By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
Here is how you will be able to keep your domestic pets relaxed and happy while you move to Little Rock--so at least someone in the household isn't a stressed wreck.
Cats
Cats are inclined to connect to places more than people--tales of cats which go with the homes aren't actually apocryphal. They're a concern when they are outside cats and you are executing a long distance move--cats have been known to depart the new house to return "home". This may not be a real issue if you're heading down the street, otherwise, it's a tremendous worry.
Consider it--your cats won't run to the door to go for an adventure every time you pick up your car keys; they're perfectly content to continue sunning themselves on the windowsill--up to when you set about packing and the windowsill vanishes behind a stack of boxes. Here's how to manage your cats.
· Contain free-range cats, starting a few weeks before you move to Little Rock. Get them familiar with staying inside with you--if this means late-life litter box coaching, so be it. Lure them into a cat carrier for a couple of hours daily, so that they are not meowing maniacs once you place them in your vehicle. Bring the cats out for brief excursions if you are doing errands--certainly in the carrier.
· Moving day, keep the cat along with all kitty essentials inside a room with the door closed. Once the professional movers have packed the trucks and you are ready to depart, put Kitty in the pet carrier. If your cat does not travel well, a veterinarian may perhaps prescribe something, so your cat does not have a meltdown in the vehicle, thus leading to you along with the dog and the children to have their own mini-meltdowns.
· When you're set up in the new residence, duplicate the moving-out process for a few days. Keep the cats contained in an area together with their stuff, while you cope with the commotion of moving, unpacking, and settling in. Even with indoor cats, they will be more comfortable--and less inclined to demonstrate their displeasure by ignoring the litter box--if you wait until you have settled in a tad to let them to roam free inside your home.
· For outdoor cats, they'll need some time to get used to the new odors of the home and to recognize this is the place their people are, before they should be let out to wander. Place a bit of cat food outdoors to remind them exactly where home is.
Dogs
Your dog just needs to be around you, however he will get nervous when you're tense. Dog anxiety is highest pre-move, so here is how to keep Fido relaxed and cool when you're losing your head.
· Allow plenty of time for packing, should you be packing yourself. Seeing a little activity everyday isn't a huge problem; going to puppy camp for the day and returning home to an empty house may freak him out.
· Stay in your normal schedule--walks, supper, whatever you do, carry on doing it.
· Update the contact details if he is microchipped; you can typically go online to make those changes.
· At the new home, show him the backyard, take him out for a walk, and make sure meal time is steady.
Fish, Hamsters, Birds
Secure the cages in the rear of your car or truck or work with a pet mover to move them. As fish tanks and pet fish could be a concern to transport, you could consider giving the aqua-pets to an elementary school.
Acquire duplicates of your pet's veterinarian records prior to when you move to Little Rock, so you will have all the immunization details handy if you want to board prior to when you see the new veterinarian.
Keeping your pets happy while you move to Little Rock goes quite a distance to keeping you glad. Following these pointers definitely will ease the pressure of moving the pets, at least.
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