Australians are among the most mobile people in the world, with 40.7% changing their address in the five years prior to 2021. Couple that with the fact that we’re among the world’s top animal-loving nations, and you have a few things to consider for the next major move.
To ease the stress and anxiety for the people and pets involved in the move, here are some tips to ensure the transition runs smoothly.
Maintain your routine: Disruption to a pet’s normal routine can cause them unnecessary stress. While the lead-up to a house move can be a challenging time, try to keep to your pet’s regular feeding, walking and playtime routine. While there may be boxes building and different people coming and going for the relocation, a consistent routine will help pets feel safer and secure.
Update contact details: Possibly one of the most important things you can do for your pet before the move is updating their identification tags and microchip details. When they find themselves in a new place and neighbourhood, having up-to-date contact details on their tag will ensure they find their way home if they get lost.
Create a Safe Space: Your pet will need a safe space to retreat to when the relocation may become overwhelming. It could be a room, or a space filled with their favourite toys, blankets and treats – a place that feels and smells familiar to them despite the change due to the moving-related activities and noise.
Get a vet check: Before the move, book an appointment with your vet. If you’re moving away from your usual vet, ask for recommendations of other vets in your new local area and for an outline of your pet’s health history. Make sure your pet is up to date on vaccinations and let your vet know that you are in the process of moving, so they can provide advice on caring for your pet’s well-being.
Pet Priorities Bag: Prepare a bag specifically for your pet, filled with enough food, water, medication (if required), toys, grooming supplies, and familiar bedding. This bag will be useful in creating a safe space in the first few days in the new home.
Plan the journey: Does your pet travel in the car and will they need a harness? Will your pet require a carrier? How long will the journey be and how many toilet and exercise stops will be needed? These are just some of the questions you’ll need to answer when you’re planning your move with your fur friend. If plane travel is part of your relocation, research pet-friendly airlines and their requirements well in advance.
The new home: With all your planning in place, settling your pet into their new home should be a little easier. Unpack their belongings, food, etc and create a place where they can feel safe. Slowly introduce them to different areas of the house and allow them to explore at their own pace. Restart your usual walking, feeding, etc routines to reassure your pet.
Moving house with a pet will require some readjustment – for both humans and pet pals. With careful planning and patience, the experience can be an exciting one, and offer new opportunities to create new memories in a new home.
Pet sitters can support upcoming house moves and relocations for pet parents. Browse house and pet sitter profiles online to find the ideal sitter for your home and pet.