Tips for Helping Your Pet Adjust After Moving House
A new home is an exciting time, but you’re pets might not agree as the process can lead to a fair amount of stress. Animals are creatures of habit, and any kind of sudden change in the environment tends to make them anxious or confused. If you have a dog, cat, bird, or small pet, helping them to settle and feel at home is an important part of helping them adapt to your new home life.
Follow this easy-to-read beginners guide post for easy, helpful tips your pet needs to settle in after a move. These steps will help to facilitate the process to incorporate your pet into your home and your environment, helping them to be at ease in their new home and new surroundings.
🐾 Why can moving be so difficult for pets?
Animals have a lot of connections with their environment. They rely on smells, sounds, and routines to increase their sense of safety. Everything is different when you move—you find new smells, strange rooms, and bizarre sounds, all of which can be disorienting.
Frequent signs that pets are stressed after a move include but are not limited to:
✔ Loss of appetite
✔ Leechiness or torture by hiding too much
✔ Barking or meowing more than usual
✔ Indoor bathroom breaks (even with the most toilet-trained animals)
✔ Restlessness or pacing
By knowing these reactions, you can give them appropriate help to adjust and feel at home in no time.
Preparing your Pet for the Move
It all starts before the actual move to make sure your transition is smooth. A little bit of prep work with your pet can alleviate some of the stress and make the adjustment period go more smoothly.
Maintain Their Routine
✔ Feed your pet, walk them, and play with them at the same times before and after the move.
✔ If you need to change their routine, do it slowly.
Pack Gradually
✔ Pets can become anxious due to sudden changes in the environment.
✔ Pack gradually so your pet can slowly adapt to the changes.
Introduce Travel Crates Early
✔ Get your pet used to the crate (if they are unfamiliar with it) well ahead of moving day.
✔ Fill it with goodies, blankets, or toys to create a safe haven.
Separate Their Necessities
✔ Separate bag for your pet items (bed, food, water, litter box, toys)
✔ Store these items at first sight for the first few days in the house
Moving Day: Easing Your Pet's Stress
When moving day rolls around, things can get a little crazy, and all that commotion might make your pet anxious. Here’s how to keep them calm:
Put Pets in a Silent Safe Place
✔ Stay inside a quiet room with their bed, food and toys whilst movers are in the house.
✔ It helps them to not get stressed out or run away.
Get Pet Sitter or Day Care
✔ On moving day, have a friend, family member or pet sitter keep an eye on your pet, if possible.
✔ It gets them out of the stress and the sounds of the moving process.
Transport Them Safely
✔ For small pets, use an airline-approved comfortable carrier or crate.
✔ For dogs, use a harness or seat belt in the car.
✔ Do not give them a huge meal before travelling, they could get sick.
Keep Them Calm
✔ Believe them. Speak to them gently, reassuringly.
✔ Take along a blanket or toy that they are familiar with for comfort.
🐾 Helping Your Pet Adjust to the New Home
When you get there your animal will have to settle in and sniff around. Here are some tips to help make the transition easier, step by step:
Set Up a Safe Space
✔ Where to make a bed, food, water and toys needs to be laid down a quiet room.
✔Especializa primero en una área y después en casa
Keep Their Scent Nearby
✔ Keep unwashed blankets, bedding or toys with their scent to help them feel at home.
✔ Do not wash their things right after moving
Stick to Their Routine
✔ They were being fed at the same time as they were before.
✔ Be consistent with walks, play time, and sleep time.
Allow Them To Explore At Their Own Pace
✔ Give your pet some time to explore the new space slowly.
✔ Accompany them on their first discovery.
Provide Plenty of Reassurance
Spend more time to play, scratch, and interact with your pet.
✔ Discuss using a soothing and motivated tone of voice.
May Keep a Track on Their Eating & Toilet Habits
✔ Some animals may not eat due to stress
✔ They are drinking some water and urinating in their litter box/potty area.
NOTE: A vet should be consulted if your pet does not eat or drink anything for over 48 hours.
🐶 Adjusting Various Types of Pets
Your pet is an individual, with individual Requirements. Tips for helping certain pets settle in after a move:
Dogs
✔ Walk them on a leash around your home to allow them to sniff out new smells.
✔ Start with short outdoor visits in enclosures under supervision.
✔ Start to leave them home alone for short amounts of time so they don't get separation anxiety.
Cats
✔ Keep them in a room for a few days before letting them loose in the whole house.
✔Provide several hiding spots (such as covered beds or cardboard boxes).
✔ Use pheromone diffusers to calm them down (e.g., Feliway).
Birds
Make sure to keep their cage in a space that is not too noisy or in direct sunlight.
✔Ensure their perch, playthings, and food dishes stay put in the same layout as the previous home.
✔ Speak gently with them and slowly allow them out of the cage.
Small Animals (Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters)
✔ Recreate their home precisely as they had it before (same bedding, same hiding areas, and food spot).
✔ Provide additional hiding spots for them to feel safe
✔ Do not over handle them until they look relaxed.
❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid
✔ Allow your pet to explore at their own pace; do not make them rush.
✔ Do not scold if it has an accident or behaves inappropriately due to stress.
✔ if they are used to a specific food, do not change suddenly and continue giving the same food!
✖ At first, dont leave them alone too long
Do not bring in new pets soon after the move
How Long Does It Take for a Pet to Adjust?
✔ Dogs: 1-2 weeks
✔ Cats: 2 to 4 weeks (occasionally longer)
✔︎ Birds & Small Pets: 1–3 weeks
Every pet is an individual—some adjust promptly while others may take more time. Show love and care as much as possible, be patient.
🌞 When Should You Go to the Vet
If you notice any of these symptoms in your pet for more than a couple of weeks, take them to the vet:
✔ Denial of food or water longer than 48 hours
✔ Very intense avoidance or aggression
✔ Increased pacing, panting or drooling
✔ Diarrhea or vomiting
✔ Not using a litter box or not eliminating in an appropriate place
🏡 Conclusion: With a Little Patience, Your Pet Will Settle in Soon
Though it can take time, with some extra love and care, your pets will soon feel right at home! Whether moving with pets takes time and patience, it can be done!
Key Takeaways:
✔ Set up your furry friend for the move
✔ Continue routines as they help stress levels.
✔Make the new house a secure, homey space.
✔ Allow them to take their time to see things at their speed.
✔ Further reassurance, comfort and patience.
