Moving with Pets?
Are you moving with pets? It can be easy to forget to plan for Spot when deciding how to make your twenty-foot couch fit into your new living room. But just like people, animals can be affected by the stresses of relocating. You can alleviate their moving woes by doing your research, being prepared, and helping them acclimate to their new home.
1. Research
Before you choose your dream home, make sure that it’s the right fit for your pet. If your cat or dog will be outside often, it’s a good idea to scope out the area to see if it is safe for you pets. Are the neighborhood dogs aggressive? Are they left unattended? Whether or not a home is right for you pets can be taken case by case. Some features to consider are square-footage, apartment versus house, and yard size. If you are renting, make sure you know the pet policy. Because you know your pet, you will have the best idea how they will transition to a new place, but remember to do your research. Your pets will thank you.
2. Prepare
You can prepare for the big move by remembering to add their errands to your moving checklist. Make sure their food, bowls and toys are easily accessible once you arrive. Knowing where these items are will save you and your pet unnecessary stress. As your pet will not be familiar with a new setting and may get lost easier it’s important to change the address on your pet’s collar. If your pet is microchipped, make sure that information is changed, as well.
3. Acclimate
A new and unfamiliar space can be overwhelming to your pets. It may be tempting to let your cat or dog explore the house or neighborhood, but it is better to introduce them to one room at a time. Once they feel more comfortable with their home surroundings slowly start to introduce them to the new area. And don’t forget to give your animal attention. It is easy to get too busy to play with your pets while moving, but giving your pet more attention will help them to be more confident to make changes. If you are moving with children consider assigning a pet to a particular child. They may approach the task with singular focus and help you take one more thing off your list of concerns.