Pet Stress when Moving House

Moving house is a stressful enough time for people, but for animals it can be even worse. They do not understand what is happening. Here’s a few points that will hopefully make for an easier transition to a new home/environment.

• FOR CATS

• Consider placing your cat into a boarding facility for a few days before & after the move.

• Use a pheromone-producing product such as Feliway in the new environment.

• Keep cats indoors for a period (say 2 weeks) before letting them outside. When you do let them outside, do it at the time of day when they are least active and BEFORE feeding.

• FOR DOGS

• Get to know your neighbors & let them know you have a dog – your pet may bark in your absence – perhaps give them a work contact number.

• Make sure fencing, etc., is adequate at your new home.

• FOR BOTH

• Have your pets’ microchip details updated with new address & contact phone numbers – instructions on how to go about this can be found on the reverse of the original pink registration form – but this can be done by contacting any local council.

• Get new pet tags made with your new contact phone numbers & address – have these ready BEFORE the move, as updating of microchip details can take several weeks.

• Have a copy of your pet’s veterinary history sent to your new vet.

• Talk to people in your new local area about any possible problems you & your pet may not have encountered previously – such as ticks & snakes.

• Have the same bed/bedding/toys that your pet had at the old home – don’t buy new ones at this stage - anything that is familiar to them will be a comfort.

• Do not wash their bedding. Leave their comforting smell on their bedding.

• Make sure all the heavy moving & all the ‘to-ing & fro-ing’ has been completed before bringing them to their new home.

If you have any queries about the toll moving house will have on your pets please contact our reception.