Moving into a new place is a new stepping stone in life that can be both exciting and anxiety-inducing for not only your human family members but also your pets. Whether you are moving across the street or the country, pets can easily get stressed when they are introduced to a new environment. As everything familiar is packed up into a truck and taken away to a new apartment in Lakeland, FL, Contemporary Management Concepts, LLLP, is here to teach you how to make the moving experience easier for your furry family members.
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Before deciding on an apartment, it is important to take a walk around the community while scoping the scene for any potential dangers to family pets, such as any dogs that may seem to be aggressive or that have been left unattended. For cat parents, make sure that your fur baby has plenty of indoor space to explore, especially vertically as cats often like to sit above their surroundings. In due time, your pet will come to love your home just as much as your human family does.
When you've found the perfect apartment, it's time to pack up the old home and start moving! Cats aren't the biggest fans of change, but moving boxes early and keeping them in a familiar room that will be packed up last can help them to have less anxiety on moving day. When the day finally comes to move into your new apartment, try to keep them in a quiet room with the door shut. This will help calm down your dog or cat to feel more comfortable when unpacking in the new place.
Some indoor pets haven't spent much time in crates or cars, so it can be beneficial for them to slowly introduce them to these in the coming weeks before the move. Gradually acclimate them to their crates by placing their food inside an open crate and working up to entire meals in the crate. Playing with your pet or giving them treats after crate time can help them have a more positive attitude towards their crate.
Pets can get into all sorts of trouble, especially in new environments, and while this new apartment may seem safe for humans, make sure to pet-proof the place so that they feel safe too. There are a lot of potential hazards that your pet can encounter in a new apartment, so make sure to hide any electrical cords, plug any areas where they can get stuck, screen any unsecured windows, and remove any poisonous houseplants in the apartment. Before hitting the road, make sure to prepare an overnight bag with all of your pet's essentials, such as dog food, kitty litter, and their favorite toys to tide them over for the first couple of days of unpacking.
When moving to a new area, make sure to let your veterinarian know so they give your pet enough of their prescription medications and the pet records needed for the new veterinarian. Depending on how you plan to get from one place to another, there may be some documentation required for your pet, such as proof of rabies vaccination or a health certificate. Make sure to update your pet's information tags and their microchip information to the new address. It's important that the tags are worn at all times in case the worst happens, and they get out.
On the day of the big move, take your pets to your new apartment in your vehicle. Cats and small dogs can be put in a carrier in the backseat of a car and then secured with a seatbelt. Larger dogs can be put in a kennel in the back of the car and might feel more comfortable with a blanket over their carrier as to not see the environment changing outside.
The best way to reduce a pet's moving day anxiety is to keep them in the quietest area possible or at least remove them from all the moving day action. Try to keep them in an empty bedroom with the door closed or put them in their carrier or kennel in a safe space. Make sure they have enough food and water if they will be there for a while.
Be careful when transporting the animal to your new community. If they were to get out, they can easily get lost because of all the unfamiliar surroundings, sights, and smells. Once in the car, it's important to not open the kennel until the pet is in the new home, even if they are well behaved or have docile behavior. Your pet will need a few days in their new home to adjust.
Before letting your cat into your new place, make sure to remove any dangling cords from drapes or blinds to help keep them safe. Make sure that all the doors are closed and that all the windows have screens. Be sure to close any hole or crawl space where your cat can get into and get stuck. Don't be surprised if they vanish for a couple of days as they will probably be hiding until they get more comfortable with their surroundings. Be on the lookout for any signs of feline anxiety, such as decreased appetite, vocalization, and excessive grooming.
Your dog will more than likely be just as excited about their new home as you are. They will want a whole-house tour of both the inside and outside. When walking your dog in this new and unfamiliar environment, make sure to take them out on a leash so they feel safe and secure by your side and don't go running off. As they start to adjust to the new smells of the apartment, the sooner they will feel at home, though it might take some more time if the new house is smaller than the previous house.