Our Top Tips For Moving With Your Pets

We know that moving home can be a stressful process for people, but it can be just as stressful for the pets in our lives, particularly our dogs and cats.

When you’re planning your move with us as your removals company in Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Westbourne, Winton, Ferndown, Ringwood or elsewhere in the south-west, make sure you start by telling us that you have pets. At Removals Unlimited, we’ll always do everything we can to accommodate your pets and make moving day as stress-free as possible for them.

GoCompare has compiled a really useful guide to moving home with a pet, which gives handy tips for keeping any pet calm.

There are several things you should do before you move home, the first of which is make sure that your pet’s microchip is up to date with your new contact details. Don’t forget their collar while you’re at it too.

It’s also important to notify your pet insurer about your change of address. This can be easy to overlook, so add it to your list of jobs to do before your move.

If it’s possible, find a friend or relative to look after your pet for you on moving day. This is not only likely to minimise their stress levels, but also makes it much less likely that your dog or cat could escape while your professional movers and packers are hard at work.

We’re also a nationwide removals company, so we help people move to and from the south-west all the time. If you’re making a more substantial move, you’ll have to travel with your pet to reach your new home.

The top advice is to create a safe space in the carrier for your dog or cat where they can feel secure. Pop their favourite blankets in there, as well as any toys they enjoy having around. This can help to soothe them and make the transition to their new home a little easier.

Introduce their carrier to your home a few weeks before your move and encourage your pet to sleep in there. This will help them to feel more secure in a carrier and that will make it easier to get them into it on your moving day, not to mention reduce their stress levels once the journey is underway.

We’ve talked before about packing a box of moving day essentials for yourself, but don’t forget any essential items you need for your pets too. That might include some of their favourite treats, their food for the night you arrive and any medication they have to take. If you’re driving a long distance, you might also need anti-nausea medication to make the journey more comfortable for them.

As Vets4Pets explained earlier this year, dogs tend to feed off our emotions, so keeping your emotions under control is important if you want to avoid adding to your dog’s stress. We can help lower your stress levels because we pack, move and store for our clients and will ensure your moving day runs as smoothly as possible.

Cats, meanwhile, often struggle with moving home because they are sensitive creatures. The best way to help them settle in at your new property is to provide them with items that they’re familiar with and that carry their scent.

We put together a handy post about moving with your dog last year, as well as a blog specifically about moving home with your cat, so check these out for some more specific pet-moving advice!

We are always more than happy to talk about any of your requirements for your move, including how best to move home with a beloved pet. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote to get the process of moving into your new property started.