Moving can be extremely stressful for people and pets as animals can get stressed out when there is unexpected activity in their home or when they are introduced to a new environment. When moving with pets, minimizing exposure to changes in their routine will go a long way toward easing their stress. In the chaos of cardboard boxes and moving trucks here are some tips on helping your pets have a safe and stress-free transition.
Consult your Vet
Consult your veterinarian before moving day to ensure all vaccinations are current, obtain any necessary medical records, and ask for a recommendation from a veterinarian in your new area. If your pet is prone to anxiety, moving is likely to exacerbate it. For serious situations, talk to your vet before your move.
Move Boxes In Early
Your current home is your pet’s territory. Cats are very sensitive and prefer to be in a familiar environment. Dogs tend to adjust much more quickly to moves than cats but you can help your cats (and skittish dogs) adjust to the moving process by bringing in moving boxes early.
Get a Pet Sitter For Moving Day
On moving day leave your pet(s) with a friend or at a kennel for the day. If that isn’t an option, keep them away from the action to keep them safe – put them in a carrier/kennel in the garage or an empty room and check on them regularly. Feed or walk them at the time you normally would so they have a sense of routine.
Unpack The Pet Supplies First
On the day of the move make sure you have all of their food, toys, and supplies easily accessible to keep them comfortable while you get settled into your new home. If possible, before you bring your pets to their new home, set up as much of their stuff as you can so they have familiar items in the new environment. Introduce favourite objects like toys or blankets as soon as possible to make them feel at home.
Keep A Close Eye On Them
If your pets haven’t spent much time in crates or cars and you’re moving long-distance, start acclimating them to the crate/carrier and car rides in the weeks or months before the trip. During the drive to your new home make sure you keep your pets with you in your vehicle. Once you’ve arrived at your new home be careful because if they get out they can easily get lost in a new neighbourhood.
Before letting your pets out to explore their new home make sure that it has been pet-proofed and that all windows have secure screens and confirm that no pest-control poison traps have been left anywhere in the house.
Stay home with them for the first few days if you can as it may take some time for them to adjust to their new home. For both cats and dogs, sticking to the routine after the move is important – maintaining the same schedule for treats, grooming and walks will help your pets feel at home sooner.
Keep Records Updated
After the move, make sure you update pet licenses, tags, or microchip information to your new address and phone number. Taking these steps will make moving into your new Calgary home a lot less stressful for you and your pets!
For a stress free move work one of the best Calgary REALTORS®
Making that big move can be extremely stressful for people and pets. To help make this transition go smoothly, hire one of the best Calgary REALTORS® that know the local real estate markets.