Bowls 

• Medications 

• Leashes and waste bags 

• Favorite toys and bedding 

• Litter box and litter (for cats)

Settling into Your New Home with Pets

The most exciting part of moving with pets is getting them into your new home. But this final phase of your move can still be stressful if not navigated carefully. Follow these tips to finish strong and acclimate your furry friends to their new environment.

Establish a Safe Room in Your New Home

Give your pets a space that may feel familiar to them. This is where their crate, toys, food and water bowls, and other necessities should live. Try to spend time in this space as much as possible, as your pet is probably anxious and needs comfort.

Gradually Introduce New Spaces

Once you’ve been in your home for a while, slowly acclimate them to their new surroundings over the course of a day or couple of days. Gradually introduce new rooms and let them accompany you around the home. When taking your pets outside, walk the perimeter of your yard and let them sniff as much as they’d like. This is their home, too!

Update Pet Information and Find Local Services

If you haven’t already, don’t forget to update your pet’s registration information with your new address. Research new veterinarians and other pet services in your area. You might also need to register your dog with the city or county. Make sure you’re aware of leash laws and other regulations in your new hometown, too.

How a Moving Services Broker Can Help

Moving with pets may add a few wrinkles to the process, but with proper planning and preparation, it doesn’t have to turn into a total zoo. Just remember to keep your pets as comfortable and calm as possible — which means you should be as calm as possible, too.  

Hiring a professional moving services broker can help take some of that stress out of the equation. When you work with a moving broker, you can receive a comprehensive moving quote from reputable companies without hunting down multiple service providers. That can save you time and money as you focus on what really matters: moving your family and furry friends to your new home.  

To learn more about how a moving broker can help you find the right professional moving team for your move, contact us today.

FAQs

It’s best to move your pets last. Keep them in a quiet, safe space at the old home until everything else is packed and ready. This minimizes their stress and exposure to the chaos of moving day.

Maintain your pets’ routines and slowly introduce them to packing activities. Create a comfortable travel setup for them and ensure they’re up-to-date on vaccinations and identification.

Moving is stressful for pets because it introduces changes to their routine and environment. Symptoms may include anxiety, hiding, or other unusual behavior. That said, preparing and planning your move can help. Create a calm, secure space for them to reduce the stress of the big move.