At TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® we love moving entire families, including your four-legged family members. While our teams are specially trained to handle moving day with pets, there are several ways you can help minimize stress not only during the move, but throughout your entire pet relocation.
We’ve compiled the best tips on how to easily and successfully move with pets, whether you have a cat, dog, fish, or bird, there are many best practices for pet transportation and getting acclimated into your new home!
• Cats can be very territorial and may be hesitant to welcome strangers into their home. Have treats handy for the movers to give your pet as a way to introduce themselves — this is a surefire way to get fast acquainted.
• Before and after the move, surround your cat with familiar objects ― feeding and water bowls, toys, blanket, or bed. If you are using a crate, leave it in a place with which they can become familiar before the move.
• When traveling with cats, be sure they are safely in their crates for the duration of the trip to your new home. Not only is this the safest way to transport, but giving them their own space will keep them more comfortable and relaxed during the drive.
• Since cats are very sensitive to their environment, gradually introduce them to their surroundings by restricting them to one or two rooms at the onset.
• Just like cats, dogs can also be very territorial which can cause anxiety with commotion and new people around. Have a treat bag ready and when your movers arrive, have them greet your dog with treats and a friendly hello.
• When moving with dogs, the safest option for the car ride to your new home is to use a dog travel crate or dog cage. If for some reason this will not work, be sure your dog has ample room in the car and will not interfere with your driving.
• Dogs should also be slowly introduced to their surroundings, then leashed outside until comfortable with the area. Always be sure your dog has up-to-date pet ID tags on the collar, or better yet, a pet microchip, in case he decides to run off in the midst of the busy moving day.
• If you are unable to stay home the first few days following a move, consider arranging a friend or pet sitter to visit a few hours a day to ease your dog’s anxiety and to burn some healthy energy.
• Small pets such as gerbils, guinea pigs, and hamsters are more sensitive to drastic temperature changes. Take care to protect them from cold drafts or direct sunlight.
• These animals can travel in the cage they normally live in, but make sure it is well sealed so they cannot escape.
• Traveling is the most difficult part of the moving process for fish. Place fish in bags with a mix of new water and clean water directly from their aquarium. The less the fish are crowded the better. Put rubber bands around the tops of bags and place the bags inside a dark, insulated cooler.
• Let the filter run for a few hours before returning your fish to their tank, and try to limit their time away from their normal habitat to less than 48 hours.
• Use appropriate-sized carriers for birds and cover the bottom with litter. Remember to secure carrier doors with a clip from the outside. Keep the birds cool and protected from the sun at all times.
• Transport a supply of food and water from the previous house, then gradually switch from old to new supplies.
For more information, check out our moving with pets(opens in a new window) checklist. Don’t forget your fury friends on moving day! We have several pet-friendly items available on our Two Men Gear site.
