Moving House With Pets – Removals Advice from Roberts & Denny’s

Moving house can be a stressful experience and a bit of a headache to manage for some people. Making sure you have everything organised and in order so your move day runs as smoothly as possible can test your patience no matter how calm you might think you are!

Our home removals service will certainly make moving less stressful for you, but what about when it comes to moving your pets? Often people are too wrapped up in the details and packing that our pets sometimes get overlooked until the very last minute.

Something very important to consider is that moving house will be a disorienting and confusing experience for your pets. Dogs and cats can especially be affected to any major changes to their living environment.

Roberts & Denny’s are experts with moving pets and what needs to be considered to make their move as comfortable as possible. Here are a few tips from us on moving pets and making sure they don’t get distressed during the move.

Things you can do before Moving House with a Pet

First things first, if applicable make sure your pet has a collar and your details, including a contact telephone number, are engraved on it. If your pet is micro-chipped or you have a pet passport, make sure to update any documentation including pet insurance if you have it.

If you have more than one pet it’s best to keep them safe in the same room with food and water. They will most likely be excited or anxious while the removal takes place so keep them together until you’re ready to move them. If you are a family then allocate someone to be responsible for your pets for the whole day.

It’s important to let the removal team know exactly where your pets are. If you own a dog then especially warn the removal company staff where they are being held. The last thing you want is your dog attacking the removal men mistaking them for an intruder! Ask the removal team to pack the pet room up last to keep your pets out of the way of the packers & movers while they carry out their work.

Moving House with a Cat

Keep your cat in one room with the door shut while your move is taking place, the last thing you want is to be looking for your cat outside and calling them for hours. Make sure they have food & water, a litter tray, and any toys they may like to keep them comfortable. Pheromone spray can be used to help keep anxious cats calm and relaxed.

When it comes to moving your cat during transit, use a sturdy cat carrier. Make sure you line the carrier with a waterproof sheet in case they need a toilet or become travel sick.

Once you arrive at your new home, allocate and move your cat to a room and shut the door whilst you unpack the rest of your possessions. It’s important to not let your cat get outside while the move is taking place as they may run off.

Spraying pheromone spray on surfaces will help your cat feel more at home and less likely to get distressed. Once you have completed the move and unpacking, keep your cat indoors for a few days until they are comfortable.

Moving House with a Dog

Dogs will most likely be more anxious and more excitable than cats when it comes to moving home. Dogs can especially sense any disruption from their owners. It’s important to remain calm around them, even though you’ll be stressed and busy moving! You could arrange for your dog to stay with family or friends while the move takes place to make things easier on you and them when moving house.

If you decide to have your pet with you on move day then treat it as any other typical time you would travel with your dog. If you are expecting to travel for a long time, allow your dog a couple of stops so they can exercise and have a drink etc.

If your dog is with you while you move into the new property, allocate a room and shut the door until you or the removal men have finished unloading your items. Make sure they have food and water, a bed and a blanket, or anything else that will help to keep them comfortable.

Moving House with Fish

Moving house with fish is quite straight forward. The key thing to remember is to not transport them in the tank if possible. If there’s an accident during travel you run the risk of breaking the fish tank and losing the fish. Instead pack your fish in thick plastic bags with enough oxygen and water, it’s best to use some of their fish tank water so they are familiar with it. Seal the bags well and store them in a padded sturdy box or container.

Once you arrive at your new home, set up the tank and give it an hour to settle down. Reintroduce your fish to the tank by floating the bag into the tank to maintain a constant water temperature between the bag water and tank water. After a few minutes open the bags and release the fish. Remember to keep the lights dim in the room until they have settled back into their fish tank.