How to Prepare to Make Moving with Pets Easier
Moving takes planning but with pets, it takes extra planning. Your pets will sense something is up. Having a plan in place will help to ease the stress and make a smoother transition for all.
Moving Is Stressful
Moving to a new home is exciting, but for women over 60 it can be a stressful time. Especially if you have pets. Your pets are in tune to you. They sense your moods, your ups and downs. And most of all, they know when the moving boxes and suitcases come out! Moving with pets makes the process a bit more complicated.
You’ve looked for and bought a pet-friendly home in a new city. You’ve done your due diligence and checked the pet restrictions and local laws. Now you’re all set and getting ready to go.
Trip to the Vet
Plan a trip to the vet. Make sure your pets’ vaccinations are up to date, especially rabies. Get a copy of your pet’s medical records and enough medication they may need for the trip and the immediate future. You can usually have their records emailed to you, on a flash drive, or on disc.
Ask your vet for a recommendation for a vet in the city you’re moving to. You might get lucky, and they may just know one! Update your pet’s ID tags and microchip records. This is vitally important if your pet should get out!
Carrier for Each Pet
Put together a carrier for each pet. Bring along an old tee shirt or article of clothing that has your scent. Put it in the carrier or in with your pet’s bedding. It will help to calm them.
Pack a bag for your pets. Make sure you have enough food, water, treats, medications, leashes, familiar toys, beds and blankets, potty bags, pee pads, etc. for your pets for several days, if not more. You want to be prepared in case the movers get held up, or something else causes a delay getting your things to your new home for a few days.
Moving Day
Try to keep pets as calm as possible on moving day. They will know something is going on. This includes leaving your old home and arriving at your new home. Perhaps your furry friends can spend a few hours with a relative or friend while the moving truck is being packed. If not, confine them to one area.
Make sure your pets are wearing their tags with your contact information. You don’t want anyone getting out. Same thing when you arrive – make sure your pets are safe as your furniture is being unloaded. If they can stay with a friend, in daycare or in the car with you, that should be fine.
Welcome to Your New Home
Once your furniture and belongings are brought into your new home, make sure to set up a new space for your furkids. You want your pets to have a sense of familiarity and start to feel comfortable in their new surroundings. Put their old, familiar beds, blankets and toys into this area. They need a place to feel safe and at home.
Having their own beds, blankets, crates, toys, and whatever you use for them – and having you there – will be a big help in getting your pets settled in their new home!
Welcome home!
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Are you a woman over 60 with pets? Are you planning a move in the near future? Do you have any questions that might help make your move easier? Let’s talk about it!
Moving from NY to Montana. Adopting/rescuing a 7 year old German Shepherd just a few days before the move to join me on the journey. I am so worried about the dogs mental health and bonding. I am pulling and then living in my RV trailer. Any advice to make it easier? She will be in truck with me during the drive.
Hi Mel,
Sorry, I just saw this. Bless you for adopting an older dog. I think that’s something you should discuss with the rescue as they know him or her. And perhaps your vet, as well. Best of luck to you! Safe travels!
I am planning a move from FL to NY (long island) with my little dog. I used to live in NY till I reaced 53, then i moved to Ocala FL near my parents. My folks have passed and now my daughter wants me to move near her in NY. Prices are so high but I am alone in FL. Instead of buying something I might have to rent an apartment or condo. I am getting Surgery in FL on May 5th and nervous about all things coming. Should i put off the move? My dog is born and raised in FL, shes a bichon, not sure how she’ll do in the cold.
Hi Casy, I can imagine how nervous you must be, but no one can tell you whether to put off the move. That’s really something you need to figure out or discuss with your daughter. I would talk to your vet, but I think your dog will be okay. She’ll need a sweater or coat for sure. I would talk to your vet, but I’ve moved from NY with dogs and had people go back and forth from here to NY, and the dogs adjusted. My dogs are papillons so also small. I know the breeder sent one from south Texas to Canada to live, and he did just fine. I think your bichon just wants to be with you and you with her. Wishing you the best of luck!
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I too am interested in how to possibly move 3 cats from West to East Coast in an SUV. One of my cats is only semi-tame.
Jane, Cindy gave great advice to Joanne below. The only thing I would add is to check with your vet regarding your semi-tame cat. Perhaps they can give her or him something to make the trip a bit easier or suggest something.
Great article, thank you so much! I do have a question about moving out of state. We (as a family will be moving) in a couple of years , di you have traveling tips for moving across country in a car?
We are not sure yet what state, I am currently 76 in good health. I have 2 sons and we all have cats to move.
Joanne, I moved from the bottom corner of the US to the top corner of the US (1280 miles) a few years ago with my 2 cats and gecko. I drove approximately 7-8 hours per day and stayed in pet-friendly hotels each night. It took 3 days. The #1 most important thing I recommend is doing whatever it takes to remain calm yourself — our cats are sponges, and I knew mine would be calm if I myself was calm. I made sure, no matter what was going on (and it was a LOT!) to meditate multiple times per day, and calmly talk to my cats frequently. They had their familiar blankets and toys and things that smelled like home and like me, with them at all times. I also sprayed Feliway around their carriers each morning, and had a Feliway plug-in in the hotel room each night. They mostly slept during the car rides each day, and did well in the hotel rooms each night. They wore collars with my contact information and I also put a sign on the hotel room door “Pets Inside – Do Not Open” so that housekeeping wouldn’t come in or leave the door open. I only left the hotel room very briefly after getting everyone settled to get myself some dinner. Good luck!
Great advice, Cindy. I think it’s pretty much the same with dogs except for the Feliway plug-ins. Our pets pick up our vibes. If they sense we’re stressed, they in turn will be stressed. If we remain calm, they will be calm.
At age 60 I moved from CA to FL by myself and 25 poodles that I raise. I bought a travel trailer to pull behind my truck. Each poodle had a roommate in a crate, secured in the back of the trailer. I was a nervous wreck pulling them cross-country by myself for 5 days, but obviously made it. I also had 2 feral cats that I kept in a large crate. I only overnighted in truck stops, no hotels. When I arrived in Florida, I released my dogs in the fenced backyard. Poor things were a bit shellshocked, but within 2 days we’re back to their normal selves. Since my cats were feral and outdoors cats, I had to keep them secured in the big cage on my covered back patio outside for 3 weeks to get used to the temperature, feeding, water and general daytime habits. When I released them, I put their cage in an open shed similar to what they had in CA. I assume yours are house cats so i recommend you keep yours in one room at first with familiar furniture for a week, then make absolutely sure all doors/windows to the outside are shut when you let them in the rest of your house. Also, make sure they are vaccinated/dewormed/etc. For the new area you are moving to.
That was a big move, Valerie. I’ve made it but not with 27 animals! I can understand why you moved them yourself and why you didn’t stop in a motel/hotel. CA and FL are pretty similar (at least I think so), so I’m glad your dogs and cats adjusted. I hope you did, as well.
love your move with that many pets. glad you had the trailer.
Thank you, Joanne! I’m happy to answer any questions you have, although I think you got some really good information from Valerie. Thank you, Valerie! Depending on how many cats you have, will you be stopping at motels/hotels? Many people I know use Bring Fido (I have nothing to do with them – just know the name from what they tell me.) Make sure you have crates, photos of them, portable litter box and stop for the night and someone to help you. It isn’t easy, but what we do for our pets!