Relocating with Fido Made Easy: Moving House with Your Pet
You have been planning for several weeks. You have informed your kids about moving to Colorado and they have been helping you pack all of your things. The movers are hired and are scheduled to arrive in a few days. However, you are still facing one problem: how will you move house with your pets in tow?
Animals do not understand the concept of moving home. The process might be stressful for you because you have to think about a million details like packing but it can be traumatic for your dogs and cats because you are also uprooting them from their home. Suddenly they find themselves in an unfamiliar surrounding with strange smells and new animals on the block. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to make moving house easier for your loyal companions.
Before the Move
Animals are known to be more attuned to what goes around them than humans expect so do not be surprised if your pets get anxious if they see you packing your belongings. It is best to confine them in a room during this process so they will not be stressed out. When you pack all of your pets’ belongings, make sure that they are all complete. It also helps them if you give them plenty of attention before you actually leave the premises lest they think that you are leaving them behind. If they are not used to traveling in a pet carrier, you need to train them a few weeks before your moving day so they will get used to it.
Anticipate Problems
As a responsible pet owner, it is your duty to anticipate the problems that come with moving home with your pet. One of the biggest problems you will face is your pets will try to escape from your new house and become lost. Some of them might try to go back to your old house. It is best to keep them inside the house or to have a fence built around your new house.
Introduce Old Smells
Avoid washing your pets’ things after you move to your new house so they will still smell something familiar in their new surroundings. You can also leave a shirt you wore for several days near your pets’ beds so they will be reminded of your presence. This will have a calming effect on them. If you have cats, you can rub a damp towel on their faces and rub it all over the house. Cats secrete a pheromone from their faces which they use to “mark their territory”.
Explore the Neighborhood
Once you get settled in, go out for daily walks with your pets and explore your new neighborhood. Allow them to sniff at posts, bushes and trees. Let them become familiar with the area by introducing new sights, sounds and smells
This article is made by Ericka, who enjoys writing content for We Do Boxes, a company that offers a wide variety of Cardboard Moving Boxes.
