Moving house is a super exciting event for anyone, whether you are upsizing, downsizing or relocating to a new area. As with any new purchase, there are a number of factors to consider when moving house and not least the suitability of your prospective new home for your pets. Yes, that Georgian town house with four bedrooms and a roll top bath may tug at every heart string, but will your cat be quite so happy at the roadside location? A big garden is perfect for a large dog, but if they will spend the majority of their time indoors and the main living areas are not as spacious then this may pose a problem. Flooring is also a key consideration for pet owners, some prefer easy to clean hard floors such as laminate floorboards or tiles yet these can be super slippery for paws of excited animals, and in contrast long pile carpets will require regular hoovering and washing.
As well as excitement, moving house comes with its fair amount of stress and this too applies to all members of the family. Although they may not be fully aware of what is going on around them your pets will undoubtedly sense the nervous tension from their owners and indeed be somewhat perplexed by the growing number of boxes within your home, make sure to pay attention to your pet’s body language for signs of stress. It is rarely possible for pets to visit their new abode prior to moving day, therefore facilitating a smooth move is imperative to helping them settle as quickly as possible. It is best to keep your pets out of the way during the move itself, perhaps allowing friends or family to have them for a day or two to enable you to get the new house straight before they come in. Another option would be to use a removal company who will pack up your belongings and transport them to your new abode while you and your pets stay elsewhere.
Animals are incredibly territorial, so when they do arrive at the new house take your pet straight to ‘his’ area, such as a bed or near to his food and toys, then give him plenty of time and space to explore the house. This is also the time to set boundaries, so if there are any areas of the home that are to be off limits, such as upstairs or living rooms, then make this clear from the start. Keep all doors and windows closed whenever possible to prevent escape in the first few days and cats that usually go outdoors should be allowed at least 5-7 days to ‘room-in’ and get acquainted with their new home before venturing outside, make sure that your pet has been microchipped in the event that they do stray to try to get home.
Another useful tip for pet owners moving house is to invest in a plug in pheromone diffuser that secretes animal pheromones to promote a calm, relaxed environment for your pet. Available at most pet stores, these diffusers work in the same way as a plug in air freshener, however the pheromone scent is completely undetectable to humans. They are incredibly effective and can be used all year round at other events that might trigger a nervous response such as fireworks night. Finally, it is important to remember that animals are actually very adaptable and resilient, and providing you offer them plenty of love and reassurance they will settle into their new home in no time at all.