On the move
It’s inevitable that at some point in our lives we have to move. Relocating is a stressful enough event, and when you have a pet (or pets!) it adds another layer of challenging logistics to make sure that they are taken care of in the process.
It’s important to remember that you are your pet’s whole world. You, and your things, are all your pet really has. Dogs are lucky to be able to go places with their guardians, but even still, their entire world revolves around where you live. For cats it is even smaller - the house is all they have. If they do go outside, that expands their world, but it is always anchored by your home.
Moving is even more stressful to your pet because their entire world changes. ‘Home base’ is no longer what it was, and everything is different. Moving puts pets at risk of getting lost if they get away from you in an unfamiliar area. They no longer have familiar things to guide them back to where they belong, and their fear can cause them to hide and not seek out contact.
Here’s some tips for working through the challenges of a move with your pets:
Talk to your pet. I can’t say this one enough - talk about anything and everything, especially the big life events. If there’s a move coming up, share from your heart about what you’re feeling, and be sure to include the excitement of moving to a new house and all the cool new features it’s going to have. How you frame it will help them (and you) accept the changes more easily.
Condition them to familiar and comforting smells before you move. When you prep the house, introduce those smells into the new home before they arrive (or as quickly as possible) so that the new place smells the same. Smells can be attached to memories and is a powerful way to connect the new home to the old home to help your pet accept the space more readily.
Establish rituals before you move that can be continued in the new home. Rituals can also feel familiar, and help reduce the stress of all of the big changes. Establish routines as quickly as possible with as much similarity to the previous rhythms as possible.
Introduce spaces slowly, without pressure. This is especially helpful for cats, but some dogs also appreciate it. Only allow your pet to explore one room at a time. Set up the first room as ‘home base’ and make sure it has all of their favorite things in it - toys, beds, food, litter box, etc. Put your pet’s carrier in the room, and close the door. Open the carrier and allow your pet to come out of their own accord. Let them explore the space as they desire. Use the familiar smells, or even music or sounds to help them relax and get comfortable. Once they are comfortable and confident in that space, you can begin to add other spaces. Leaving them alone in the space is often helpful for cats so they can explore at their own pace.
Be ‘matter of fact’ about the changes. The less fretful and worried you are about your pet’s response to the changes, the faster they will adapt. It IS stressful for pets, but if you are worrying about their response and how they are not behaving “like they used to” then it will stress them out further. If they have accidents or do something out of character for them, just be patient and they will get comfortable before you know it.
I hope you find this information before you need it so that your life, and your pets, can handle the disruption with a little more ease and grace!
