It goes without saying that moving to you’ll have a lot on your plate when you’re moving to a new home. Whether it’s hauling heavy furniture, contacting the appropriate moving services, and ensuring that you’ll have enough supplies for the journey, there’s a lot of factors that you’ll need to weigh in on. But other than these factors, you’ll also need to ensure that your pets are safe for long-distance travel.
But transporting your cats and dogs from one area to another is easier said than done. Many of these pets can easily become uncomfortable if they’re placed in unfamiliar environments. In most cases, they’ll become restless.
The good news here is that there are various ways to ensure that pets are comfortable and safe throughout the whole journey. Here’s what you’ll need to know.
Contact Your Vet
First and most importantly, one of the most important parts of keeping your pets safe and in good condition is by contacting your vet right before you start moving. Most animals are unique in their own way, and the needs of certain pets will differ from others. There will be times that a pet will have health complications and conditions that might make them more sensitive to the rigors of travel. If this is the case, getting them checked out with your vet’s right medication and treatments should be a top concern.
Your vet will also have records about your pet. If you’re moving to an area that’s further away than your usual situation, you’ll need to inform your vet that you’re also moving. They might be able to recommend other vets and professionals in your new area.
Maximizing Comfort and Reducing Stress
Perhaps one of the most paramount ways to ensure that your pets are safe and remain in a docile state is by maximizing their comfort. However, this is easier said than done, especially when there are many factors that you’ll need to consider. Many animals and pets are not comfortable being in an unfamiliar environment, especially outside their usual territory.
Fortunately, you won’t have to worry too much about your pet when you’re in the process of moving since there are businesses that are well-aware of the woes of pet owners. There are professional and affordable ground transportation services that are known for helping individuals move pets. These experts are known for moving thousands of cats and dogs from point A to point B without any problem.
Keep Them Caged Until You Have Arrived
While you and your pet are currently in transit towards the new area, it’s important to be careful when you’re transporting the animal. Right before you arrive in your new home, you’ll need to ensure that your pet does not get lost. Once they are in the car, you mustn’t open the kennel, even if they seem really comfortable with their situation right now.
If your pet has a history of being a bit more hostile to people that they are unfamiliar with, there’s a good chance that they will become even more hostile when they are in an unfamiliar environment. That said, you’ll need to give them a few more days to adjust to their new environment, even if they are caged. Once you are 100% sure that they are now docile and well-behaved while in the presence of other individuals, that’s when you can start opening their cage.
However, cat owners will need to keep their cats indoors since most are territorial. Once they are now familiar with what’s inside your new home, you can start by transitioning them and helping them get used to what’s outside.
Slowly Introduce Their New Home
Lastly, you’ll need to start introducing your pet to your new home. This is by far one of the most important parts of moving in since you’ll want your pets to be as comfortable as possible with their new environment. When you have arrived, make sure that you place your pet’s cage somewhere that can help them explore your home more methodically. You might want to consider first letting them explore a room that will be their usual living area.
By confining them towards a section of your home, they’ll be able to familiarize themselves with their surroundings easily. It’s crucial to consider that your pets will be a bit uncomfortable with the situation since they are not in their usual environment. You’ll need to give much of your pet’s attention and start introducing them to different objects that they once had before you moved; this can come in the form of toys and blankets. Making them feel at home is one of the best ways of cutting downtime needed in adapting to their environment.
Pets have always been there for us through thick and thin. We can do the least for them when we are moving to another place by keeping them as comfortable as possible during the journey. No matter what the situation might be, safety should be your top priority. Although some pets are used to traveling, some pets are known for being territorial and won’t like the idea of moving to another location. Being prepared is the best way of ensuring that moving to another location won’t cause problems for you and your pet.
