If you own pets, moving house can be really stressful, both for you as well as your pets. Pets are always an extremely important part of their owner’s life. Hence, it is completely understandable if you want to keep your furry friends comfortable during the various stages of the relocation process. It is quite common for cats and dogs to become attached to their territories; they would not be too happy with the idea of having to create their new comfort zone in a new place.

During the transition phase, they would need all the care and attention you can provide. On your part, you can do a few simple things and make sure that your pet is not left stranded during the various phases of packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking that comes with a house move.

Before the move

Create an identity collar with your name and contact number engraved on it and make sure that your pet wears the same on the day of the move. This is a good idea and can increase the possibility of your pet being returned if it escapes or gets lost during the move, when the house is filled with packers loading your possessions and you are busy overseeing the entire process.

You can also get your pet medically examined before the actual move. Ask your vet for medications for travel sickness, as like humans, cats and dogs are also prone to this condition. This is necessary if you are moving long distance and do not want to make the journey tiring and difficult for your pets.

Sometimes, animals are not comfortable around people they do not know. However, on the day of the move, there would be people from the moving company coming in and out of the house to pack and load your possessions. If your pet dog or cat is sensitive around strangers, a good idea would be to keep it with a common friend or a known neighbor for the day of the move.

You can also make arrangements for your pet top stay with someone you know during the first week of your relocation, so that you can focus on moving and settling down without having to worry about pacifying your dog or cat.

On the day of the move

If your cat or dog has to stay with you during the day of the move, make sure that it is in a secure place before the removal starts. This way, you can offer some form of comfort to your fury friend. The idea should be to give it a place where the daily routine is least likely to be disturbed by the surrounding commotion.

After the move

Take time out to play with your pets, take them out for walks, and buy a few toys and treats; this would keep your pet in good spirits during the first few days. This is necessary if you want your pets to adjust in your new home and feel at ease. Show your pets the new place for their bed and the rooms they can enter. If you have a garden, make sure that the fences do not have gaps and the area is secure. Work with your pets and help them get back to the old routine, albeit in the new surroundings.