Moving with Pets — How to Keep Your Dog or Cat Calm

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Moving with Pets: A Complete Guide for Dog and Cat Owners

Moving is stressful for everyone in the household, but it is especially confusing and frightening for pets. Strange people in their home, furniture disappearing, boxes stacking up everywhere, then a car ride to a totally unfamiliar environment. Dogs and cats rely on routine and familiar surroundings for their sense of safety — and a move disrupts both completely.

The good news: with proper planning, you can make the transition much smoother for your four-legged family members. This guide covers everything from weeks before the move through the settling-in period at your new home.

4-6 Weeks Before the Move

Start preparing your pet early. The more gradually you introduce changes, the less anxiety they will experience on moving day.

☐ Update ID tags and microchip information — Put your new address and current phone number on their tags now, before the move. If your pet is microchipped, update the registration with the new address through the microchip company’s website. During a move is the highest-risk time for pets to escape and get lost — updated identification could be the difference between getting them back and not.

☐ Visit your vet — Schedule a checkup and get the following:
• A copy of your pet’s medical records (especially if you will be changing clinics)
• A refill on any medications, enough to last through the transition period
• Ask about anti-anxiety medication or calming supplements for very nervous pets. Options include Trazodone, Gabapentin (common for cats), or natural products like Adaptil (dogs) and Feliway (cats)
• If moving long distance, ask for a health certificate

☐ Research veterinary services near your new home — Find the nearest regular vet clinic AND 24-hour emergency animal hospital. Save their numbers in your phone. In the Lower Mainland, the Canada West Veterinary Specialists in Vancouver and the Animal Emergency Clinic in Surrey are two well-known emergency options.

☐ Check your new home’s pet policy — If renting, confirm the pet policy in writing. Some buildings have breed or size restrictions, pet deposits, or monthly pet fees. Know the rules before you arrive.

☐ Get your pet used to their carrier — If your cat or small dog will be transported in a carrier, leave it open in your home with a blanket and treats inside. Let them go in and out freely. By moving day, the carrier should feel like a safe space, not a prison.

2 Weeks Before the Move

☐ Maintain routines as much as possible — Feed, walk, and play at the same times every day. Routine equals comfort for pets. Even if your own schedule is chaotic with packing, keep their schedule consistent.

☐ Introduce boxes gradually — Leave a few empty boxes around the house for several days before you start packing. Let your pet sniff and investigate them. This way, boxes become a normal part of the environment rather than a sudden invasion.

☐ Start packing gradually — Avoid packing everything in one frantic weekend. Gradual changes to the environment are easier for pets to process than sudden ones.

☐ Prepare a pet moving kit — Pack a separate bag with everything your pet needs for moving day and the first few days in the new home:

• Food and water bowls
• 2-3 days’ worth of their regular food
• Medications
• Leash, collar, harness
• Waste bags or litter and a portable litter box
• Favourite toys and a blanket that smells like home
• Treats
• Carrier
• Vet records and emergency vet contact info
• Recent photo of your pet (in case they get lost)

Moving Day: Dogs

Dogs pick up on your stress. If you are anxious and rushed, they will be too. Here is how to handle moving day with a dog:

Option A: Send them to a friend or daycare. This is the least stressful option for everyone. Doors are constantly open during a move, heavy items are being carried through tight spaces, and the chaos is intense. A dog underfoot creates safety risks for the movers and the dog. If you have a trusted friend, family member, or doggy daycare, send your dog there for the day.

Option B: Confine them to a safe room. If daycare is not an option, put your dog in a room that has already been packed up (bathroom works well). Include water, their bed, a favourite toy, and treats. Put a sign on the door: “DOG INSIDE — DO NOT OPEN.” Check on them periodically, and let them out for bathroom breaks on a leash only.

Transport. Always drive your dog to the new home yourself. Never put a pet in the moving truck. Use a crate or seatbelt harness in your car. Bring water and make stops every 2 hours for long drives. If your dog gets carsick, talk to your vet about medication in advance.

