Moving with pets

Whether you own a cat, dog, rabbit or parrot, your humble pet can\'t understand it\'s about to move home and start life in a new place, with a whole host of scary and exciting new smells, sounds and sights to see. Moving with pets can be as stressful for owners as it can for their furry friends and it\'s important to consider the most comfortable way for your pet to travel to their new destination.

• How to travel your pet? The answer to this question depends on how far you are going. Most pets travel with their family in the car to their new destination. However, if you\'re going by plane or it\'s an international journey you will need to hire professional help to complete all the necessary paperwork and ensure your pet travels comfortably.
  
• Get your pet identified: before you travel to your new destination get your vet to check their microchip. Then go to the relevant microchip website and enter the new address details and phone number. As pets arrive in their new home it\'s common that they may feel unsettled and look for a place to hide or escape. Have a new tag made up for their collar, with your new address and phone number, just in case they do manage to run off.
• Moving day stress: cats especially feel extremely stressed by the comings and goings of moving day, with strange people entering the house, furniture being moved and a lot of noise in the process. Either try to get your relatives to look after your pet until you\'re ready to travel or keep them locked in a room with DO NOT ENTER clearly marked on the door. That way you\'ll help to reduce their stress levels.
  
• Prepare your pet for travel: it is advisable that your pet travels in a cage. If they have never been inside a cage before, get them used to it a couple of weeks beforehand so they are not so stressed on moving day. Entice them inside with their favourite food. The evening before and day of travel, restrict their food intake in case of sickness. Make sure you pack up plenty of fresh water for the journey and their favourite bed and toy to bring familiar smells to their new house. Only use a tranquiliser as a last resort and with advice from your vet.
  
• Arriving at your new home: give them a few days to acclimatise. With cats especially it\'s recommended you keep them indoors for at least two weeks until they begin to feel at home and comfortable in their surroundings. That way you can be sure they will come home when you let them out. Always bring your pet\'s bed from your previous home and favourite toys. A new bed with new smells will make them feel unnecessarily unsettled in their new home.