Moving To A New House with Pets – The Do’s and Don’t’s

Moving to a new house with pets can be a stressful process.

As if finding a place for your human family to live and making sure that all of their belongings successfully make the trip wasn’t difficult enough, the whole process gets exponentially more complicated when a member of your family has fur.

Not only do you have to make sure that your pet and all of their belongings successfully make the trip, but the things you need to make sure you do – and don’t do – vary even among what sort of pets you own.

To make it easier, this article will break down the do’s and don’ts for moving to a new house with pets into the following categories:

• Dogs and cats
• Reptiles
• Birds
• Fish

There may be some overlap between all of these animals, but each is unique in its own way, and moving to a new house with them is a unique experience, whether you are moving locally, a long-distance move or even overseas.

So, let’s take a look at some top tips to follow when moving to a new house with pets.

Dogs and Cats

• Do make sure that your pet has a name tag on its collar
  At the very least, make sure the name tag includes their name and your phone number. That way, in case you and Fuzzy get separated from each other over the course of the journey, there will be information for any Good Samaritan to have.

• Don’t feed your pet just before leaving
  You might want to hold off on giving Fuzzy breakfast the day of the big move. Both dogs and cats have a certain propensity, especially during travel, to vomit anything they have eaten. To avoid a mess, be strategic about the times you feed your dog or cat in between destinations.

• Do separate your pet’s belongings from yours
  All pets have different trappings that come with them, but dogs and cats seem to have more than others: Food, bowls, litter, blankets, and endless amounts of toys. Keeping their belongings, especially all they might need on the day of the move, separate will make accessing them when necessary an easy task.

• Don’t take airlines for granted
  If catching a flight is part of your moving plans, it’s not recommended to just assume you know how it’s going to be when it comes to transporting your pet. Call the airline and become familiar with their policies about moving pets, particularly if you have a pet for emotional support purposes.

• Do keep your pet quarantined
  A big part of the moving process, in general, entails moving belongings in and out of places, and open doors can leave ample opportunities for your dog or cat to go on one last grand adventure away from home. To avoid a Homeward Bound situation, make sure Fuzzy is kept away from all the activity until it’s really time to go,

• Don’t forget to get vet records
  This isn’t such a big deal if you’re only moving a town or two over and still plan on making the commute to the same vet, but if this is a substantial move that requires you to change pet doctors altogether, you’ll want to make sure you pick up all of Fuzzy’s paperwork prior to hitting the road.

Reptiles

• Do make sure to label your pet
  Especially if you’re intending to transport your scaly friend via aeroplane, it is essential that the airline company know the crucial details, such as your contact information and that your pet must be kept at room temperature, or slightly above that. If the idea of trusting your reptile to the care of people who specialize in moving inanimate luggage doesn’t quite jive, you may want to consider looking into transporting Godzilla yourself.

• Do look into pet transport services
  If the prospect of trying to move something as environmentally dependent as your reptilian makes you nervous, it may be worthwhile to look into professional pet movers. Regular moving companies won’t transport pets themselves, but there are certain companies that do, and they will pick up your reptile and take it to wherever you tell them with the confidence that they will adhere to all necessary precautions to keep your reptile safe.

Birds

• Do get your bird used to travelling
  Birds are a sort of pet that doesn’t tend to leave the house very often, so if you find yourself needing to move Tweety, it’s a good idea to get them used to how travelling in a car feels. This is best done by taking short car rides to build up their tolerance for being in a moving vehicle.

• Don’t put your bird in the front seat
  Birds are safest when travelling in the backseat of the car with their cage or carriers belted in. Putting your pet bird in the front seat poses a certain risk due to the airbags, so it’s a much better idea to keep your pet bird in the back.

• Do book reservations at pet-friendly hotels
  Staying at establishments that welcome pets will surely make your journey earlier but be prepared to potentially pay an extra fee to let your feathered friend stay.

• Don’t give your birds water while in motion
  Trying to pour and serve water to your bird in a moving car can make for a messy and frustrating experience for you and an unpleasant experience for your bird. Rather, give them water-filled fruits and vegetables to munch on to keep them hydrated while on the road.

Fish

• Do plan accordingly
  Fish travel will depend on the size of the fish. Small fish may be able to be transported in well-sealed plastic bags. Larger or exotic fish ought to be stored in well-sealed buckets. Make sure all tank materials are accounted for.

• Don’t forget to label what’s what
  The tank will need to be reassembled as soon as you reach your destination, so the quicker you’re able to lay hand to the various parts you need, the better off you and your fish will be.

A Final Word on Moving to a New House With Pets

Moving can be stressful!

Moving to a new house with pets can be even more stressful.

But if you heed the above do’s and don’ts, you’re setting yourself up for an easier time, and that’s better for everyone.

We hope you have enjoyed reading our post and find it helpful.

Moving to a new house with pets is not something everyone has to consider but it is still important to help those who may need a little assistance!

However, this post is only for general information on helping your pet during your move, if you require specific information please get in touch with your local vet for professional advice.

For help and advice on your house removals, you can get in touch with us on 023 9298 5830 and our friendly team is here to assist you with your enquiry.