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Moving into a new home can be an exciting period in anyone’s life, but for our beloved pets – the process can be stressful and unsettling.

However, with proper planning during a move, you can streamline the process making it as seamless and worry-free for both you and your furry friends. Here, we share our top tips on moving out of your old home and into your new one, whilst utilising planning and storage for a stress-free ride!

1.    Prepare your pet

Gradual Exposure: The things we as humans see as simple and innocent can, to a pet, seem big, scary and weird! Take moving boxes for example. To us, they’re a helpful piece of equipment to pack our belongings safely into – for pets, they’re huge noisy monsters that have taken over the once spacious living room! Introduce boxes, wrapping materials and moving equipment gradually to your pets, placing them into rooms before they’re even needed allowing them to get used to the change that is about to take place for the coming weeks and months.

Maintain routine: Keep feeding, walking and play times regular and consistent with your usual routine. Familiarity provides comfort to pets during times of change, even if everything in their life is a little upside down in comparison.

Visit the vet: Ensure your pet’s microchip information and vaccine card is up to date, and once the move is complete – the most important thing you can do for your four-legged-friend is to provide your new address for their microchip information as soon as possible in case things get a little too much for them – they may try to find their way back to your old house – especially cats! As well as this, if your pet is showing signs of stress during or after the move, the vet can advise and even provide medication to help keep them calmer.

2.    Pack strategically

Essentials box: Pack a separate, clearly labelled box containing your pet’s necessities like food, toys, bedding and medications – keep this box accessible throughout the move in case anything is needed urgently and you have to find it fast.

Scent: Animals think through their noses, so place items with familiar scents from your old home in their carrier with them when transporting them to your new place. This will help to relieve them and make your new home feel less scary when it comes to settling in together.

3.    Settling in

Plug in adaptors: There are a range of plug-in adaptors that can help to calm cats and dogs by releasing pheromones into the atmosphere. These pheromones are perfectly safe and undetectable to the human nose and replicate the hormones that will have been produced by their mother when nursing. Studies have shown that this can help to ease anxiety in pets and calm them in stressful situations.

Explore together: Join in with your pet as they start to explore their new surroundings – offering reassurance and praise along the way.

1.    Utilising self-storage

Declutter early: Begin decluttering your home pre-move early. Packing non-essential items well in advance can help to prevent your pets from raising suspicion that something strange is happening. For items you won’t immediately need but would like to keep, self-storage is a fantastic way to keep them safe and secure during this time.

Choose the right facility: Opt for a reputable self-storage facility like M-Store, which have climate-controlled storage units for sensitive items like electronics or furniture, that are protected by CCTV systems 24/7.

By following these tips and staying patient and compassionate with your pet’s needs, you can be well on your way to a smooth transition between homes for both you and your furry friends. With proper planning, care and storage your new house will soon feel like home sweet home for the whole family, two or four-legged!