If you’re moving with your pet to another location, it can be difficult to predict how they’ll react to their new home. Pets are creatures of habit and like their surroundings, so moving from one house to the next can be stressful. To make the transition as smooth as possible for your pet and yourself, there are some important things you should do:
Be patient with your pet
It’s important to try to keep your expectations and patience in check while you’re trying to help your pet adjust. You may notice that changes take a little bit of time and don’t happen overnight; this is normal. Your pet won’t understand what’s happening right away. It might take a few hours, days, and even weeks for them to adapt to the major changes that moving brings. Keep in mind that if you and your family are adjusting, they are still making adjustments.
Keep your pet’s daily routine as familiar as possible
Cats and dogs typically like consistency in their life, and this is especially important when they are trying to adjust. Try to keep the same schedule. If they are used to sleeping on your bed at nighttime, let them sleep there until they’re ready to adjust and sleep in their own spot.Your pet will probably be used to a schedule and eating times, and you shouldn’t make any major changes while they are acclimating. Keep feeding times set at the same time daily, or every other day if you have to work longer hours during the week.
Incorporate their favorite things into daily activities
Once you get to your new house, give them some of their favorite toys and treats. Make sure that they still have their favorite types of toys so that they are able to calm down after a long day. This will help them feel safe and familiar in their new home. You can also introduce new things slowly, gradually helping your pet realize that this is their new home. You should also try to stick with familiar playtime activities and toys. If you are located near a dog park, it might be a good idea to play fetch with your pet at their usual time just to get the ball moving.
Lower your pet’s anxiety levels
If your pet is very anxious, exposed to large amounts of new stimuli, or scared of loud noises and/or people, it may be difficult for them to adjust to city life. It’s not uncommon for pets who live in an apartment building with communal areas or furry buddies on every floor to enter into depression because they don’t have the option anymore in a new home. In contrast, if your pet is used to having a large home or yard to roam around in and you move to an apartment, it may also take longer for them to get used to a more confined area.
Encourage your pet to feel safe in your new home
Your pet may have a lot of different things that they like about their old home, including the way that they were treated and the things that they liked to do there. It’s important for you to try to imitate the surroundings so that your pet can adjust properly. If you can set up areas of your new home and make them look familiar to the old one, your pet may learn to adapt right away.
In summary, patience is key in helping your pet adjust. Some animals easily adjust and seem unfazed by the new home; for others, it can be an arduous workout..During the first couple of weeks, you’ll want to spend extra time with your pet as it gets used to its new surroundings. It’s fine for them to go through a process of adjustment when moving into a new home, so be patient if they do not appear to be adjusting right away. In time, your pet will learn to enjoy time with you and your family in the new living quarters.
