Moving Your Pets with No Regrets

Furred, feathered, or scaled... Whether you're moving across town or cross-country, you'll want to take extra care when moving your family pets.

Moving Your Furry Family Members

The organized chaos of a move is stressful enough for family members who know what's up. Now try to imagine how stressful it is for pets who don't have a clue about what's going on! This ASPCA pet moving guide recommends keeping your pets in a quiet room away from the hustle and bustle of the move. Make sure they have familiar items around them like favorite toys, comfy beds, food/water dishes, and litter boxes. 

Keep the door shut and plan on packing up the 'pet room' last. In the meantime, try to keep your pet's routine as normal as possible. This is definitely not the time to skip walks or change mealtimes! 

Practice Using a Crate

A crate will keep your pet safe and cozy while on the road. If your pet isn't used to a crate, follow the steps below to get them comfortable with it.

• Feed your pet in the crate with the door open.
• Eventually, close the door while your pet is eating.
• Praise your pet, give him lots of loving, and offer a treat after you open the door but before you let him come out. You want him to associate the crate with great feelings, not a quick escape!
• If the crate isn't too heavy, try carrying it around the house with your pet in it. For large or heavy crates, put the crate in your vehicle and take your pet for a short ride.
• Gradually increase the time your pet spends in the crate and also the length of the car rides.

Moving Feathered or Scaled Pets

Much of the information above applies to these more exotic pets. You'll still want to keep them out of the way, quiet, and comfortable as you prepare to move. For more specific information about safely moving birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and other exotic pets, visit the websites listed below.

• Birds: https://www.petplace.com/article/birds/general/moving-with-your-bird/
• Fish: https://www.aqueon.com/articles/how-to-move-an-aquarium#:~:text=
• Reptiles & amphibians: https://www.rent.com/blog/moving-with-reptiles/
• Other exotic pets, including rabbits & rodents: https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/cvi/traveling-exotics-such-rabbits-ferrets-small-rodents-and-others

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