Moving with Pets? How to adjust to new homes!
What is most important, is to plan well ahead of time and maintain your pets routine as much as possible during your pre moving days. Keep it regular so that they are not overwhelmed by the sudden change. If you feed, play or exercise with your pet at a certain time then keep doing the same till a few days before you are scheduled to leave. During the final crunch period, it will be best to leave your pet with a friend or in a kennel, or in the case of a cat, locked in a room with food, water, its carrier and toys.
A few helpful pet transport tips are always a plus to take away from this, so we hope the following tips for shipping and moving your pets will help!
CATS: Cats are usually the most affected when it comes to a change of environment and routine - so it is best to make sure you treat them as such! It is best to introduce your cat to their new home gradually, restricting it to one or two rooms at first. Place the litter box, bed, scratching post, food and water in the room with it. This gives it the chance to become accustomed to the sounds and smells in your new home. It also gives them a room of their own to use later as a refuge or if they feel uncertain.
We recommend you put their favorite bed, blanket, toys or any item that is familiar to them in the room. The smells of "home" will help them adjust to their new surroundings. Please make sure you keep doors and windows closed and make sure there aren't any crawl spaces or holes where they can escape to and that you can't access.
Cats like to explore, so let them explore on their own. If they decide to hide under the bed, let them be. They'll eventually come out when they feel safe. If you plan on allowing your cat outside, make sure you keep it indoors for at least two weeks so that your home is familiar to them. After two weeks, take the cat outside with you and let it explore a bit. After ten minutes or so, take it back inside. Each day increase the time until the cat feels safe and knows the area. Also make sure that your cat is properly tagged with your new address and phone number, before you even start the quick 10 minute trips. Cats are quick and you want to make sure you are prepared, just in case!
DOGS: While dogs seem to adjust easier than cats, they still require special care and handling. This is especially true if you're moving from a home to an apartment or from a large house to a smaller home. Room to move around and exercise can be critical to a dog's contentment.
When taking your dog outside for the first time, keep him leashed and allow him the time to explore his neighborhood. Like your precious cat, your dog should be introduced to the area around your home slowly. It's a good idea to explore it a block at a time, just to see who else lives in your neighborhood. Strange dogs can pose a threat and cause your pet unnecessary stress.
If possible, allow yourself some time before you start your new job. This will give you time to help your dog adjust. During this period of adjustment, start spending time away from the house, doing so in small increments just to see how your dog will respond. Eventually, when you do start work and you have to spend all day away, your dog should be adjusted to the home and feel comfortable being alone there.
If you have to start work right away, you may want to consider hiring a pet sitter to come to your home. They can usually cater to individual needs and requests and they charge by the hour. Although it may add up in fees, you can ask the sitter to spend more time with your dog initially, then slowly wean him back until he/she's used to being alone.
No matter what kind of pet you have, adjusting to a new home is tough. Knowing your animal and the kind of pet they are - confident, social or shy - will help you determine what they're individual needs are.
We all need to adjust to new surroundings and nothing is better than spending time and enjoying the time when adjusting - then with your pets!