44 | MARCH 25 • 2021

YOUR HOME

M

oving can cause our
pets anxiety, so it’s
best to learn some
coping strategies for your
furry friends.
“Relocating is stressful
for pets,” said Kurt Venator,
D.V.M., Ph.D. and chief
veterinary officer at Purina.
“Planning ahead and making
extra preparations can help
your pet adjust to your new
surroundings.”
For families planning a
move, Purina experts offer
tips to help prepare pets for a
stress-free move.
1. Take a ‘practice-run’
ahead of time: If you’re
moving with dogs, let them
explore the new neighbor-
hood before you move if
possible. This helps them
become familiar with the
scents and sounds of the area.
For a cat, help him or her
get used to their crate. Leave
the carrier out with the door
open for the cat to explore
weeks ahead of time, making
it an enticing place by putting
favorite treats, toys or a blan-
ket inside. Take a few short
practice drives so the cat is
used to traveling in the carri-
er. This will reduce the stress
of travel on moving day.
2. Make a moving day plan:
Consider your pets’ safety
amidst the chaos of moving
day. Keep cats in a space
away from the moving pro-
cess. A bathroom at your new
home is an ideal spot to set

up food, water and a litter
box, so cats are out of the
way and comfortable until
the move is complete. Just
don’t forget about your feline
friend when you’re done!
Dogs can be trickier. It’s
best to assign a family mem-
ber to care for them through-
out the move or ask a trusted
friend to pet-sit for the day.
3. Help curious cats settle
in: It takes time for cats to
become familiar with their
new surroundings. Make
sure doors and windows are
closed, as they may try to
escape to find their old home.
Cats may “disappear” into a
hiding place like a closet to
calm their nerves. When in
doubt, look under the desks
or beds.
Introduce cats to one room
at a time — beginning with
the permanent location of
their litter box, to avoid
confusion. Set up one more
litter box than you have

cats to promote harmony in
your household. Keep their
things in this first room, so
they become used to the new
home with familiar scents,
then move their “scent soak-
ers” like bedding and scratch-
ing posts across the house to
make other rooms feel more
familiar.
4. Let dogs sniff out their
space: Allow dogs to use their
natural instincts to smell and
explore by walking them on
a leash for their first tour
around the house. The soon-
er they get used to the scents
of their new environment,
whether it be a huge back-
yard or the guest bedroom of
a new apartment, the sooner
they’ll feel at home.
Maintain a regular routine
and spend extra time with
them at home to help them
feel secure. Avoid leaving
your pup outside unattended
at first; a new environment
may bring out new skills you

didn’t know your dog had
like jumping over or digging
under fences as an attempt to
return to familiar ground.
5. Going the distance?
Locate needed services: If
you’re moving far away,
consider the different types
of pet care services you’ll
need to secure once you’re
in your new city. You’ll have
to find a new veterinari-
an, pet-sitting or walking
services, plus pet-friendly
parks. Ask for recommen-
dations from neighbors or
online neighborhood sites,
search for pet tips online
at PetFoodInstitute.org or
HABRI.org, or join a local
pet meet-up group.
“After you move, give your
pet extra attention,” advises
Annie Valuska, Ph.D. and
senior pet behavior scientist
at Purina.
“Your presence will have a
calming effect and reassure
them.”

Tips for Moving Pets

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