Chris Militzer/Miliman12 Photography
Moving has been rated one of the top five most stressful life events for people — and it’s stressful on their pets, too.
While some of the stress on humans is unavoidable, there are a lot of things you can do to make this life change less unsettling for your dog or cat.
BEFORE THE MOVE
First, consider carefully where you’re moving, said McEnearney Realtor Lisa Groover, and be honest with your real estate professional about everyone’s needs.
“The mover should really evaluate what their needs are and what their pet’s needs are,” she said. “Is their pet afraid of elevators?
Does the pet need to go out 14 times a day and therefore you need to be on a ground floor? Do you need to be close to a dog park?” If your move will involve a lot of packing, you may want to start acclimating your pet to boxes before the move.
Put some empty boxes out, maybe with food in them, so your pet gets used to boxes in their space, said Gina Hardter of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. If you’re moving locally and you can bring your pet to their new neighborhood and let them smell it, that may help.
“Try to get them used to that neighborhood before they’re all of a sudden plopped into a new home,” Groover said. Plus, make sure they’ll be comfortable in the car on the way to and from the new place. Cats may not like their carrier or the car, so introducing them to their new space may not be possible.
Also, put these to-do items on your list:
• Contact your vet to get copies of your pet’s records and make sure that they have your new address. They may also be able to recommend a local vet, if you’re moving far away.
• Make sure you know what paperwork your pet will need. Some apartment buildings and condos require vaccination information or more for animal residents.
• Update your pet’s ID tags and microchips. If your pet escapes or panics during the move, you’ll want to make sure someone can get in touch with you when your pet is found.
DURING THE MOVE It may be best for your pet to be out of the way for the actual move — whether you send your cat to a relative’s home or your dog to doggie daycare or a pet sitter. Bring them to the new home when you’re settled in.
If you can’t do that, put them in a secluded room with familiar things during your move out and your move in. You don’t want your pets to develop a lifelong fear of boxes.
“Once the main hustle and bustle is over, you can introduce them slowly to the larger residence, with treats and toys for comfort as you do so,” Hardter said.
AFTER THE MOVE
Try to keep your pet in their normal routine as much as possible in terms of feedings, walks, etc.
With cats, choose a location for their litterbox and don’t move it — they may get confused or stressed and stop using it.
If you’ve moved with a dog and have a fenced-in yard, make sure to supervise them there the first few days. There may be escape routes you didn’t know existed. “Each animal is different and will react differently to change,” Hardter said.
“Have patience with them, and if they seem stressed, see if you can recognize any particular causes. Maybe your cat doesn’t like the new location of a food dish or your dog’s bed is in a spot that’s too warm.”
“Pets can’t tell us what they are feeling,” she noted, “but we can pay attention to their behavior and try to correct issues when we see something that feels wrong.”
