Moving is almost always a stressful experience—even when you’re excited about the prospects of your new home. Imagine, then, how much worse it must be for your pets. Often resistant to change of any kind, your four-legged friends may be completely unsettled by the unusual activity and unpredictability surrounding a move.
Fortunately, according to the ASPCA, there are a few things you can do to make it easier for them.
5 tips for a pet-friendly move
- Factor your pet into your home search. Does the neighborhood seem pet-safe and animal-friendly? Does the home have a yard for your active pup or vertical space for your feline climber? Tour every house with your furry friends in mind. It will be their new home, too, and you want them to love it just as much as you do.
- Move mindfully. Big boxes, noisy tape and bubble wrap, familiar rooms being stripped bare … all these things can be scary for an animal who doesn’t understand what’s going on. Bring in moving boxes early for a more gradual process, and keep your pets’ routine as normal as possible throughout.
- Prepare them for a road trip. If your pets aren’t used to long car rides and your move is going to require one, start getting them acclimated to their crates in advance. Treats and play after crate time can help forge a positive association.
- Pet-proof your new home. Secure electrical cords, check for secure window screens, inspect the fence perimeter, keep an eye out for potentially toxic plants or pest-control paraphernalia.
- Settle in slowly.Setting your pets free to roam and explore may be overwhelming. Start small, introducing them to one room that contains familiar objects like their toys, bed, treats, food and water bowls, and litter box. Once they’re comfortable there, you can gradually introduce other rooms.
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