3 Stress-free Tips for Shifting with Pets
You’ve booked the moving company, forwarded your mail to your new home, and have almost everything packed and ready to go… but what about a plan for Fido or Whiskers?
Like most pet owners, you love your pets and want to ensure their move experience is positive. Don’t treat your furry friends as an afterthought when moving day arrives. They already thrive on routines and a new home and garden – no matter how great a change for you – will be the ultimate in upheaval for them. Fortunately, there are ways to ensure your pet withstands the sudden turmoil in their daily life.
Here are three tips to help keep your pet stress-free on moving day.
1. Start Your Packing Early
Pets love to play with empty boxes and packing paper. To get them used to the inevitable stacks of packed boxes that will be sitting around awaiting moving day, start packing as early as possible.
Construct a few boxes and leave them empty for your pet to investigate. After a few days, start packing them with items that you don’t regularly use, leaving the boxes unsealed. This unfettered access will play to your pet’s curiosity and allow them to check out what’s inside. Once they get accustomed to seeing the boxes, packing, sealing, and stacking them will be ignored later.
2. Avoid Altering their Daily Routine
It’s a well-known fact that dogs and cats are creatures of habit. Any changes in their day-to-day routines make them noticeably frazzled due to soaring anxiety levels. It might seem harmless to skip that regular afternoon walk because you’re on a roll with your packing, but the fewer the disruptions to routines before moving day, the happier your pet will be when all is said and done… and moved.
To keep pet anxiety levels down in the days and weeks leading up to moving day, it’s best if you can continue to:
- Feed them at their regular feeding times
- Maintain normal walk times and playtimes
- Give them extra love and affection. They don’t understand the changes they see before them, and it stresses them out.
3. Keep Them Entertained
Moving day has arrived, and you’re preparing yourself for the busy day ahead. Make sure you carve out a bit of time to exercise and entertain your pets. One of the best ways to keep your pets happy is by showing them attention by playing or getting them out for a walk to burn off some excess energy. A well-exercised pet is a sleepy pet, and a sleepy pet is a calm pet, which will make the day easier for everyone.
If something unexpected happens, and you’re unable to fit in some serious playtime or a couple of extra walks, why not phone a friend for help? Fellow pet-lovers or dog walking services are a great way to get your fur baby away from your hectic household. Keeping them occupied will stop them from getting bored or misbehaving, which means more time to focus on everything that might go wrong on moving day!
A well-thought-out plan means less worry for you. With the already additional stresses of packing and moving your household, wouldn’t you like to do what you can to make the move and transition to your new home happier for everyone?
