Last week, we talked about summer vacations and preparing your pets for that inevitable separation from you and their normal routine. Another very common summer stressor for pets (and for their humans!) is moving, whether that means a move to a new home across town, or a big relocation out of state or out of the country. A recent study found that people rank moving as even more stressful than getting a divorce! If we humans find moving stressful, we can only imagine how our pets must feel. Dogs and cats are naturally territorial animals, so moving necessarily redefines their home turf. Plus, the anxiety and tension we humans experience as part of the moving process is something our pets most definitely pick up on, leading them to behave anxiously too. So, what can you do to make the process easier for your pets, and therefore easier on yourself as well?
First things first. Bring in those moving boxes and rolls of packing tape early on. You want your pets to get used to having boxes around on a daily basis. I know some cat owners are going to find their cats inside of those packing boxes, but that's great; just don't start loading household items in there with them! While you are packing up your home, getting rid of items you no longer need, etc. try to keep to your usual routine as much as possible. Our pets thrive on routines and schedules, so you want to do all that you can to keep disruptions to their daily routine at a minimum. Don't move their beds, toys, or favorite hiding places until the last possible moment. If you have a dog and are moving someplace where you can visit in advance of your move, be sure and do that. Walk them around your new home environment inside and outside on leash several times before you make that final move. That way, the new environment won't be a complete surprise to them. This is particularly important if you are moving to a home with stairs, an elevator, elevated balconies, or any other features unfamiliar or new to them. You want your dog to know how to use those stairs, or enjoy that second floor balcony, before you move in. Take treats with you and spend some time together getting to know and explore your new home. Obviously, this isn't possible to do with every move, so just do your best! These walk-throughs that you do with your pet will also allow you to figure out any changes or alterations that will need to be made to make your new home safe for them. Do you need to extend a fence? Fill up a hole in the yard or remove toxic plants? Put up netting or wire on a balcony or treads on the stairs? The time to find out those things is before your pet is permanently in their new space.
Whether you are using a moving company, or moving all your stuff yourself, you will want to have your pets out of the house on moving day. Doors and gates are going to be open and you don't want anyone running off. Plus, the stress of watching strangers invade their home turf AND remove their things can result in some pets displaying aggressive behavior. Leave your pets with a friend, at daycare, or board them on moving day. Your goal is to bring them into their new home environment with most of the furniture in place, particularly the objects belonging to your pets (e.g. beds, dishes, cat trees, toys). For some pets, the safest way to move their stuff is for you to move it in your vehicle so that strangers' hands don't touch their stuff. While you could certainly wash a pet bed when you get to your new home, your pet will actually find comfort in those familiar smells from the old place.
If you are moving across country, you can certainly drive with your pets or fly them cargo, but another option is to use a transport service. These transport services can be lifesavers for people moving cross country who don't want to drive with their pets and/or who need to fly and don't want to ship their pets in a plane's cargo hold. Using a transport service allows you to schedule when you want your pets to arrive at your new home as well, thus allowing you to get that space set up in advance of them coming home. If you are moving out of the country, be sure to check what sorts of vaccines, examinations, etc. are required for them to go with you. Is there a quarantine period where you are moving? Will you be able to visit with your pet in quarantine? These are all questions you want to have answered well before moving day. And if you are driving with your pets, be sure to secure your hotel accommodations well in advance as while most will allow pets, some of them will have additional requirements or fees for pet owners, and may only allow a certain number of pets in their rooms/units. Whether you are driving or flying to your new home, it's a good idea to pack a pet emergency bag or box that has all the items they will need for several days, including backup leashes and collars just in case the ones you are using currently break, get lost, or your pet anxiously chews through them!
I want to talk about our feline friends specifically for a moment. Cats should be kept strictly indoors (if they aren't indoor cats already) following a move. In order to make sure that your cats don't escape, keep them confined to one room initially, filled with their favorite climbing structures, perches, water fountains, food puzzles, dishes, litterboxes, and hiding places. You can use plug in pheromone adapters (Feliway) in that room to enhance their sense of calm with the new space. Give your cats at least a couple of weeks, for some even a month or more, to get their bearings before you begin having them out in other parts of your new home, supervised at first, to make sure that they aren't overwhelmed. If you share your home with guinea pigs or rabbits, be extra careful when moving them. Keep them in a small, warm crate or container with familiar bedding while transporting them. Keep them isolated in one room as outlined for cats above. And it goes without saying that your feathered friends must be moved while caged as even the most docile, well-trained bird, can fly off if anxious during the moving process. I know this may sound a bit heartless, but unless you are doing a short, local move, it's probably better to re-home your fish than to try to take them with you. Fish often fatally respond to moving stress, so limiting how much movement they experience is a key factor in their survival. For short distances, move your fish in bags filled with their old tank water.
If you are moving to a new area, you will not only want to find a new veterinarian for your pets, but also locate the nearest 24 hour emergency vet service. Once you have identified the new vet who will be caring for your pets, you can have your pets' records electronically transferred over to ensure consistency of care, particularly with regard to prescriptions than may need to be refilled soon. Find out if your pets need to be licensed where you are moving and get that done in advance. I hate to even mention it, but some places have breed bans in place, so the time to find out that your new city, new neighborhood, or new building doesn't allow Cattledogs, Rottweilers, or Pit Bulls is BEFORE you choose to make the move happen.
It goes without saying that you will want to be extra kind to yourselves and your pets during a move. Take that extra walk. Go for a hike and explore together. Break out the yummy treats. Spend more time playing together, or just relaxing in your new home. Those boxes will all get unpacked eventually, and taking a break to settle in with your furred and feathered friends is well worth it. Your anxiety will be curbed a bit, as will theirs.
As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.
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