Moving is something most of us will need to do from time to time. You could be moving for work, moving for a better climate, or even moving to be closer to family. And as UMoveFree has noticed, many appreciate some assistance during this process of moving and finding a new home.

But while there are various tools, apps, and professionals that can help ease the stress of people as they look for a new home and move, the same can’t be said for pets. Your pets spend all day in your home, and moving them somewhere new can introduce a lot of stress. However, it doesn’t have to.

Whether you are moving to another state or just across town, this blog post is going to go over a few tips to make moving less stressful for your pets.

Try to Stick to Your Normal Routine

Trying to move can often feel like a blur and your day-to-day life will often be different. You will be operating off-schedule, as you are solely focused on packing up and moving, so you may eat at different times, sleep at different times, and be home from work more often. All of this deviation from the norm can be very jarring for pets.

If you want to reduce stress, try and do all you can to stick to your normal schedule or routine when it comes to pet care. While your life might be all over the place, that doesn’t mean your cat or dogs need to as well. Keep their feeding times consistent, and do the things you would normally do, so the pet doesn’t become stressed with the sudden changes.

“It’s worth seeing if you can find some time in the day to take your pet for a walk – it often helps with acclimatization and will help put his/her mind a bit more at rest,” comments Ruban Selvanayagam of part-exchange real estate company Property Solvers.

Keep a Quiet Spot for Them

Moving can be a hectic time for everyone, and there is a ton of noise from boxes moving, doors opening and closing, and several other things. Moving takes over a home and leads to chaos, which many pets might not handle very well.

Instead of having them live amongst the noise and movement, it is a good idea to keep them somewhere in your home as a quiet sanctuary for the pet. Keep the area clean, and try to make sure it is in an area with limited foot traffic. The area should be a comfortable place to relax, and one that the pet can retreat to if they are starting to become stressed or anxious.

Have Them Gone Elsewhere on Moving Day

Moving day is not only the most stressful day for you but also for your pet. There is a ton going on, and the home will be full of noise. For the best results for everyone, you generally want your pet to be elsewhere on moving day.

The Vets recommend using a few treats to entice them.

If they are around, they are only going to get in the way and be visibly anxious throughout most of the day. Simply take some time to find a friend or family member who will be able to take the pet for a couple of hours while you complete most of the move.

Not only will they be stressed with all the commotion, but they could get in the way and accidentally trip someone or knock something over. Also, you don’t accidentally want to drop anything in your pet, either.

Get Them Comfortable in Their Crate or Carrier

To move your pet from one home to another, you need to get them comfortable in their carrier or crate. Pets generally don’t love these, so you need to condition them ahead of time to make sure they will be willing to go in once it’s time to move.

Give your pet a lot of time to explore the carrier beforehand, and make sure it is a comfortable place for them to spend time. Using a few treats to entice them to explore it and spend some time in it is also a good idea.

Also, once you get to the new home, it can take some time for your pets to get used to space, so be patient with them. They won’t instantly become comfortable and will need to warm up to the new home for a while before they get back to normal.

Deep Clean Your New Home

Many pets have much more sensitive noses than us and smell things we might not be able to. So if the previous owner of the home had a pet, you can be certain that your pet will smell them. This presence of another animal in their new space, even if the other animal isn’t there anymore, can be jarring to a pet.

Be sure to go through your new home and give it a deep clean to ensure it is fresh for you and your pet when you move in. You should vacuum everywhere, wash the floors, wipe all surfaces and generally ensure the entire home is like new.

Moving can be a stressful time for us, but it doesn’t need to be that way for your pets. We hope these tips can keep your pets from getting stressed out during your next move.