Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Getting Started

Moving with pets won’t be stressful if you follow these steps

Mary Johnson
By

While you might be a fan of traveling, pets find it unsettling. Animals are quite sensitive to changes in their environment, which makes uprooting your furry family members a potential recipe for disaster. Whether you’re moving to a new place in the same city or you’re planning for cross-country relocation, moving is stressful.

But you’re in luck: Our list of tips for moving with pets will help you simplify the process so your move goes much smoother. Your pets will settle in faster, and you’ll be able to get into an everyday routine in no time.

Tabby and puppy snuggling in the grass.
Snapwire from Pexels

What to consider before your move

We can’t make packing any easier for you, but moving with pets doesn’t have to add to the stress of relocating. Before you pack a single box, there are some things you should keep in mind.

Recommended Videos

Get to know the neighborhood

First and foremost, location is everything. If you have dogs, you’ll want to confirm the neighborhood is dog-friendly. Most dogs need plenty of room to exercise, so make sure you have a yard or easy access to a dog park if you’re moving to an apartment. You’ll also want to find out if other dogs in the neighborhood are friendly to avoid future confrontations.

Is a young puppy or an older dog part of the family? Keep an eye out for potential physical barriers like stairs, as puppies may have trouble with coordination. Older dogs are prone to arthritis, which makes walking up and down numerous flights of stairs uncomfortable.

If you have cats, you’ll want to find a new home with room for cat trees and scratching posts to keep your feline friend happy. While it’s less of an issue if your cat is strictly an indoor cat (which we recommend for safety reasons), look for houses with fenced-in yards to deter your cat from wandering off.

Make packing more comfortable for pets

Once you’ve found your dream home, you’re ready to start the move. Because animals are so sensitive to changes around the home, you may want to consider creating a safe space for them. Having a calm, quiet space away from the chaos of packing is extremely beneficial for your pet, and it keeps them from getting underfoot as you work.

You can pack up a guest bedroom or bathroom first and cordon them off inside with food, water, a litter box or potty pads, and their favorite toys. Another possibility is allowing your pet to stay with friends or family. If none of those options works out, you may want to let them bunk at the vet overnight. You can check them in for boarding only, or you can schedule a checkup to ensure they’re in perfect health for the big move.

Collect records from the vet

This doesn’t apply if you’re staying within the area, but if you’re moving out of town, you’ll want to collect your pet’s records from the vet. Whether you choose to go in for a final checkup or not, you should always ensure your pets are up to date on vaccinations and that you have any prescriptions filled before you move. This is a great time to update your address stored on your pet’s microchip.

A tan dog cuddling a gray dog in bed.
Adrianna Calvo from Pexels

Simplify moving day

If you’re in for a long-haul move and need to fly with your pets, you’ll need to review the airline’s regulations for pet travel. For example, American Airlines asks you to reserve a pet check-in 48 hours before you fly. You’ll want to arrive early for check-in, but safety regulations dictate you can’t check your pet in more than four hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. You’ll also need to bring a health certificate to verify that your pet is healthy.

When it comes to traveling with pets, it’s much easier to make the journey in the car. For shorter trips, pets can travel in a carrier in the back seat — please make sure to belt them in — but we recommend a kennel for long journeys. If you’re traveling with cats, place a small litter box in the kennel with them along with food and water. You can take your dog for a brief walk when you stop for gas.

Take stress into account

Even the most well-behaved animals can become anxious during car rides, so even if your pet stays calm under normal circumstances, we recommend keeping them kenneled while the vehicle is in motion. Cats may hide beneath the pedals, making it impossible for you to brake in time to avoid a collision, and dogs may try to sit on your lap, obscuring your view of the road. If your pet seems overly stressed, try covering their kennel with a towel or blanket.

Five striped kittens snuggling in the grass.
Pixabay from Pexels

Help them settle in

Once you’ve reached your new home, you’ll want to take things slowly. If you can, we recommend getting your house unpacked and set up before you move with your pet. That way, they’ll be surrounded by familiar smells, and they’ll feel much safer in their new space. If that isn’t possible, keep them in one room until they adjust to their new home.

Moving with pets can be hectic, but you can keep pets calm and help them settle into their new home quickly. Following our tips is a good way to start.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mary Johnson
Mary Johnson
Contributor
Mary Johnson is a writer and photographer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her work has been published in PawTracks and…
Off-leash dog training is easy if you follow these 5 tips
These tips will make this process smoother
Puppy learning to heel

We’re going out on a limb here, but it’s safe to say that if you’ve ever caught the look on a dog’s face when he’s running off leash at the dog park, you’ve caught a glimpse of what pure bliss looks like.

As a pet parent, it’s only natural to want to see that expression more often. And, without disparaging the leashed walk around the neighborhood, your dog would probably tell you he’d prefer being off leash more often. Is that possible, given local leash laws and all the mischief your untethered pet can get himself into? Perhaps, if he is well trained.

Read more
These are the 8 most loyal large dog breeds that make loving companions
Big breeds that will never leave your side
Akita with brown fur standing outside

There are so many reasons why dogs are known for being man’s best friend. Our pups love us unconditionally -- even when we aren't being our best selves. No matter what's going on, your four-legged friend will be happy to see you. Bad day at the office? Does your boss think your work performance is lackluster? Your dog respectfully disagrees. They’ll wag their tail when they see you walk through the door and shower you with kisses. They’re loyal and loving until the end.
One of the best things about dogs is that they're just as diverse as people are. Small, large, energetic, lazy... there's a dog for anyone out there. Some people fall head over heels for larger dogs, like Labrador retrievers, because they make for great swimming, hiking, and running partners. Large breeds are also often great snuggle buddies — even if they feel like a ton of bricks in our laps and take up the entire bed. What’s more, some of the most loyal dog breeds are large ones.
If you're leaning toward adding a big dog to your home, consider these eight breeds when searching for a true-blue forever friend.

What are the most loyal large dog breeds?
Dogs tend to be loyal by nature. Some pets take it up a notch, though, including these large dog breeds:

Read more
Do puppies sleep a lot? These are the perfectly normal sleeping habits of a healthy pup
Puppies sleep a lot, but here's when it's normal and when to be concerned
Puppy sleeping on lap of human with mustard yellow sweater

Generally, puppies require abundant sleep — some will snooze up to 20 hours per day. Every pup is different, though and as they get older, the number of sleep hours decreases. By about 16 weeks of age, most dog breeds will be able to sleep through the night.

Sleep is an essential element of human and canine development. As anyone who has had a new puppy can tell you, it can be tough at first to get them into a good sleeping routine. Still, you'll want to make sure you and your new dog are rested and fit for all that life has to offer you. Here is everything you need to know about when your new puppy should be sleeping through the night and the answer to the question, "Do puppies sleep a lot?"

Read more