According to a recent survey of 1,000 Americans, moving is more stressful than raising a child, getting a divorce, or starting a new career. Moving with pets is even more stressful—especially for them!
Thankfully, using a professional moving company can help take some of that stress away from both you and your pets. The process will go a lot smoother with the right team on your side, turning a stressful event into one that’s not so bad at all.
Use these tips to help keep your pets happy during your Lowcountry move.
Pack Away From Your Pets
Our pets can suffer anxiety just like we can. And since you can’t communicate with them to let them know what’s going on, they’ll have no idea why you’re moving everything around and making so much noise. Any serious change in routine can make your cat or dog confused and uneasy.
If you’re moving with your pet, plan to start packing out of their sight. Cats and dogs can get upset seeing furniture and other familiar objects moved around, removed from the home, or packed away.
If you’re packing a little each day, close the door to the room you’re working on. If you’re having your items professionally packed through a moving company, clear out a room and keep your pets inside.
Put a sign on the door to let any movers know that you have your pets in there and to keep the door closed.
Get Your Pet Used to Their Carrier
If your cat or dog doesn’t like their carrier or associate it with trips to the vet, try to make it more inviting. Put a blanket with your scent on it inside the carrier and a few treats. Do this well before moving day, so they have time to get used to it.
Leave the door to the carrier open to try and make their experience with it more positive.
Familiarize Them With Travel
Once your pet is more comfortable with the carrier, familiarize them with car travel. This is especially useful with cats, as they can become quite anxious in the car.
Start by taking them on short car trips, around ten minutes or so. You can slowly build up to longer trips until your cat gets acclimated to the feeling.
Many people don’t know that cats can get motion sickness when they travel, making the moving experience even more stressful. Taking frequent trips can help desensitize them to travel, which is useful when moving long-distance with pets. There are also natural remedies that can help calm your cat and anti-nausea medication you can get from your vet.
For dogs, you might want to take them on walks in your new neighborhood before moving, if possible. Walk by your new house and let your dog become familiar with the scents of the area.
Make the Move Easier With Professional Movers
Moving on your own can be a stressful experience, from buying all the right supplies to making sure you pack everything carefully and label each box to fitting everything on the truck. Not to mention, moving all those heavy boxes and furniture can take a toll on your body if you don’t use the right techniques and equipment.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to make the move easier on both you and your pets. At Smooth Move, we offer a variety of services to make your move quick and pain-free, such as:
- Full-service packing and unpacking
- Junk removal
- Delivery service
- Moving boxes and supplies
- Labor for packing, loading, and unloading
- Long or short-distance moving services
When you’re upset, your pets seem to notice, so make the moving process smoother by hiring a professional company to do some of the work.
It’s also a good idea to plan ahead and understand what your movers can and can’t take. You should also store all valuables, such as irreplaceable possessions, in your vehicle along with important documents.
Tips for Moving With Pets on Moving Day
On the day of the move, depending on the weather, you might keep your cat in the car. Make sure to keep it cool inside, and play some relaxing music to help keep them calm. If it’s too warm or too cold, keeping your cats in the bathroom is also a good choice.
Make sure to put up a sign on the door to let everyone know to keep it closed. In the bathroom, make sure your cat has their litter box, a carrier, food, and water.
For dogs, it might be better to have a friend or family member watch them until it’s time to move.
At Your New Home
Once you’ve arrived at your new home, it’s time to get your pets used to it.
For cats, make sure you inspect the house to look for any places your cat could hide or escape, such as open windows or crawl spaces. It will take some time for them to adjust to the new home and feel comfortable moving around.
Your cat may disappear in its cat carrier or underneath the bed for a while. These hiding places make them feel more comfortable, but you can usually coax them out with food or treats.
To help your cat adjust, return to your normal routine as soon as possible. Avoid visitors for the first few days until your cat gets used to the new home.
Many dogs will want a tour of their new home. Let them roam around inside and outside to inspect each room and area. Dogs will feel more comfortable once they adjust to the new smells, so take them on a walk around the neighborhood, but be sure to use a leash.
Like cats, dogs also appreciate routine. The sooner you can settle into your old routine, the better. A professional moving company makes the move a lot faster, enabling you to adjust to your new home and settle in, which your pets will appreciate.
Make sure to spend plenty of time with your pets during this time and show them some love.
Moving With Pets Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
Moving with pets can seem like a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Use these tips for moving with pets to make the whole process easier on both you and them.
Smooth Move can make the entire process simple for homeowners in the Charleston, SC area, allowing you to settle into your new home faster. Reach out to us to get a free quote on your Lowcountry move today.