Moving with your furry friends – what to know?

Moving is stressful, there is no doubt. But when you have to move with your furry friends, things can become even more complicated. Traveling with cats and dogs is not that easy, especially if you are planning to move to another city or state. Simply, you have to take care of another life who does not really understand what is going on. Let us be honest, cats and dogs love their comfort zones, and when they have to move to a completely new environment, they get shocked. Luckily, there are many things you can do to ease this transition when moving with your furry friends. Keep on reading to find out more.

Make Sure That Your New Place is Pet-Friendly

It goes without saying that before moving with your furry friends, you have to check all the pet laws and regulations in our new neighborhood. Some buildings do not allow pets at all, and some landlords and homeowners have specific and very strict regulations. Sometimes, those regulations will not suit you nor your pet. Sometimes, just a few additional vaccinations are necessary, but sometimes you will ask yourself is it really worth it to go through all that possible trouble. So, you know what to do, research your new place in detail. See if you and your furry friend can actually live there comfortably. You can talk to the landlord or to the local animal control facility. That should give you all the answers.

Make Sure That Your New Place Has a Lot of Green Surfaces.

Another thing that you have to check before moving with your furry friends, is whether the new space is suitable for them. So, if you are planning to live in an apartment, you have to make sure that there are some park nearby. It does not have to be a park actually, but any green surface, like a river bank, forest, beach, some kind of open playing area or similar. You can not expect your dog to be happy being inside all day long. Moreover, if you plan to live in a house, you have to make sure that the yard is fenced. In that way, your dog can spend its days running around while you are at work. And, when it comes to cats, there is not as much work as with dogs. They will be happy even with a balcony. Just check whether there are any aggressive animals nearby.

Talk With Your Vet

If you have a lot of problems when moving with your furry friends, that is, if you already know that your pet dislikes traveling, talk to your vet. Maybe he or she will give you some great advice on behavior modification techniques. Also, you can ask the vet to give you some medications for your cat or dog, to help them have a less stressful moving experience. Moreover, if your pet is not microchipped, you must do that before moving. If pets get shocked or scared of the new place, they might run away. If they have a microchip, you can easily find them. Also, make sure that you get a copy of your pet’s medical records before the moving day. And, last but certainly not the least, do some researching on all available vets and pet hospitals close to your current home. Try to get some recommendations. Vets can give you the best tips and tricks when it comes to moving with pets.

Transporting Your Pet

Basically, you have two options. To drive or fly. And, it all depends on the distance. If you are moving locally, of course, driving is the best option. However, if we are talking about long distance relocation, then, you must transport your pet with a plane. But here is something you need to know before you start moving with your furry friends by plane or car:

• Moving by plane – as previously mentioned, this is only for long distance relocation that is, moving overseas. Bear in mind that flying pets by plane is not as easy as with people. Each airline company has its own pet policy. Rules may vary. However, a general rule is that small dogs and cats can be placed in a carrier under your seat. Usually, the fee for that is between $100 – $150 one way. Larger dogs must fly in a cargo area of the plane. The fee for that is a lot higher, and there are far more limitations. Moreover, bear in mind that you must not medicate your cats and dogs during flying as tranquilizers are the biggest cause of death when shipping pets.
• Moving by car – Moving with your furry friends by car is a lot cheaper by still, a very complicated process. You will have to stop all the time for bathroom breaks and zoomies. You also need to buy pet traveling equipment like a restraint harness, extra toys, no-spill water and food bowl and a seat cover.

Stick to Routine

Another thing to bear in mind when moving with your furry friends is that they love routine. Keeping things normal and as they were back at home is of key importance. So, try to have walks as you did before. Keep timing the same. If possible try to bring some of their favorite food with you. It can be really helpful when trying to settle in. Also, do not forget to bring your pets’ favorite toys, balls, and blankets. If your cat had a piece of furniture, bring that as well.