By guest blogger, Jessica Brody of Our Best Friends
Moving can be ruff, especially for pet parents. You may be worried about keeping your furkids safe and happy, all while trying to find the purr-fect home and plan a stress-free move. I’m here to let you in on a few secrets that will set your mind at ease and help you keep your move organized from start to happy tails. Let’s dive in!
You Need a New Home
Obviously, this is going to be the first step you take. The good news is that finding a home with pets in mind isn’t that different than doing so without. Here’s what you need to know:
- Even in the pandemic, buying a home can be safe and as low stress as possible.
- The upside to using virtual tools to tour homes is that your furkids can take a look, too!
- Any home that makes you and your budget happy will be perfect for your pets, as well.
- If you have aging pets, you may want to buy a new home that doesn’t have stairs.
You Need to Start Packing and Planning
Hopefully, that first step was simple enough. Next, you will want to begin packing your belongings and planning out your move. Keep these tips in mind to keep your pets calm:
- Feline family members can be sensitive to change, including packing.
- Your pups will also need some reassurance and planning to avoid anxiety.
- For all pets, pack their essentials last and unpack them with your day-of box.
- Your kitties are also going to need some basics to stay healthy on the road.
- Although many hotels are pet-friendly, confirm their policies before you book.
You Need to Help Pets Feel at Home, Too
All of the stressful parts of your move are done. Well, stressful for you anyhow because moving to a new home can also be stressful for your pets. You can soothe their stress by:
- De-stressing yourself — because your pets will pick up on your moods and anxieties.
- Maybe make yourself a big and tasty pancake as a treat for surviving the move.
- You can even share with your pets but remember that some human foods are toxic.
- Upon arrival, start by allowing your pets to explore one room and then go from there.
- If your pets still seem anxious after a few weeks, it may be time to talk with a vet.
These are all of the resources and tips you need to ensure a smooth and low-stress move with your pets. As a fellow pet parent, I can say that the most important things to keep in mind are that change can be hard for animals, but patience can go a long way. Pair that patience with positivity and planning to give your pets everything they need.
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Thank you, Jessica, for all the great info. For resources, stories and some cute animal pics, you can visit Jessica’s website, Our Best Friends.
For another great resource on moving with dogs, check out this post on Fluent Woof!