Moving from one end of town to another, or across the country, can be as challenging for your pets as for the rest of the family. Preparation and patience can help your dog, rabbit, bird or cat adjust more easily to its new home.
Tell your veterinarian. Your pet’s medical records and microchip data can easily be updated with your new address, but if you’re moving out of the area, ask your vet to forward this information to your new veterinarian.
Manage stress. Think about your pet’s stress levels as well as your own, as it can be alarmed by changes in routine. A squawking parrot, nosy cat or clingy puppy can lead to frayed nerves and possible accidents if they’re underfoot. The best solution is to board your pet for moving day.
Include pets on outings to the new home. Before move-in, you can visit your new home for the bank appraisal, home inspection, and final walkthrough. Take your dog along, if it’s well behaved, and let the pet have a nice sniff around the property. Take his water bowl and set it in its planned future location and let your pet have a cool drink. It will help accustom the pet to the new home a little more quickly.
Take time to play. Remember to cuddle, play and talk to the pet as usual. Let the cat jump in empty boxes, toss the ball for your dog, and bring your bird to a perch in the room you’re packing.