How to Prepare Pets for the Big Move

Our pets want a comfortable bed, good food, and a solid routine. But no, they depend on our basic life decisions, and sometimes – especially recently, in the midst of a pandemic – it means moving. Whether you’re transporting them around town, country, or even around the world, a few simple steps can make it easier for them – and you too.

Collect all required documents

First things first, which means paperwork and research. You do not need documents at all if you move with your cat for several blocks. However, if you are crossing state lines or planning to travel by plane, it’s time to get your pet in order and find out what documents you need to travel with it . If your pet has a microchip, you should have this information handy so you can call the company or update your address online.

Next, you need to know what documents you need to transport your pet. Most states require a Veterinary Inspection Certificate (CVI), also known as a health certificate. Likewise, if you are flying, most airlines also require this health certificate . Please note: the certificate is only valid for 30 days after it is signed by the veterinarian.

Most countries (and some states ) have quarantine procedures and new travel requirements that need to be considered. Study the process for your destination – both you and your pet – so you know the rules and what to expect. PetTravel.com has a database of rules for 240 countries here .

It is worth noting that the United States Animal Welfare Society (HSUS) recommends avoiding flying with a pet whenever possible :

… do not transport your pet by plane unless absolutely necessary. Air travel is especially dangerous for animals with “squeezed in” faces (the medical term is “brachycephalic”), such as bulldogs, pugs and Persian cats. Their short nasal passages make them especially vulnerable to oxygen starvation and heatstroke. Consider all alternatives to flying. If you plan to take your pet with you on vacation, it is usually best to take it with you.

If this is not possible, call the airline prior to booking to clarify requirements . Many of them limit the number of pets that you can sit on. They may have different processes and procedures that are also not described on their websites.

Make an appointment with your veterinarian

If you’re moving far away, it’s time to make an appointment with your pet’s veterinarian. You will need to complete several tasks:

• Get a health certificate if necessary.
• Ask your veterinarian about motion sickness prevention or sedatives for your pet.
• Complete all recipes.
• Update your pet’s vaccination.
• Ask your veterinarian for your pet’s medical records.

While you’re there, you can also ask your vet if they can recommend a veterinarian in your new area.

Stick to your pet’s daily routine

Pets can become stressed when their daily routine is disrupted, so it is recommended that you introduce movement gradually. I’ve moved a couple of times with my nervous cats and start packing up a few weeks in advance so they get used to seeing all the boxes. Plus, it helps to feed and walk the pets at about the same time each day. My cats usually don’t mind being surrounded by crates as long as I serve dinner on time.

If you have a cat that walks or stays outside, you can leave it inside while you pack and move the boxes. Some cats get nervous and don’t come back inside.

Jacques Lynn Schultz, director of special projects at ASPCA Animal Sciences, tells Petfinder that it also helps train pets to carry them .

If your cat only encountered a carrier when she got home from the shelter, now is the time to leave it so she can check it daily. Place your cat’s favorite blanket or toy in the carrier and compliment her as she enters. “Set up the carrier ahead of time so your cat gets used to going in and hiding,” says Schultz. “That way, when she’s feeling stressed, she’ll hide in a carrier, not a suitcase.”

Likewise, if your dog is only used to driving when it’s time to go to the vet, you should train him to do so before moving. Start with short trips and associate something positive with the trip to ease your dog’s anxiety.

Make your moving day less tiring

Some pets tolerate change better than others. If your child is nervous, it is best to pick him up with your veterinarian. If this is not possible, store them in a safe, closed place on the day you move.

Petfinder suggests keeping cats and other small animals in rigid carriers and dogs in the same room or backyard. As you get into the car, pay attention to the reactions of your pets .

Arnold Carpenter, DVM, Vice President of the Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital ASPCA, recommends covering the carrier with a sheet or light blanket for the first few hours of the trip. “Cats get a little scared when they see the world move,” he says. After a few hours, they should relax, and then you can remove the sheet … Only after everything is cleared out of the house, you can pick up your animal and put it in a car or moving truck.

