Moving means stress not only for us but also for our pets. Before the move, our familiar surroundings change more and more – furniture is taken apart and household items are replaced by cardboard boxes. On the actual day of the move, confusion is further increased by numerous people, some of whom are strangers. How can I make sure that my pet moves into its new home as stress-free as possible?
The general rule is: The smaller the animal, the easier the move. This means that moving rodents is much easier, since they are in their enclosure anyway, which in most cases remains the same in their new home.
Familiar surroundings are the keyword here: To enable pets to move as stress-free as possible, it is important that they are surrounded by familiar people and objects despite all the changes. The best option is to leave the dog or cat in the care of a person familiar to the animal during the period of moving. However, even without such a care option, you can offer your pet the most stress-free time possible with the following tips:
Before
Your dog or cat should have their usual place to sleep and their toys available until the actual day of moving. Even though a basic cleaning of all items is advisable when moving to a new home, you should avoid washing your pet’s clothes. The familiar smell will help your pet to get used to the new environment more quickly.
The transport
Rodents can be moved effortlessly in their enclosure or, if necessary, in a transport box. If you use the latter, you should place an item from the pet’s enclosure in the box. It is best to cover the enclosure or box during transport as the darkness is comforting to the animal and it is also protected from noise.
Cats or dogs should also be accompanied by a familiar blanket, toys or other items during transport. In addition, the animal should be with a familiar person. Make sure there are enough breaks if the journey takes a little longer. In addition to water and regular food, your pet should be given some extra treats that day.
It is especially important that when the animal arrives at its new home, its sleeping place is already set up and its toys are unpacked. Walk with the animal on arrival through the rooms and accompany it to its new corner.
Afterwards
Ideally, you should have the first few days off in your new home so that you can spend a lot of time with your dog or cat. Your pet will be even more oriented towards you as its owner or guardian in the still unfamiliar surroundings. You should leave your cats indoors for about 4 to 5 weeks before you let them out. Otherwise there is the danger that they will not find their way back home. It is also worth informing the neighbours about the pets – apart from rodents. Knowledge is the prerequisite for understanding and if there are people in your neighbourhood who are afraid of dogs, for example, they will be grateful for the information.