Moving with pets can be a daunting task – you want your furry buddy to experience the least amount of stress possible, and you also want to make it convenient and easy for yourself. Cats are especially prone to mood swings and even health issues when changing territory, unlike dogs, who tend to adapt more quickly. Whether you have dogs or cats – worry not, as we are here to wipe away your concerns with tips and tricks on how to move pets across the county.
What to Do With Pets When Moving? Good Planning Is Key
Whether you are moving to the suburbs or some of the best cities for young professionals, if you have a pet, chances are you will be faced with a question of how to move with pets. Before you choose the right packing service and throw a packing party to gather the right packing materials for moving and figure out how to pack a moving truck – there’s work to be done, as you don’t want your furry buddy to end up on the list of what not to pack when moving.
How Do I Move My Pets to Another State?
Moving state to state can really take a toll on your little furball, and it’s more challenging than moving locally or even long-distance moving, even more so if you are moving in winter or during the holidays. There’s lots of prep work to be done regarding the organization of the move itself and to prepare your little one for both a long journey and the new environment.
First Things First – Check Pet Regulations in Your New State
Before you even contact long distance movers near you for their moving services – check the regulations of your new state to see if you’ll need a permit for your dog. If you are renting, some condos have some other special policies regarding pets. You need to get informed, so get a hold of such kind of information first.
Feel Free to Contact Your Pet’s Vet Before Moving Pets Across Country and Finding a New One
While we are at documents – you’ll also need to contact your vet, and you might even schedule an appointment if necessary. Ask him to send you records or prescription medication your pet was taking. If your new state requires your pet to get vaccine certificates or other health certificates, schedule an appointment and sort it out. Also, make sure your pet wears a collar with an ID tag on it in case it gets lost.
How Can I Make My Pet’s Move Easier? Travel Tips
Since your fluffy friend is on top of the list of items movers won’t move, he or she will be traveling with you. If you are using an auto transport service to ship your car and traveling by plane, make sure that the airline you choose allows animals on board. It would be best if you could put your furball in a carriage and keep it with you and avoid the cargo part of the plane. That way, you won’t expose your little one to additional stress, and you’ll be there to comfort him and care for him during the flight.
Estimate What Your Furball Will Need During Transport and Prepare an Essentials Bag
Depending on how long your travel is, prepare a bag of essentials for your furry friend you will keep by your side on the road. Bring his favorite blanket, so he has something familiar on the road, and put it in the carriage if that’s how you choose to travel. Also, bring some snacks, water, a plastic bag, and his favorite toy to keep him satisfied and entertained.
Prepare Your Fluffy Friend for Transportation
How do I relocate a dog? – you might wonder. Driving in a car for a prolonged period of time, especially when they are restrained, is stressful for an animal, be it a cat or dog. Dogs associate car rides with going to the vet, which is usually stressful for them, so you need to do some prep work before you hit the road. Take it on some pleasant rides to the park, beach, or someplace your furball will enjoy so that it can associate car rides with something fun.
Here Are Some Methods That Work With Car Transportation
If you are driving and taking your furball with you, you will have to restrain it for caution. It’s something no one likes, but it’s best for the safety of everyone involved. Your cat or dog can’t be bothering the driver, and you don’t want it to run free if you stop by somewhere. Choosing between the leash and carrier is totally up to you and your little one. If you are staying in a hotel, keep doors and windows locked. If you are wondering – How do you relocate a dog? Check out this video on how to prepare animals for a long drive to the new home.
Keep Your Little One Away From All the Moving Stress
They say there’s no such thing as stress-free moving, and guess who soaks up all that stress on move day? Yap, it’s your little fluffy friend. To keep it shielded from it, designate a special room in the house where you can put your cat or dog. Keep its favorite blanket and toys around them. This is especially important for cats, while dogs sometimes like to be included. If dogs show interest in packing and everything that’s going on that day, include them in the activities.
What to Do After Moving With Pets – Introduce Your Cat or Dog to Your New Home
When it’s time to unpack after a move, don’t let your animal out of the carrier or off the leash just yet. Keep it in a separate room, with all its toys and things that feel and smell like home. Make sure all the doors and windows are closed, even if your furball doesn’t have a history of going away. Sometimes, that’s how they react to a change after interstate moving. Keep a close watch on your cat and its behavior – they handle changes much more difficult than dogs. You can introduce them to the new home and neighborhood gradually, but keep them on a leash. Keep their routines the same, feed time, walks, everything else – they are dependent on them, especially after a long-distance moving experience.
