How to move with pets

Moving house can be stressful on everyone – including your beloved pets.

Different animals have different transport and care needs. Many dogs and cats find changes in their surroundings unsettling; seek species-specific advice for fish and other pets as well.

However, there are some ways that you can make moving house easier on your furry friends.

Here’s some tips.

Before your move

If you have a dog and you are moving to a new house that is not particularly far away, consider taking your dog for some walks in what will be their new neighbourhood before your moving day.

This can get them used to some new sights and smells, as opposed to what they are normally accustomed to around your current house.

If access is permitted and the visit is suitable for your pet, discuss whether a calm introduction to the new surroundings would help. A preliminary visit is not suitable for every animal.

Additionally, if you have a dog you will need to make sure that the yard at your new house is safe and secure before you move in.

This means not only ensuring that your fencing is dog-proof so your furry friend can’t escape, but also checking if there are any outdoor plants that may be toxic to dogs.

Prevent your pet from reaching any suspected toxic plant and seek appropriate advice. Obtain any property permission required before removing plants.

While you are in the process of packing up your current house, try to minimise disruption to your pets.

You can do this by packing up one room at a time and leaving the living area or backyard where your pets spend the most time until last.

On moving day

Moving day is always very busy and there is a lot going on with people constantly coming in and out of the front door and moving boxes and furniture.

Pets can not only become anxious and stressed in this environment, but they can also be dangerous if they get in the way.

It is best if you have a family member of friend look after your pet for the day to get them out of the house.

If this is not possible, secure your pet in one room as far away from the hustle and bustle as possible and with its appropriate essentials and a responsible person checking on it.

At your new house

It is important to update your pet’s registration information as soon as possible after your move, including on the microchip register and with your local council.

Up-to-date contact information helps someone contact you if a pet is found; it does not guarantee recovery.

Don’t be surprise if your dog or cat acts a little strange for a few days as they get used to their new surroundings.

Allow for the individual animal’s response and seek veterinary advice if its behaviour or health concerns you.

A quiet, secure room with familiar items and appropriate food, water and litter arrangements can provide a starting place for a cat. Ask your vet about the settling plan and timing appropriate to your cat rather than relying on a fixed number of days.

Whether you have a dog or cat, be sure to give them plenty of love and attention during the transition period.

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Assign one person to the pet's moving plan

Agree who will care for and transport each animal while the removal team handles the household goods. Write that person's contact details into the moving checklist. If a friend or family member is helping, confirm the location, handover time and collection arrangement in advance. Do not assume the removal truck or general household storage is an accepted place for a live animal.

Make the plan specific to the pet. A dog, cat, bird, fish or other animal may need a different carrier, environment or travel arrangement. Discuss the journey with your vet or an appropriate specialist where needed. This guide does not prescribe sedation, medication, feeding restrictions or a universal carrier setup.

Keep the pet's identification, contact details and relevant care instructions with the responsible person. Confirm any destination registration requirements through the appropriate authority. Update the microchip register and council records that apply; changing your own postal address does not automatically update every pet record.

Keep the moving route and the pet area separate

Before the crew arrives, tell everyone which room or area is reserved for the pet and who may open it. Check that the area is secure and suitable, and place a clear reminder on the door if helpful. Keep the essentials the animal needs available, and arrange checks by the responsible person throughout the busy period.

If the agreed room has to be emptied or used as an access route, stop and arrange another suitable supervised location before opening it. Do not rely on household members remembering an informal instruction while several people are carrying furniture. Keep external doors and gates in mind when planning handovers.

For pets staying elsewhere, pack the familiar items and care information that the carer needs. Confirm when the animal will rejoin you and how the new property will be made ready first. This can avoid a situation where the pet arrives before the secure area, familiar bedding or responsible person is available.

Check the new property before the pet explores

Inspect fencing, gates and the intended indoor space before bringing the animal into it. Identify gaps, open exits and items the pet should not reach. Ask for suitable advice about plants or other hazards you cannot identify. Continue supervision while doors are open for furniture delivery.

Place familiar bedding and appropriate essentials in the planned area. Keep routines as consistent as practical and allow the animal to respond at its own pace. A general guide cannot establish how quickly a particular pet should settle. If you are worried about its condition, contact your vet rather than treating a behaviour change as automatically normal.

If collection or delivery is delayed, contact the carer or transport provider and revise the pet arrangement separately from the goods booking. Keep your pet's location and responsible person clear throughout the change. For additional preparation, use reducing the impact of moving on pets and the change-of-address checklist.

Can pets travel with the household goods?

Do not assume pets can travel in a removal truck or remain with goods in household storage. Arrange suitable transport and care for each animal separately, and nominate the person responsible for handover, travel and arrival. Explain the journey and any individual needs to an appropriate pet transport provider or your vet where needed. Keep identification and care details with the responsible person. If the furniture delivery changes, check the pet plan too rather than expecting the animal to wait with the load.

Should every cat be confined for the same number of days?

No single settling period fits every cat or property. Discuss an appropriate plan with your vet, especially if you have concerns about the cat’s health, behaviour or the new surroundings. The guide suggests starting with a quiet, secure room, familiar items and appropriate food, water and litter arrangements. Keep the room separate from open doors and moving activity and make one person responsible for checking it. Change the plan to suit the animal’s response and professional advice rather than following a fixed day count.

Which pet details should I update after moving?

Check the contact details on the relevant microchip register, council registration and records held by veterinary providers or carers. Changing your own postal address does not automatically update those separate records. Keep the pet’s identification details available while making changes and confirm any destination requirements through the relevant authority. Update the people caring for the animal during the move as well. Accurate contact information helps a finder reach you, but it does not replace secure transport and a safe arrival arrangement.

How can I keep pets away from the moving activity?

Arrange for a trusted person to care for them elsewhere when that is suitable, or plan an appropriate secure area away from the crew’s work with a responsible person checking on them. Confirm the location, handover and contact details before moving day. Tell helpers which doors must remain secure and revise the arrangement if that room needs to be emptied. Keep familiar items and the pet’s immediate needs available so they are not accidentally loaded with the household goods.

What should I check at the new home before my pet arrives?

Check that the planned area is secure and suitable for the individual animal, including doors, fencing or other escape points that matter to it. Keep the pet away from suspected hazardous plants or materials and obtain appropriate advice when uncertain. Prepare familiar items and the agreed care supplies before handover. Nominate who will receive the animal while furniture is unloaded, and keep its quiet area out of the handling route. Ask for species-specific advice where the general household plan is insufficient.