Moving & Pets

Moving Pets

Moving With Pets

Home Moving Solutions® we love moving entire families, including your four-legged, finned and feathered 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.

Here are some best tips on how to easily and successfully move with pets, whether you have a cat, dog, fish, or bird. Read some best practices for pet transportation and getting them acclimated into their new home!

Moving with cats:

  • Cats can be very territorial and may be hesitant to welcome strangers into their home. Have your cats in a safe enclosed area so that they do not escape with all the “in and out” of the home. This could be a bathroom or a cage enclosure with food, water and their litter box. Make sure to label the door if your pet is being help inside.
  • 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.

Moving with dogs:

  • Just like cats, Dogs can be very territorial and may be hesitant to welcome strangers into their home. Have your dogs in a safe enclosed area so that they do not escape with all the “in and out” of the home. This could be a bathroom or a cage enclosure with food, water and their favorite blanket or toy. Make sure to label the door if your pet is being help inside.
  • 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. Have a leash handy. Although he may have walked with you without a leash at your original house, the new house is unfamiliar.
  • Dogs should also be slowly introduced to their surroundings, than leashed outside until comfortable with the area. Always be sure your dog has up-to-date pet ID tags on the collar, or more advisable, 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.
  • You may also consider hoteling your dog or cat temporarily at its vet or a familiar kennel until the move is complete. Their safety is of the utmost importance to everyone.
  • Check the licensing regulations in the municipality you are moving to.
moving pets

Moving with small pets:

  • Small pets such as ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters are more sensitive to drastic temperature changes. Take care to protect them from cold drafts or direct sunlight. Cover them with a blanket or towel
  • These animals can travel in the cage they normally live in, but make sure it is well sealed so they cannot escape.
  •  

Moving with birds:

  • 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 and drafts at all times.
  • Transport a supply of food and a gallon of water from the previous house. Water is the most important to gradually introduce your bird to since different municipalities have different water quality.
moving pets

Moving with fish:

  • 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.
  • If there is any way to start the aquarium at the new home to cycle the water, regulate the temperature to reduce the stress of introduction to the new home. Test the PH, the nitrogen, ammonia and nitrates before introducing your fish into their new aquarium.
  • 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.
 

HAVE A MOVE COMING UP? LET HMS HELP!

CONTACT US TODAY FOR A NO OBLIGATION ESTIMATE!

Request an Estimate