Pets✓ Follow-up at 4 weeks1,670 views
I'm moving and I'm stressed about how my pets will handle it
A pet-friendly moving guide covering preparation, moving day management, and helping pets adjust to a new home with minimal stress.
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Follow-Up Result
4 weeks laterBoth pets adjusted to new home within 3 weeks using gradual introduction
The Problem
I'm moving next month and I have a dog and a cat. My cat hides for days when we rearrange furniture — I can't imagine how they'll handle a full move. My dog gets anxious in the car and the new house is 3 hours away. I'm worried about them being stressed, escaping during the move, or not adjusting to the new place. I want to make this as easy on them as possible.
The Plan
Week 1-2: Prepare Before the Move
Start packing gradually — sudden changes stress pets. Let them see and sniff boxes over days, not all at once
Get your cat comfortable with their carrier: leave it open with treats inside for weeks before the move
Update microchip information and ID tags with your new address BEFORE moving day
Ask your vet about anti-anxiety medication for moving day if your pets are particularly anxious
Maintain their routine as much as possible: same feeding times, same walks, same bedtime
Week 3-4: Moving Day and Settling In
On moving day: put pets in one room with the door closed, a sign on the door, and their essentials. Move everything else, then move them last
Transport cats in carriers and dogs secured in the car. Bring familiar items: their bed, a worn t-shirt of yours, favorite toys
At the new home: set up one room with all their things first. Let them decompress in that room before exploring
For cats: keep them in one room for 3-7 days, then gradually open up the house. Cats need time to feel safe
For dogs: walk them around the new neighborhood immediately — it helps them map their new territory
Resources
Your veterinarian — discuss anti-anxiety options for the move
Feliway (cats) and Adaptil (dogs) — calming pheromone products for transitions
r/cats and r/dogs — community advice on moving with pets
ASPCA moving with pets guide — comprehensive checklist
Follow-Up Result
4 weeks in: the move went better than expected. I set up the guest bedroom as the "pet room" on moving day — both animals stayed there with food, water, litter box, and beds while movers handled everything else. At the new house, I set up the same room first and let them decompress for 2 days. The cat hid under the bed for 48 hours (normal) and then started exploring room by room. The dog adjusted faster — after one walk around the neighborhood, he seemed to understand this was home. I used Feliway diffusers in 3 rooms and the cat was noticeably calmer. By week 3, both pets were acting completely normal. The key was giving them a safe base room and not rushing the exploration.Know someone with this problem?
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