You’ve finally done it. You’ve bought your new home and you’re just about to move in. You’re packed and ready to go and the anticipation of sleeping in your new home is uncontrollable. However, there could be one member of the family who doesn’t feel the same.

The family pet is often the forgotten member of the family during the moving period, and it is during this period that you need to be mindful of where your pet is until it settles into its new surroundings. Your new home won’t have a familiar smell to your pet, so if it escapes it will most likely become lost.

Prior to the move collect all the items from your home that your pet knows and loves, this could be toys, beds, blankets etc. These will be handy in your new location for familiarity.

Shortly before the move, your pets may become nervous because of all the unusual activity. Keep a close eye on them; stress may cause them to misbehave or run off. Consider having them boarded during the most hectic days.

On the actual moving day, if you choose to take your pets with you it is best to move your pets by car. For cats, place them in a carry container for safe transportation, dogs are generally more accustomed to cars.

Once in your home, watch your pets whilst the smell their new surroundings. Do not let them roam free. For dogs it is important to ensure that the fence surrounding your property is secure and ‘dog-proof’. For cats it is a lot harder to create an enclosure so we recommend you keep your cat inside until it is familiar, this could take a few days or a few weeks. By allowing your cat to sit on your furniture looking out the window, it can view its new territory without actually getting out.

Once established in your new home try to keep the same routine, feed your pet at the same time from the same bowl. Walk your dog at the same time each day and keep your cat’s litter box in the same spot.

Check with your local council to see if there are any regulations that you need to abide by that could be different from your previous location.

Most importantly make sure your pet has an identification tag, just in case it does escape it can just as easily be brought back home.


Glossary of Property Terms

Go Back