Relocating your furry friends and leafy companions takes a little extra care. Here is how to keep them safe and calm on moving day.
Key Takeaways
- Prepare pets early with a vet visit, records and a dedicated travel kit.
- Keep feeding, walking and comfort routines as consistent as possible.
- Water and wrap plants ahead of time and transport them upright and ventilated.
- Give both pets and plants a calm, settled space first thing at the new home.
Plan Ahead for Pets
Pets cannot understand why their world is suddenly being packed into boxes, so the best thing you can do is prepare well in advance. A few days before the move, visit the vet for a check-up, keep vaccination records handy, and ask about any anxiety remedies if your pet is especially nervous about travel.
Put together a dedicated travel kit so everything your pet needs is in one place on the day rather than buried in a carton.
- Food, water and familiar bowls for the journey and first day.
- A leash, carrier or crate appropriate to your pet.
- Any medication, along with vet and vaccination records.
- Waste bags, wipes and a towel for accidents.
- A favourite toy or blanket that smells of home.
Keep a Familiar Routine
Animals are deeply sensitive to change and pick up on the stress around a move. The single most reassuring thing you can do is keep their daily routine as normal as possible — feed and walk them at the usual times, and keep familiar toys and bedding within reach right up until moving day.
Consistency tells your pet that, despite the upheaval around them, the things that matter most to them are unchanged. That sense of stability goes a long way towards keeping them calm.
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Prepare Your Plants
Plants are more delicate travellers than they look. Water them a couple of days before the move rather than on the day itself — soggy soil is heavy, messy and prone to spilling in transit. Wrap pots in plastic or paper to contain any loose soil and protect them from knocks.
Transport plants upright in an open, well-ventilated box and keep them out of direct sun or extreme heat during the journey. For long-distance moves, remember that some plants travel better than others, and very large specimens may be better gifted than moved.
Moving Day Tips
On the day, the goal is to keep pets safe and out of the chaos. Confine them to a quiet, secure room away from the packing and loading activity, with their water, bedding and a toy — and let the moving team know the room is off-limits so doors are not left open.
When you reach the new home, resist the urge to unpack everything first. Set up your pet's space — bed, bowls, litter or a familiar corner — before anything else, and do the same for your plants by finding them a suitable spot with the right light. Giving your companions a settled base immediately helps everyone, including you, feel at home faster.