For road trips, it is helpful to bring a pet bag with you, which includes:

• Your pet’s favorite food
• Heals
• Water
• Disposable Cat Litter
• First aid kit
• Towels in case of an accident

When I was traveling with my cat years ago, I also threw one of my old T-shirts into her carrier. The familiar scent is soothing, according to the veterinarian.

If you are staying overnight during your trip, make sure the hotel is pet-friendly. Even if you book online and think you’re done, call the hotel ahead of time to confirm that you can take your pet with you. Beware of frightened pets when you move into the room: they can jump out to the door when trying to escape.

Flying is challenging as flying is inconvenient for humans , let alone pets. We’ve all heard horror stories about pets in the cargo hold, where temperatures are often extreme and ventilation is poor. Again, HSUS strongly advises against flying with pets, especially in the cargo hold, but they offer a number of tips when needed. Some of the most important:

• Use direct flights. You will avoid mistakes that occur during airline transfers and possible delays when your pet leaves the plane.
• Always take the same flight as your pet. Ask the airline if you can watch your pet being loaded into the hold and unloaded.
• Never carry brachycephalic animals such as Pekingese, Bulldogs or Persian cats in cargo holds .
• Whether you are traveling in summer or winter, choose flights that are adaptable to extreme temperatures . Early morning or late evening flights are best in summer; afternoon flights are best in winter.
• Wear a collar on your pet that won’t snag on the carrier doors. Attach two IDs to the collar: a permanent ID with your name, home address, and phone number, and a temporary ID with an address and phone number where you or a contact can be contacted.
• Avoid flying with your pet during strenuous travels such as vacation or summer . Your pet is more likely to be mistreated during hectic travels.

Be sure to include contact information on the carrier in case your pet gets lost.

Another option is pet transportation services . They do all the work and plan for you, but your pet will be in the hands of a stranger, so you have to weigh the pros and cons to make this decision yourself.

Introduce your pet to your new home

Make sure your new home is pet-friendly before moving in. For example, look outside for possible toxic plants . Once I moved to a new place and kept losing my cat just to find it on the street. I kept thinking that I accidentally left the door open until I found a secret hole in the kitchen that led to the bottom of the house.

Make it easier for your pet to move to a new home by making it a little more familiar . Place their familiar objects – bowls, toys, toilet boxes, scratching posts – in the places they are used to. For example, if their bowls were in the kitchen in the old location, leave the bowls in the kitchen in the new location. If their litter box was in the bathroom, leave it in the new bathroom.

As CatBehaviorAssociates.com suggests, it also helps maintain a “sanctuary” for pets.

Keep a litter box in the hideout room so your cat always has a safe place to return to if she is uncomfortable getting too far out of her comfort zone. Unless you plan on keeping a crate permanently in the hideout room that is there, wait until it is fully familiar with the other spot (s), and then you can gradually move that crate a few feet a day to the new crate location. You just don’t want to shock him with the sudden disappearance of the box.

When you move, it’s also important to stick to their schedule. This helps reduce stress levels. It looks different and they have no idea what is going on, but at least they know that they are fed at the same time every day.

Petfinder also offers to manage your own stress:

“Let your animal’s behavior be your guide,” Schultz recommends. “For this it is important that you are as calm as possible. Most of the stress your pet is experiencing comes from you. If you fall apart, your animal’s reaction will be reflected in it. If you have a relatively calm demeanor, it will alienate the animals as well.

Finally, if you change your phone number, be sure to update your pet’s ID collar when you move. It’s kind of a given, but when we find ourselves on a huge to-do list of relocation, it’s easy to lose sight of the obvious.

Making a big move with pets can be tricky. You already have so much to plan that meeting their needs can be tricky too. With a little preparation, you can make it easier for them and make the movement as stress-free as possible.

This post was originally published in 2016 and has been updated to include COVID-related travel links and to align with Lifehacker’s style guidelines.

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