It is two days before the removalist arrives. Your hallway is crammed to the ceiling with boxes and you’ve got masking tape stuck to the bottom of your shoe. Now the cat’s disappeared. Frankly, its chaos and you can’t blame the cat for having jumped ship. The thought’s crossed your mind too.

Like many of us, most animals hate change and moving house can make them particularly anxious. Some go into hiding, some stop eating and others generally mooch about the house looking put-out and nervy. However, if you follow a simple plan before, during and after the move, you’ll not only decrease their stress, but also lower your own.

Four Weeks Before

Create a routine. Four weeks before the big move, set a daily alarm to remind you that it’s time to either play a special game with your pet or feed them a small treat. This way, although the house will have changed, some things, like the pleasurable routines of feeding and playing, will stay the same.

Make sure your pet’s tags are up to date with your contact details and their collar is secure – just in case something does go wrong.

During The Move

It’s smart to board your pets a few days before and after the move. This way they won’t have to see all their familiar surroundings vanish. You also won’t have to worry about the open doors and gates that an anxious dog or cat could escape through.

Most animals travel happily enough in trains, planes and automobiles so if your pet hasn’t had a bad experience previously, don’t bother with the sedatives or tranquillisers. While some cats will vocalise during the first few minutes of a trip, it won’t take long before they settle down.

Arriving At The New Home

When you and your pet arrive at your new home, confine your pet to a few rooms and gradually extend the territory. When you do let your cat explore outside the house, make sure there is a tempting dinner to come home to.

It’s also important to update your pet’s microchip registration to your new address as soon as you’ve settled in.

After

If your pet continues to show signs of anxiety after the move don’t accidentally make things worse by reassuring your pet. Instead, as hard as it is, ignore the anxious behaviour and pay lots of attention to calm behaviour. If your pet continues to be anxious, talk to a vet or a qualified animal behaviour consultant for advice.

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