Reduce Your Pet’s Stress About Moving

Moving can be an exciting thing. It is a time of increased stress – that’s a fact, but moving can be exciting as well. One builds anticipation about their new surroundings and has ideas about how things will be laid out in the new space, which helps, I think, to lessen the stress somewhat. Your pets, however, do not know what is coming, don’t understand why their world is being packed up and taken away, and while your pet will probably pick up on your anticipatory feelings, they don’t know what it means.

Moving your pet can be traumatic for the animal. After all, it was your call to move, neither Fifi nor Fido went out and found the new place (and you may not have even consulted with them about it). Cats, in particular, have issues with changes in their environment. Dogs are a little more adaptable to new surroundings, but can still experience the stress of having strangers in your house, moving trucks and boxes everywhere, and will definitely pick up on your emotions. Trying to keep things as normal as possible for your pet during the move will help reduce apprehension for both you and your animal.

Tips for moving your animals safely with as little anxiety as possible are much the same as moving yourself – plan ahead, plan ahead, and, oh, plan ahead! Are you sending your household goods by truck and traveling by air? If so, you’ll need to check with the airline about how and where in the plane your pet will travel. Are you using truck rentals for moving and bringing your pet with you? If so, be sure to leave room in the truck so that you have easy access to the carrier for clean-up, feeding, etc., and also so that you can talk to your pet while driving.

Whether you plan to fly your pet or travel in a vehicle with your pet, you will need to talk with your veterinarian. Often, he or she will recommend a mild sedative to keep your animal calm during the trip. Be careful, though, as your animal may be tricky – I had a seventeen year-old cat who spit her pill out without my knowledge, and I couldn’t figure out why she was so agitated and miserable (as were we!) the entire 918 miles of our trip. My other two animals slept most of the way, and were alert and ready to explore the new house once they woke up there.

Finally, make sure you set up a spot in your new home that will remind your pet of your previous home. His or her familiar items will make adapting to the new space much easier. Most importantly, however, to alleviate stress for both of you, remember to give your pet lots of love and attention before, during and after the move.