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

BPT/BRANDPOINT

