While moving is very stressful for the two-legged members of your family, pets find it even more difficult to adjust to new surroundings after a move.
When moving from the U.S. to Canada, I volunteered to move first, just so I could find a place to live before the rest of the family joined me. One of our cats requires extra special care, which meant that I had to take him on the flight with me so I could monitor him. My sister and her family, whom I was staying with initially, welcomed both of us with opened arms. But what I didn't know about Sherpa was that he doesn't adjust well to change. Three years earlier, we'd rescued him from a terrible fate and he had adjusted pretty well to our home with just some growls and unhappy sounds.
Moving to another country was a completely different story. I had no idea that a cat could cause such a commotion and upset to a home! After four weeks of no sleep, due to Sherpa's insistence on yowling every night - all night - starting around midnight (he's part Himalayan) my vet in California finally sent me some kitty valium, just to ensure my sister, her son, husband and myself didn't go absolutely crazy.
I never did use the kitty valium as he settled down as soon as the rest of my family arrived and we moved into our new home.
So while it may seem that your cat, dog, ferret or bird will adjust just fine, there are some tips I'd recommend to help them through the transition, which will ensure their happiness as well as yours.
Cats
Let's start with the pet that will take the most adjusting. Maybe there's something to that phrase "scaredy cat"?
- Introduce your cat to their new home gradually, restricting it to one or two rooms at first. Place the litterbox, bed, scratching post, food and water in the room with it. This gives it the chance to become accustomed to the sounds and smells in your new home. It also gives them a room of their own to use later as a refuge or if they feel uncertain.
- Put their favorite bed, blanket, toys or any item that is familiar to them in the room. The smells of "home" will help them adjust to their new surroundings.
- Keep doors and windows closed and make sure there aren't any crawl spaces or holes where they can escape to and that you can't access.
- Let them explore on their own. If they decide to hide under the bed, let them be. They'll eventually come out when they feel safe.
- If you plan on allowing your cat outside, make sure you keep it indoors for at least two weeks so that your home is familiar to them. After two weeks, take the cat outside with you and let it explore a bit. After ten minutes or so, take it back inside. Each day increase the time until the cat feels safe and knows the area. Also make sure that kitty is properly tagged with your new address and phone number.
- Most vets will recommend you keep cats indoors only. Outdoor cats are prone to injury, diseases, accidents, parasites and have a much shorter life span than indoor cats. Indoor cats can be very content and happy if you provide enough stimulation and fun.
Dogs
While dogs seem to adjust easier than cats, they still require special care and handling. This is especially true if you're moving from a home to an apartment or from a large house to a smaller home. Room to move around and exercise can be critical to a dog's contentment.So, to help Fido adjust, follow these tips:
- When taking Fido outside for the first time, keep him leashed and allow him the time to explore his neighborhood. Like Fluffy, your dog should be introduced to the area around your home slowly. It's a good idea to explore it a block at a time, just to see who else lives in your neighborhood. Strange dogs can pose a threat and cause your pet unnecessary stress.
- If possible, allow yourself some time before you start your new job. This will give you time to help your dog adjust. During this period of adjustment, start spending time away from the house, doing so in small increments just to see how your dog will respond. Eventually, when you do start work and you have to spend all day away, your dog should be adjusted to the home and feel comfortable being alone there.
- If you have to start work right away, you may want to consider hiring a pet sitter to come to your home. They can usually cater to individual needs and requests and they charge by the hour. Although it may add up in fees, you can ask the sitter to spend more time with your dog initially, then slowly wean him back until he/she's used to being alone.