Moving Day: Cats

Cats are creatures of territory. A move is fundamentally destabilizing for them. Here is how to minimize the stress:

Keep them in a closed room during loading. Choose a room, put the litter box, food, water, carrier, and a familiar blanket inside, and close the door. Tape a sign on it: “CAT INSIDE — DO NOT OPEN.” This room should be loaded last.

The carrier should be the last thing. Once everything else is loaded, put your cat in their carrier and take them directly to your car. Cover the carrier with a towel — blocking visual stimulation reduces anxiety.

In the car. Secure the carrier with a seatbelt. Do not open the carrier door, no matter how much they meow. Play soft music or keep the radio low. Keep the temperature comfortable. For long drives, offer water during stops but do not force it.

At the new home. Take the carrier directly to one designated room (more on this in the next section). Do not let the cat roam the entire house on day one.

Settling Into the New Home: Dogs

Walk the neighbourhood immediately. Before even going inside, take your dog on a walk around the block. Let them sniff extensively — this is how dogs process and understand a new area. They are building a mental map.

Tour the house on leash. Walk them through every room on a leash before letting them roam freely. This gives them a controlled introduction rather than an overwhelming free-for-all.

Set up their space first. Before unpacking anything else, put their bed, food and water bowls, and favourite toys in the spot where these items will permanently live. Familiar items and smells provide immediate comfort.

Stick to the exact same routine. Same food, same feeding times, same walk schedule, same bedtime. Routine is the fastest way to help a dog feel secure in a new environment.

Check the yard and fences. If your new home has a yard, inspect the entire fence line for gaps, holes, or weak spots before letting your dog off-leash outside. Dogs in a new environment are much more likely to bolt or try to escape.

Be patient with regression. Some dogs have accidents in a new home, even if they have been housetrained for years. This is normal. Go back to basics — frequent outside trips, praise for going in the right spot. It usually resolves within a week or two.

Settling Into the New Home: Cats

One room for the first 3-7 days. Set up one room as “base camp” — typically a bedroom or spare room. Put the litter box, food, water, bed, scratching post, and familiar-smelling items in this room. Let the cat stay in this room with the door closed for several days. This is critical. Rushing a cat into a full-house exploration causes hiding, stress-related illness, and litter box problems.

Visit frequently. Spend time in the room with your cat. Sit on the floor, read, work on your laptop. Let them come to you. Do not force interaction.

Gradual expansion. After 3-7 days (when your cat seems comfortable, is eating normally, and using the litter box), open the door and let them explore at their own pace. Do not carry them to other rooms. Let them choose when and how far to venture.

Keep the litter box accessible. Even after expanding their territory, keep the original litter box in the base camp room for at least two weeks. You can gradually move it to its permanent location, but no more than a few feet per day.

Feliway diffusers. Plug-in pheromone diffusers (Feliway Classic) in the base camp room and in the main living areas can significantly reduce anxiety. They mimic the facial pheromones cats use to mark safe territory.

Expect some hiding. Many cats hide for the first few days in a new home. This is completely normal. As long as they are eating, drinking, and using the litter box, let them hide. They will come out when they feel safe.

Moving with Other Pets

Small animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters). Transport in their own cage or a secure travel carrier. Cover the cage with a light cloth to reduce stress. Set up their enclosure in the new home before bringing them in. Keep them in a quiet room away from the moving chaos.

Fish. For short local moves, transport fish in sealed bags with tank water (the same method pet stores use). Do not feed them for 24 hours before the move to reduce waste in the bag. Set up the tank first at the new home using the original tank water. For long-distance moves, consult a specialist.

Birds. Cover the cage during transport to keep the bird calm. Avoid extreme temperatures. Set up the cage in a quiet area of the new home and give them several days to adjust before resuming normal out-of-cage time.

