Moving to a new home is often among the most stressful life events one has to tackle. To reduce their burden, one may hire companies like Safe Ship Moving Services to streamline their moving process. However, between the chaos of cardboard boxes and moving trucks, one shouldn’t forget how their pets are dealing with the move. Pets are sensitive to changes in their routine. They are quite likely to sense that things are shifting. There is a good chance that one’s cat or dog shows signs of anxiety by acting unsettled or clingy when a person is preparing for a move.
Safe Ship Moving Services marks a few pointers that can help in moving with pets
Most cats are not fans of change. Pet owners can help their cats and even skittish dogs to adjust to the moving process by bringing moving boxes home well in advance. The room where the pets usually stay should additionally be packed at last. On the moving day itself, people should keep their pets in a quiet room with the door shut, or at a friend’s house if possible. This will make sure that the cat or dog does not get scared and try to make a fast getaway as the movers load up the truck. Pet owners must try to keep the routine of their pets as normal as possible during the moving process.
Not many pets are used to spending too much time in cars or crates. Hence, in the weeks or months leading up to the moving day, one must:
- Prepare the pets by acclimating them to their crates gradually. At first, their food should be placed inside an open crate. As the pet becomes more comfortable with the setting, people can eventually have the pets eat their meals in the crate with the door shut.
- Try to carry their pets around the house in the crate or take a short drive.
- Pet owners can help pets develop a positive association with the crate by providing playtime or treats at the conclusion of crate time.
The team of Safe Ship Moving Services mentions that taking the simple steps above can go a long way in making the moving day more comfortable for pet owners and their furry friends.
Before moving and settling down in the new home, one should effectively pet proof it. One has to make sure that all the windows of the new house have secure screens, plug up nooks where the pet could get stuck, tuck away electrical cords, as well as remove any poisonous houseplants. As people arrive at their new home, it can be tempting to set their cat or dog loose in the house so that they can explore. However, pet owners need to remember that a new and unfamiliar space can be overwhelming to the pets. Hence, it is better to start by allowing them to adjust to one room or their “home base”. This room should have the favorite toys, treats, water and food bowls of the pets, and a litter box for cats. When the pets seem comfortable enough, one can gradually introduce them to other rooms in the house.
