Moving homes is stressful enough and when it includes your four-legged pooches, some proper planning and preparation needs to happen. Otherwise, you’re going to deal with unhappy pets and high stress levels before a major home move even takes place!
Transporting your pets from one state to another is a major change for you and your four-legged friends. Booking professional pet transport services takes a lot of anxiety out of interstate moves but there are other things you can do beforehand to streamline the process.
Keep reading to find out what you can do to make your pet’s move as smooth as possible.
5 Tips for Preparing Your Pet for an Interstate Home Move
1. Get Your Documentation in Order
It’s one thing moving your dogs and cats a few blocks down away but quite another when moving states and using air transport. Your paperwork needs to be in order and doing the research beforehand will help you get what’s needed well before the move.
Check that your pets’ records are up to date and find out what documents you need when travelling with them interstate. You’ll need paperwork such as a certificate of veterinary inspection. If you’re transporting your pets by air, the airline may request these certificates as well as other documents.
2. Schedule an Appointment With Your Vet
The next step is to schedule an appointment with your vet. They’re best placed to help you get your pets’ paperwork for an interstate move. Your vet will be able to make some recommendations for easing your pets’ anxiety before and during an interstate move.
Visiting your vet before a major home move will:
- Help you get the right health certificates and other documents in order
- Inform you of what medication to give your pets to soothe motion or car sickness and anxiety
- Update your pets’ vaccinations
- Refill prescriptions
- Let you get copies of your pets’ medical records to give to future vets you use
Your current vet could also recommend a new veterinarian in the state you’re moving to. Having the name of a reliable and trustworthy veterinarian close to your new home will give you peace of mind when it comes to all your pets’ healthcare needs.
3. Avoid Changing Your Pet’s Routine Before the Move
Sticking to your pets’ routine before the move is vitally important as they can get quite stressed with any changes. Packing boxes well in advance tells your pets that something is happening and they can slowly adjust to the change.
Familiarising your cats and dogs with their pet carriers a few weeks before the move will help reduce stress on the big day. If your animals aren’t used to car rides, start taking short trips with them every day until the move to help them get comfortable with this mode of transport.
4. Make Plans for Moving Day
No matter how organised you are, moving day is disruptive and stressful! Strange people and loud noises while moving household goods can cause your dogs and cats to become highly anxious. Cats tend to bolt when there are major disturbances in their home environment and dogs can do the same.
To avoid any of this from happening, make some plans such as:
- Boarding your pets with the vet, reliable friends or kennels for the day.
- Locking them in a safe, enclosed place at home on moving day.
- Putting them in their pet carriers and keeping them in a room or the back yard.
If you’re putting your pets in an enclosed area or pet carrier on moving day, make sure you provide them with food and drinking water.
5. Prepare for the Road Trip
If you’re moving interstate with your car, preparing for the road trip is essential when transporting our pets. Make sure you pack your pooch’s favourite food, have an ample water supply and don’t forget to include some treats in your luggage. Packing a litter tray is useful if you’re travelling with cats and planning regular pit stops will allow your pets to have a break from a moving car.
Some practical tips:
- Placing a sheet over your cat’s carrier while travelling in the car will help them not to freak out when they see things speeding by at a rapid pace!
- Tossing old clothing items into your pets’ carriers will reassure them thanks to smelling your familiar body odours.
- Remember to book pet-friendly accommodation if your road trip requires an overnight stay.
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Final Thoughts
Moving your pets to a new home can be less stressful for them if you prepare in advance. Proper planning helps to reduce your anxiety levels too! When working with professional pet transport interstate moves will be much less of a hassle.
If a move is imminent, start planning for your pets’ sake today.
