6 Handy Pointers for Dealing with Pets During a House Move

Moving day can be incredibly stressful for humans, however, you also need to remember that this can be equally, if not more stressful for your family pet who will have absolutely no idea what is going on. Dealing with pets on moving day can be difficult however we at Hadley and Ottaway on hand to make things a little bit easier with our eight handy pointers for you to take on board ahead of a forthcoming move where pets are involved;

1. The last thing you need when attempting to pack the final boxes and load onto your removal lorry is the dog running around your feet or being concerned about where the cat is, so it is advisable to confine them to one room or area of the house so you know where they are, yet are also out of the immediate way. With so much activity going on around the house too, your pet will soon sense that something is wrong or change is on the horizon so maybe more inclined to make a run from it; another benefit to making sure they are kept in the one place.
   
   
2. Whilst you may have confined them to a particular area of the house, make sure you give them plenty of attention throughout the day otherwise they may feel that you are going to leave them behind and become agitated.
   
   
3. Pets live by routine, so in the weeks and days leading up to your move, attempt to stick to the normal routine as much as possible to avoid your pet becoming restless and nervous.
   
   
4. Keep as many familiar items as possible around your pet on moving day as well as once in your new house to make them feel more at home. It may also be an idea to avoid washing bedding for a while after the move so they have a familiar smell to associate with until they become more accustomed to the new property and smells that go with it.
   
   
5. Be wary of the fact that your pet may attempt to return back to your previous property following the move so may need to be kept indoors for a while or alternatively have a close eye kept on it. Get your pet used to the new environment inside the property first before then allowing it to venture out into the garden as it gets used to its new home.
   
   
6. If you are particularly concerned with how your pet is going to react during the move, you could take advantage of a local kennel or cattery where they can stay during moving day and until you are unpacked and settled. Once in your new home, you can then dedicate more time to helping your pet adjust to their new surroundings without the distractions of having to unpack or settle yourselves.

Moving house will be a completely alien experience to your pet so the importance of taking on board these handy pointers and the bearing in mind the overall well being of your pet during the process can’t be stressed highly enough. If you require any further information on this or would like to enquiry about the removals service we offer here at Hadley and Ottaway, don’t hesitate to give our team a call or fill out the form found on the Contact Us page of our website.