Helping Your Pets Cope During The Moving Process

What's in this article?

Help Your Pets Cope During The Moving Process
Visit The Vet
State Laws
Keeping Your Pet Comfortable While Traveling
Plan Your Drive
Packing & Moving
Resources For Moving With Pets

Help Your Pets Cope During The Moving Process

Moving is stressful enough on its own and moving with animals or pets can add some extra work to the process. It’s important to keep in mind that many pets, especially cats and dogs, respond to their owners emotional and stress levels so the more stress-free you are while moving, the more your pets will be too.

Here are some of the key steps to take to make sure your pet enjoys a smooth transition from their previous home to the new one.

Visit the Vet

Before moving, visit the vet to get any shots, vaccinations, or medications that your pet may need. On the same note, it can be a good idea to get any records you may need for future pet care. If your pet has any special foods or dietary restrictions, that’s a good thing to have on hand so you don’t overlook it while juggling the numerous jobs that come with moving.

If your pet requires regular veterinary care beyond standard checkups, you can try to find a local vet in your new area beforehand. There are plenty of resources available online to help you find a local vet, as well as recommendations from others, both in person and online.

State Laws

Each state has its own set of laws that apply to pets so if you’re moving to another state, make sure to get familiar with them. Many of the laws will be the same from state to state, especially for dogs and cats. For other types of pets, you’re more likely to run into a different set of laws when you change states.

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Keeping Your Pet Comfortable While Traveling

During the actual moving process, it’s important to make sure your pets are happy, hydrated, and getting out of the car enough to keep from getting fidgety. Here are some tips for packing, moving, and driving with your pet, along with some resources that offer further reading on the topics discussed here.

Plan Your Drive

Keep your pet(s) in mind when planning your drive and try to incorporate enough breaks to eat, go to the bathroom, or just get out of the car for a few minutes. Planning your route around pet friendly hotels and places with outdoor areas that cater to pets can be a good way to keep them happy on moving day. If you stay at a hotel, be sure to let them know you have a pet and use the “do not disturb” sign so that housekeeping doesn’t accidentally let them out if you’re not in the room.

Packing & Moving

When it comes to getting ready for the move, it can be helpful for both you and your pets to takes things slowly. Packing everything in a room and essentially clearing everything out can be stressful to pets, especially if some of their favorite toys or treats go into boxes. Packing slowly over time will be easier on pets, particularly cats and dogs, and will also make the job easier for you. Some dog owners find it helpful to board their pets on the actual moving day if they find the process difficult to cope with.

Once you’re in your new home, do what you can to make your pet(s) comfortable. Any of their favorite things, be they toys, food, a bed, litter box or a blanket, can be a great benefit as they adjust to their new surroundings. If you have outdoor cats, it’s a good idea to keep them indoors for a day or two before letting them explore outside.

Resources For Moving With Pets

General Pet Care - A listing of several helpful resources for pet owners from the ASPCA, including topics such as emergency treatment, how to find a lost pet, and travel safety information.

Bring Fido - BringFido is a website dedicated to bringing your dog on trips and vacations. It includes information about dog parks in each state (helpful to know when moving), as well as dog friendly hotels, restaurants, and camp grounds.