I wrote this post before I realized that it was National Pet Week so I now have a double reason to post it.
We have made a couple of cross country moves with our cats and dogs and this post is about some of the lessons we learned. A lot of these lessons would work for a local move also.
I: Moving with your cat.
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Invest in a high quality cat carrier. We made the mistake of buying one that was too big thinking that it would give our cat room to move around. As they travel they really don't care about moving around so buy a carrier that is appropriately sized.
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Talk to your veterinarian ahead of time so you can get medication, especially if your pet does not like being transported.
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You might want to consider buying a restraining harness for your cat. We found that the rabbit harnesses were the ones that worked the best. We spent several weeks ahead of time training our cat to use the harness. She was scared of it to begin with but adjusted to it with time. This way you will be able to take your cats for walks and get you can be assured they are not going to run away.
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If you have a imbedded chip you will want to update the information just in case something happens and your pet gets lost.
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Call ahead to find motels that accept cats.
II: Moving with your dog.
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With a dog you may or may not need a pet carrier. Our dogs were use to riding in the car and we moved them without a pet carrier.
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Purchase a new ID tag for your dog. Put your new address and your cell phone on it. If your dog has an imbedded chip you will want to update the information.
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Talk to your veterinarian ahead of time to get medication if your dog has issues traveling in the car.
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Call ahead to find motels that accept dogs.
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Moving to the south you will need to immediately get your dog on heart worm preventive medicine. I forgot to tell this to some clients who moved here from up north and they thought they only had to give the heart worm preventitive during the summer and ended up having to treat both dogs for heart worms.
On the actual moving day you will want to put your pet in a room that is isolated from all the commotion. You are going to want to put a big note on the door so that the movers know to stay out of that room.
If you are moving to the south during the summer months you are going to have to take special precautions because of the heat. You could end up having to eat a lot of fast food so that you can keep your pet in air conditioning.
Take all the things your pet will need with you so that they have some things that they are use to in their new home. Many people lose their pets during the moving process so you will want to take extra precautions to make sure that your pet has an easy transition to your next home.
I hope you have an easy moving experience with your pets. Dundy above is our new rescue dog from Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever Rescue. He is working out GREAT, although we are fairly certain he is half Border Collie. The face is all Golden but the body and actions are al Border Collie.
As I said it is National Pet week you can check out the winner of the National Pet Week Poster contest and while there check out the featured post Enhancing your pets lives as they do yours.
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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texasand need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.
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Marchel, what a wonderful post! I think it is so much harder on pets to go through moving. And we do love them so! Thank you.
Good information Marchel. I know nothing about moving cats, but one of my dogs has been to Japan, Germany, Hawaii and Texas. The most difficult move was out of Japan and through Hawaii. Do your homework if traveling with them at all overseas.
We are planning on moving further west soon and will have to move all of our animals which include 30 chickens, 3 rabbits, one cat and two dogs and a few fish and I am NOT looking forward to that move! lol.
Hi Marchel, I have had pets that have flown practically all over the US but they were worth it. Your Dundy is a great looking dog no matter what his mix is.
Marchel, What a wonderful list of advice. It's difficult to move with a pet and especially important to find out about particular illnesses they can get in a different area.
Howdy there Marchel
Our ketty cat, sure do not like to travel at all. And you sure can't let her know before hand.
You sure have gave folks some real sound and helpful tips.
Y'all sure have a fine looken puppy dog there.
ANDREA, I have read up on this since moving and I'm amazed at the number of people who lose their pets during the move.
WENDY, I'm guessing you were in the service when your dog became the world wide travelor. I can't imagine moving a pets overseas.
CHERI, I was thinking you were fairly far west now. How far west are you going? I can help with the dogs and cats but I don't have a clue about the chickens. I have moved fish locally and that was not pleasant either.
SHIRLEY, I have never flown a pet. I would not have a clue how to go about it and would worry about them in the cargo hold. I'm sure they are okay. I just have heard the horror stories.
CAROLE, We moved with pets from Kansas, to Colorado, to North Carolina to Texas and you are right there were different issues in each different area. We had a flea collar on our dog when we got to Colorado only to find out they don't have fleas in Colorado. Now believe you me we have fleas in Texas.
DALE, Thanks! He has quickly become a part of our family. I took some really cute pictures today that I will have ready for Wordless Wednesday.
Marchel
This is some really good advice you have given.
Recently we learned a hard lesson with one of our old Tom cats. He hates the small carrying cages. He needed a veterinarian trip I coaxed him in one , one morning. He then threw a hissey fit and started doing somersaults in the cage so hard that the whole thing flipped over and the door sprung open. I finally got him in a large dog carrier and he calmed down when I put a towel over it.
Hi Marchel,
What great info. I've written a little myself in the past on moving with kids and in large part moving with pets if a part of the whole family. My own son experienced the same thing with his young family.
Thank you so much for sharing such great information with all of us.
Pets really do deserve considerate treatment during a move. We moved over 1000 miles once with all of us stuffed together in the van and Fred The Cat meowed the ENTIRE way. I had read about acclimating a pet to new surroundings and thought it was a pretty smart idea. So once we arrived, for several days we walked him around outside so he could get a feel for his new home.kate ford
I live in the perfect place most of the time. When the thought to move somewhere else I only have to look out at herd of horses and once again magically I decide I live in the perfect spot. I can't imagine moving them more than a short distance.
TREY, I guess that small carrying case doesn't work with all of them (lol). Our cat seemed lost in that big dog kennel.
LYNDA, Our furry friends become such a part of our family. I have read that many are lost in the process. We were blessed to make the move safely with all our pets. We did almost lose a dog a few weeks after our move. It was around the 4th of July and he got scared of the fireworks and ran off. We searched the streets for hours and he finally showed back up about 4:00 in the morning. We were so relieved!
KATE, Oh my Fred would have driven me NUTS. We were blessed that our cat was a trooper. Now she always had a bit of an unpersonality so maybe that was why she made the move so easy. The two cats we have now are characters and I somehow don't think they would be as easy to move.
SABRINA, I can't even imagine trying to move a herd of horses. I love where you live but I have to be honest I don't miss the snow!
Howdy and good morning Marchel
I'm stoping by to say, Happy Mother's Day, my friend
Have yourself a real fine and fun day!
Be sure to live it up all day long!
I had no idea that I missed National Pet Week. That could explain Zoey the Cool Cat that week. She knew and was trying to tell me, but I wasn't understand cat language that week. LOL