How to Move with Pets Without the Stress

Ever noticed how your dog starts acting weird the moment you bring out the first moving box? Cats disappear under beds. Birds get all fluffed up and nervous. Animals have this sixth sense about change, and they’re usually not fans of it.

Moving day is stressful enough without worrying about your furry family members freaking out. Here’s the thing, though – pets handle moves better when they know what’s happening. Well, sort of. They can’t exactly understand explanations, but they respond to calm energy and familiar routines.

Professional movers like Drop A Box have dealt with families who own every type of pet imaginable. Nervous rescue dogs, grumpy old cats, even families with three parrots and a snake. The secret isn’t complicated – it’s about keeping things as normal as possible while everything around them changes.

Prep Work That Helps

Weeks before moving day, start with small changes. Don’t dump all the chaos on them at once. Keep breakfast happening at the same time. Walk the dog on the usual schedule. Stock it with their favorite blanket, some toys, water bowl. This becomes their hideout when things get crazy.

Let them sniff around empty boxes and packing tape. Some pets are naturally curious about new stuff. Others act like cardboard boxes are dangerous invaders. Either reaction is fine – just let them get used to seeing moving supplies around.

Surviving the Big Day

Moving day feels like controlled chaos to humans. For pets, it’s just chaos. Strangers in the house, furniture vanishing, doors propped open. No wonder they get stressed out.

Stick your pet in their safe room with everything they need. Food, water, favorite toys, maybe a piece of your clothing that smells familiar. Tape a sign on the door telling movers to keep it shut. An escaped cat on moving day is nobody’s idea of fun.

Some pets benefit from calming treats or those plug-in pheromone diffusers. Check with your vet about what might work. Every animal is different. What chills out one dog might do nothing for another.

New House, New Rules

Don’t count on your pet to adore their new surroundings right away. They require time to investigate, smell everything, and locate the best places for naps. At first, everything seems foreign, much like when you start at a new school.

Set up their stuff in similar spots to how it was arranged in the old house. Food bowl in the kitchen corner, bed in the same relative spot to your bedroom. Familiar arrangements help them feel more secure.

Most pets need a few weeks to fully settle in. Some bounce back in days, others take months. Just roll with it.

Conclusion

Dogs frequently want to patrol and explore everything right away. They may act protective of the new area or bark more than normal. Cats would rather hide and wait until they are certain it is safe to leave.

When being transported, small pets like birds and rabbits need extra care. They are more susceptible to temperature changes and loud noises. Make sure the carriers are comfortable and safe during the journey.