When you are planning a move to a new British Virgin Islands Home it can be a stressful time for all those involved and your pets will not understand what is really happening so it can be very unsettling for them too. It has been said that one of the greatest worries for people moving home was how their pets would react!
Below are a few tips which may help you and your pet deal with your move and help you all to settle into your new home quickly with minimal stress.
1. It is a good suggestion to keep your pets in one room throughout the packing stage, as allowing them to run around the house while all this is going on can make your pet much more anxious. Pets can sometimes sense something is going on and opt to hide in a favorite hiding place or in a neighbors garden, so by keeping them in one room and knowing where they are will help to move everyone from one house to the other all at the same time.
2. Ensure that your dog has its favorite toys and blankets and after you have moved, don’t clean the bedding for a while after the move so that there are familiar smells to go with the unfamiliar ones. If your pet is traveling separately to you and is not used to being in a carrier, place the carrier in its living area few days before moving day so that your pet can get used to it.
3. Your pet may fear that it is not coming with you, so it is best that you give it a lot of attention and reassurance before and after the move.
4. Both dogs and cats have been known to try to return to their original home, to avoid this happening, it is a good idea to keep them indoors and only let them outside with supervision for a few weeks after the move. It is advisable not to let them out unaccompanied for at least a week after moving to your new home and just in case they do manage to get out, ensure they have an up to date collar and/or chip. If your cat will let you, putting them on a specially designed cat lead while you take them out for the first few weeks will help them to get used to their new surroundings without the risk of them getting lost.
5. On moving day, ensure you do not feed your pet for at least three hours prior to the move, this will help with any unpleasant accidents that may occur in the carrier during the move!
6. If you are really concerned about your pet during the disruption of packing up your home, you may consider putting them into kennels or a cattery for a few days, especially if it has been there before (when you are on holidays) and was happy there. It is important to remember that you will need to make reservations for your pet well in advance and to make certain that all their vaccinations are up to date.
7. Although cats especially do not like being sedated as it makes them feel anxious, your vet will decide whether this is the best course of action for your pet on moving day and may prescribe a mild sedative.
8. Dogs and cats (particularly) are territorial creatures and this will mean that when you move to a new home they will want to mark their territory, for cats this may lead to conflict with other cats in the area which for the most part you should let occur, if however you are concerned that your cat is fighting a lot check it regularly for wounds.
9. Pets like routine, so when you are preparing to move keep to their normal routine as much as possible and continue with it as soon as you can when you are settled in your new home this is applies especially to the times they are fed and taken for walks.
Moving is a difficult stressful task and pets can pick up on your anxiety making them more anxious, so deal with your own stress first and then you will be able to deal with your pets and anything the move is likely to throw at you. Remember it will not be long until you are settled with your family and pets in your lovely new home!