Reptiles. Transport in a secure, ventilated container with appropriate heating (hand warmers wrapped in a towel work for short trips in cool weather). Reptiles are sensitive to temperature changes, so keep the car warm and minimize transport time.

Signs of Stress to Watch For

After a move, watch for these signs that your pet is struggling to adjust:

Dogs: Excessive barking or whining, destructive behaviour, loss of appetite, house accidents, excessive panting, pacing, hiding, aggression, or diarrhea.

Cats: Hiding for more than 3-4 days, refusing to eat for more than 48 hours, not using the litter box, excessive grooming (to the point of hair loss), aggression, or vomiting.

Move stress-free with Simple Moves. Call us at (604) 398-4680 or get your free quote online today.

Mild stress is normal and resolves within 1-2 weeks. If symptoms are severe or persist beyond 2-3 weeks, consult your vet. Some pets benefit from short-term anti-anxiety medication during the adjustment period.

What Movers Can and Cannot Transport

Professional movers (including us) will not transport live animals. This is standard across the industry for safety and liability reasons. However, we do move everything else your pet needs:

• Dog crates and kennels
• Cat trees and scratching posts
• Aquariums (drained and emptied)
• Pet furniture and beds
• Reptile enclosures (emptied)
• Bird cages (without birds)

Let the crew know which items are for the pet’s designated room so they can be unloaded and set up first. This way, your pet’s safe space is ready before they arrive.

Pet-Friendly Moving Timeline

Timeline	What to Do
4-6 weeks before	Vet visit, update ID tags/microchip, research new vet, carrier training
2 weeks before	Introduce boxes, pack pet moving kit, maintain routines
Moving day	Confine pet or send to daycare, transport yourself, never on the truck
First day	Set up pet’s space first, walk dogs around neighbourhood, confine cats to one room
First week	Maintain exact routines, be patient with regression, monitor eating and behaviour
Weeks 2-4	Gradually expand cat’s territory, establish new walking routes for dogs, register with new vet

Related Guides

• The Ultimate Moving Checklist (2026) — Complete week-by-week planning guide
• Moving Into Your First Apartment — Everything first-time renters need to know
• Packing Services — Let us handle the packing so you can focus on your pet
• Local Moving Services — Our local moving service details

Plan Your Pet-Friendly Move

Moving with pets takes extra planning, but it does not have to be overwhelming. Let Simple Moves handle the heavy lifting, furniture, and logistics so you can focus on keeping your furry, feathered, or scaly family members comfortable.

Get a free flat-rate quote online or call (604) 670-6050. Tell us about your move and any pet-related logistics we should know about, and we will make sure the human side of your move is handled with care.

Simple Moves & Storage is rated 4.8 stars and serves Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Coquitlam, Richmond, North Vancouver, Langley, Delta, New Westminster, Port Moody, White Rock, and the entire Lower Mainland.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does moving cost with Simple Moves?

The cost of moving depends on factors like the size of your move, the distance, and any additional services such as packing or storage. We offer transparent hourly rates with no hidden fees. Call (604) 398-4680 for a free, personalized estimate.

What is included in your moving?

Simple Moves is a full service moving company. Our moving includes a professional crew, a fully equipped moving truck, moving blankets, dollies, straps, and careful handling of all your belongings from start to finish.

How far in advance should I book moving?

We recommend booking 2 to 4 weeks ahead to ensure your preferred date, especially during peak moving season (May through September). We also accommodate last-minute requests when our schedule allows.

Do you provide free estimates for moving?

Yes. Simple Moves provides free, no-obligation estimates for all our services. Call us at (604) 398-4680 or fill out our online quote form and we will get back to you quickly with accurate pricing.

Why should I choose Simple Moves for moving?

Simple Moves is a top-rated, locally owned company known for professional crews, transparent pricing, and exceptional customer care. We provide labor, trucks, and equipment as part of every full service move, so you have one reliable team handling everything.

Your full-service move starts here. Give us a call at (604) 398-4680 or request a no-obligation quote.

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