Pets · 20 min
Settling an animal into a new home
One quiet room with familiar things, a steady routine and a slow introduction to the rest can help an animal feel at home.
Moving is unsettling for people and often more so for animals, who rely on familiar smells and routines. Whether you are moving home or bringing a new animal home, a calm first few days can help them settle, and lower the chance of them hiding, getting lost or becoming unwell from stress.
The steps
Four small steps,in your own time.
Before the move, prepare one quiet room with their bed, bowls, toys and, for cats, a litter box, and keep familiar things unwashed so they smell of home. Update the address on their tag and microchip.
On the day, keep the animal in that room with the door closed while boxes and furniture move, or ask a friend to look after them.
Keep feeding, walks and play close to the usual times, even when everything else is upside down.
Let them explore the rest of the home slowly, one room at a time, over several days, and keep cats indoors and dogs close on walks until they know the area.
The reason
Why it helps
A small, familiar space feels safer than a large new one. Routine tells an animal that life is still predictable. Slow exploration, and keeping them close, makes it less likely they will run off trying to find the old home.
A gentle variation
If you rent, check your rental agreement about animals and talk with the landlord early. For small animals, birds and fish, ask your vet how best to move them.
WE · TRIBE
Try itwith someone.
Ask everyone in the household, especially children, to be calm and quiet around the animal for the first few days, and to let it come to them.
Try it today
Before your move, choose the quiet room your animal will stay in on the day, and set their familiar things aside for it.
More like this
More from VIVE Pets,for real days.
Pets · 20 min
The slow walk, nose first
A walk where the dog sets the pace and sniffs as much as they like, and you get twenty quiet minutes too.
Pets · 20 min
A pet plan for when you cannot be there
One page with everything someone else would need to look after your animal, in case you are suddenly away.
Pets · 10 min
Ten quiet minutes with an animal
Sitting with an animal, stroking, watching, breathing, is one of the oldest ways to settle a busy mind.