Moving day can be a stressful but exciting time for the family, and this includes your pet family members, too!
As any pet owner will tell you, dogs, cats, and other pets aren’t just animals living in the house – they’re a valued part of the family. While moving can provide plenty of challenges for those getting ready to relocate, it can also be an overwhelming time for pets as their life gets uprooted and they’re moved to their new, but unfamiliar, home.
“It’s one of those things that with all the stresses of moving and making sure everything is in place and ready to go, people seem to forget about their pets,” said Paul Edwards, the operations managers for the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Des Moines, Iowa location. “A lot of people have put their pets in a certain room and then instructed the movers not to go into that room/area. This may work in some cases, but can cause your pet extra stress and anxiety.”
If possible, take your pets to the home of a trusted friend or family member or have them placed in a daycare or boarding facility for the day while you work on getting the move completed.
Below, we’ve attached a few more helpful tips for moving with pets so you can make sure they are happy and healthy during the moving process!
Tips For Moving With Dogs
Before moving day, make sure your dog is microchipped and the ID tag on their collar is up to date. As we mentioned above, it might be a good idea to take a dog to a friend or family member’s house or place them in daycare for the day to help them get away from the noise and commotion of a move.
When you arrive at your new home with the dog, bring out a few comforting items that they recognize like a blanket, toy, or pillow – something they can identify the smell of and feel at home with. Treats can go a long way in helping them ease into their new space, and letting them explore around the new home can create a positive experience.
Tips For Moving With Cats
We all know cats can have strong personalities, and we also know they like to avoid the chaos of new guests entering the home. If you don’t have somewhere safe and quiet you can put them during the move, it might be a good idea to take them to the home of someone you trust – like what we said with dogs above.
Once you’re at your new home, put your cat in a quiet space with some of their most recognized belongings and try to keep things quiet so you help them get comfortable and slowly get used to their new surroundings. This will take time!
Tips For Moving With Fish
If you have fish friends that you will be moving, you’ll want to place them in bags with a mix of clean water from their aquarium and new water. Add rubber bands to the top of the bag to close it tight, and put them in a dark, insulated cooler.
Once you are at your new living space, set up the tank and filter and run it for a few hours before placing the fish back insides. Try to limit your fish’s time outside of their tank to 48 hours or less.
Tips For Moving Small Pets
For owners of guinea pigs, hamsters, or gerbils, something you should do before moving day is clean their cage so it’s all ready for moving day. On the day of the move, make sure they are set with food, water, and their favorite items inside the cage so they’re comfortable. Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from any cold drafts during the moving process.
Please note: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK does not transport animals during the moving process. Before you move, please have a plan in place on how to get your pets to your new home.
For more helpful moving tips, click here!
