Moving to a new home is often exciting, but can also be tough on families. Your family’s pets are no exception to this rule. Animals always seem to know when something's amiss, even if they can't understand exactly what's changing or why. One of the keys to moving with your pets is to keep them secure before and during the move, and to settle them safely and quickly into a routine afterward.
Dogs are generally a bit easier to deal with than cats during a move. Put a leash on and drive Fido to his new address. Show him his new, warm home and the securely fenced back yard. That’s about it. Unless your dog is an Olympic high-jumper, he'll usually stay put while he adjusts. Of course, use good sense and the knowledge of his expected behavior before completely letting him on his own…but you get the picture!
Cats are a particular worry at moving time because they form a bond not only with the people in a home, but also with the home itself. Not so true with free-roaming cats. The cases of cats returning to their previous homes are common for people who move short distances, and the instances of cats disappearing forever are just as common for families moving a great distance. Because of their mobility, cats can be difficult to keep around the new home long enough for them to realize that this is where the people they love will now stay.
Confinement is essential when moving cats. It keeps them safe while they become used to their new territory and make it their own. Bring your cat inside, if she's not already an indoor cat, before the movers arrive. Set her up in a "safe room" - a spare bathroom or bedroom is ideal - and leave her alone. Provide her with food and water, her bed, a scratching post, litter box and a couple of favorite toys while the packing and moving is under way. Fluffy's ride to her new home is best undertaken in a carrier, especially if she has rarely seen the inside of a car.
At the new home, follow the "leaving home" procedure in reverse. Put her into a "safe room" for a few days - until the movers are gone, the furniture arranged and most of the dust settled, and then allow her to explore inside the house on her own terms after things calm down a bit. Quickly re-establish a routine. Pick a time and a place for feeding, and stick to it (for all pets).
Here’s an opportunity…If you've been thinking about converting your free-roaming cat to a house dweller for her health and safety, moving to a new home is the perfect time to accomplish this. In your old home, you'd be constantly listening to your cat demanding to be let out into the rest of her territory. In a new home, she hasn't established any territory of her own yet, and you can make the new home her only turf by keeping her inside from day one.
If you don't want to convert her, keep her inside for a couple of weeks, until she seems relaxed. You can introduce your cat to the new yard by accompanying her on short tours with a harness and a leash. But in the end, you'll have to take your chances, open the door and hope for the best.
Remember ID! During a move, your pet is at a high risk for becoming lost. That's why it's essential to get new ID tags on your pets before you disconnect that old phone number, or to update the ID tags with your permanent cell phone number. If you use a tracking service or microchip ID, be sure they know where to reach you as well by updating your records with the registry. Also, if you're going to need to change veterinarians, let the staff at the old hospital know and provide a working phone number in case anyone calls the hospital because of a rabies tag or other form of identification on a found pet. And finally, check with the animal control department in your new community to get new licenses and find out what regulations cover your pets.
Moving can be stressful for all, but taking a little extra care when it comes to your pets will help to move them safely and with a minimum of stress (and mess!) at your new home. Good luck and enjoy your new digs!
-Doug McKee, DVM
Clay-Duval Pet Emergency Clinic
275 Corporate Way, Suite 200
Orange Park, FL 32073
(904) 264-8281
Fleming Island Pet Clinic
4711 Highway 17 S
Fleming Island, FL 32003
(904) 264-7387
