Moving is said to be one of life's most stressful experiences.
This is without taking moving house with a cat, or moving house
with a dog, into consideration. Currently, 63% out of the 7.5
million households in Australia own pets. Australia actually has
the highest percentage of pet owners in the world.
When it comes to relocation, moving house with a cat or a dog in
Australia is considered to be the norm. After all, 12 million
Australians are pet owners or are associated with pets in some way.
The key to moving house with a pet is to focus on the smoothest
transition possible for your cat or dog.
Cats and dogs are highly sensitive animals that can often react
negatively to a move that isn't handled properly. If a cat or a dog
experiences stress while moving, it can lead to serious behavioural
issues or even cause the animal to run away. Yet cats and dogs are
completely different animals and must be handled individually for
the best outcome when moving.
Moving house with a cat
Cats are animals that form strong attachments to their homes and
may even try to run away to return to their old environment. This
is why it is of the utmost importance to make a cat comfortable so
that they accept their new environment and don't try to escape.
The key to your success when moving house with a cat? Try to
keep your cat's environment as normal as possible:
- Don't move his / her litter box until the day of your
move.
- Stick to a normal feeding schedule, even on moving
day.
- Always keep plenty of water available to keep your cat
relaxed and hydrated.
- Don't pack all of the cat's "belongings" prior to moving
day. It's still important that a cat has some of its items with its
scent so that he feels at home.
Moving house with a dog
Moving house with a dog is drastically different from moving
house with a cat, evidenced by the major differences in cats' and
dogs' personalities. Again, your success will hinge on making your
dog as comfortable as possible in their new environment so that
they actually look forward to their new home.
Keep the following tips in mind when moving house with a
dog:
- If possible, walk your dog in your new neighbourhood
prior to moving so that he can get acclimated.
- Stick to your dog's routine, even on moving day. This
means sticking to the same feeding times, walks, and other things
your dog is accustomed to.
- If practical, take your dog on a long walk on moving day.
This will stimulate your dog and tire him out so that he's more
relaxed around the movers.
- Set clear boundaries in your new home. Keep your dog in
his kennel and gradually introduce him to new areas of the house so
that he feels safe and comfortable.
Top moving tip
If your pet is micro-chipped, remember to alert the Microchip
Pet Register of your change in address several weeks before your
moving date.