How Moving House Affects Your Pets

Relocating is stressful for everyone. Planning, packing, and transporting takes a lot of energy and can even cause anxiety. Unfortunately, it affects animals even more. They are extremely sensitive to the smallest changes, and they can also feel differences in your mood and emotions. As they are not capable of communicating the same way as humans, it causes major confusion about what is going on in their familiar surroundings.

If you choose a house removal company to help you move, it is important to note that professional teams have a wide knowledge of transporting pets as well. They can even help you prepare the necessary international travel documentation for your canine or reptile friends. Make sure to notify your removal company about moving your pet in advance. Additionally, get in touch with your vet for them to provide information on the necessary supplies and individual health tips to organise a peaceful transition.

Here are some tips from Britannia Fleet Removals on how to move your pets to a new home with minimal stress.

 

Move Your Pet After You Move The House

Ideally, we recommend putting your cat or a dog in a cattery or kennel while you move. Alternatively, leave them with a friend or a family member to avoid confusing the animal. We understand that this is not always possible, and some moving journeys can be too far to return to pick up your pet, especially if moving abroad. In this case, you will need to prepare the pet and the house itself, to minimise your animal’s stress levels during the move.

Prepare a Separate Room in Your Current and New Home

Move their belongings to the designated room and make it as comfortable for your pet as possible. You will have to ensure the door to the room is shut during the moving process so they don’t escape. Pay close attention to when people are walking around the house, carrying heavy items, and leaving the front door open while loading the van.

Bring in their litter, food & water, as well as their favourite toy, a blanket, or jumper that smells of their owner. Familiar items and smells will keep them calm and secure during the house moving process.

Do the same in your new house to ensure your pet’s safety and wellbeing.

Preparing such a room in your current house a few days in advance of the big move will help your pet transition gradually, avoiding the stress of them being put in a closed room on the day when there are a lot of noises and people walking in and out of the house. Spending some time in the designated room each day will gradually familiarise them with the new placement of their belongings.

Do not forget to regularly visit and comfort your pet, feed, and walk them according to their usual routines, even if you are busy.

Pet-proof Your New House and Garden

It takes time for pets to get comfortable in their new home. Just like humans, they need to feel secure to settle. The difference is that pets do not understand that the new place is their new home yet, and they might try to escape.

Often, when you move nearby your old house, animals are found to return to their “real” home. In case of such risk, it is beneficial to warn your old neighbours or the new owners of your previous home about this possible situation and leave your phone number in case your pet is found.

If you’re an outdoor cat owner, it is recommended to keep your feline companion inside the house for the first few weeks until it gets used to the new smells and gets comfortable. It will decrease the risk of escaping later on.

There are a few more steps to make your new home secure for your pets:

  • Check any potential holes in your fence.
  • See if any poisonous plants in the garden could harm your pet.
  • Clean the new house before moving in. Animals have an extremely strong smell so while they can sense another animal’s presence in the house, they will continue feeling disturbed and stressed.

Some additional tools can make your animal feel calmer in the new place. If your pet is particularly sensitive, before you let them into their new home, it might be useful to use a pheromone spray on the walls and surfaces at their height. Pheromones are naturally occurring hormones and are released in large amounts in female animals when they feed their offspring – it makes them feel warm and safe. You can find artificial sprays in shops or through your vet; it is proven to be effective on adult animals too.

Moving Your Pet Long Distance or Abroad

Even if you’re excited for the new beginning, moving abroad can be emotionally straining. After all the packing and transporting is done, it still takes a lot of strength to adapt to the new environment, culture, climate, etc. Well, if your pet is not used to traveling, it can be even more stressful for them. We recommend getting in touch with your vet for detailed information on how to help your lovely companion to adapt to the changes that may affect them.

Transporting your pet abroad requires careful preparation. Firstly, you need to ensure all their vaccines are up to date and you have their passport at hand. Your vet can also advise you on any additional procedures required before entering your country of destination.

For example, some countries may require an extra pet vaccine or pet quarantine for a certain amount of time, as a precaution of them spreading any infection picked up during the flight to other animals.

Furthermore, if your pet suffers from motion sickness, the vet will supply you with the appropriate medication and dosage.

To make the journey for your animal easier, you also need to ensure their safety:

  • Research how to carry your animal on the plane; airlines have restrictions and rules on the size and type of the animal you are allowed to carry on board. Here you can find which airlines allow pet transportation.
  • If you travel by car, provide a car lead or harness for your pet to protect them and yourself.
  • Make sure the animals have a safe place in your vehicle. Either transport them in a pet carrier or prepare your car boot by installing a pet barrier, to avoid their urge to run across the interior, endangering themselves and the driver. This step is particularly useful for large dogs that cannot be put in a carrier.

 

Pet Transportation Made Easier

We acknowledge the number of tasks and responsibilities you face when moving home. Additionally, you may feel anxious and scared that you can’t manage to prepare everything on time for your pet. In such a case, a removal company can provide great help by consulting, preparing all documents, and even transporting your pet for you. Britannia Fleet Removals has a team of qualified professionals that manage pet transportations frequently. You can be assured that your cat, dog, or even a reptile will be transported with minimal stress for the animal and its owner.

Get in touch with Britannia Fleet Removals today for a consultation, to find the best solution for transporting your pet.