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Stress-Free Moving for Your Dogs, Cats and Small Animals
Moving can be overwhelming, not just for you, but especially for your pets. Our pets who are keen observers, can sense that their home is changing when we are packing up; or feel unsettled in an unfamiliar surrounding.
A poorly planned move can lead to them having anxiety, escape attempts or even health issues.
Your pet’s comfort should be part of your house moving strategy to avoid adding to your stress. Whether you are moving within the same district, upgrading or moving across the island in Singapore, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about moving with your pet.
Understanding Pet Stress During a Move
Our pets thrive on routine, you would’ve noticed that they are creatures of habit. Meals times, play or walks, and bedtimes are typically kept the same for them.
When you move, it feels like a sudden change in environment to them. Unfamiliar scents, chaos of packing, strangers in their home or loud noises can all trigger stress responses.
Common signs of stress include:
- Excessive barking or meowing
- Hiding or withdrawal
- Loss of appetite
- Restlessness or destructive behaviour
- Health issues (e.g. urinary tract infection)
That’s why preparation is key.
Start Preparing Your Pets Way Before Moving Day
There are a few things you have to do to help your pets feel ready for and adjust quickly upon moving.
1. Create a Familiar Environment
Start packing gradually and leave your pet’s favourite items such as bedding, toys, and feeding bowls until the last day. Do not get only new toys for the new house YET because familiar scents provide comfort.
If you can, let your cat or dog get used to staying in one of the rooms in your home. Familiarity and feeling safe in one room helps them to regulate better even when there are noise outside of the room.
2. Introduce Moving Supplies Early
Let your pets get used to boxes, carriers, and crates in advance.
For cats (and small animals), you can places boxes around the house and let them sniff, lay or play in them.
With regards to pet transport carriers, put your carriers out early so your cat will learn to build positive association towards it and treat it like a normal place to rest.
For dogs, you might want to crate train them so that they can lay in there and feel safe when the house gets busy with movers and items moving. It can also prevent them from escaping and getting lost.
3. Visit the Vet (If Needed)
Consult a vet in advance if your pet is prone to anxiety or has medical conditions and get your pet some mild sedatives to it deal with the stress.
4. Make use of or create new favourite items
If your pet has a favourite bed, a toy, a blanket or a towel, do not wash these before the move!
These items would have soaked up all the scent of your pet, and you and your home. It’s something they are familiar with. These items should be brought to your new home.
If you currently do not have one, you can create them by preparing toys or blankets weeks or months in advance before your move.
Moving Day: Keeping Them Safe
What we want to do here is to ensure that their routines can be kept to the same, as much as possible. However, there are also things to note on moving day to help them adjust better.
Dogs
- Feed 3–4 hours before the move to prevent nausea
- Take a long walk before professional movers arrive to burn excess energy
- Schedule a short walk right before departure
Cats
- Feed at least 4 hours before moving
- Keep them in a quiet, enclosed room during packing
- Avoid feeding immediately before transport
- If your cat is anxious during the move, cover their carrier with a large towel to give them a dark environment
Small Animals (Hamsters, Rabbits, Birds)
- Maintain regular feeding schedule
- Avoid sudden dietary changes
- Ensure water bottles are secure and accessible
- Cover cages during transport
- Avoid exposing them to loud noises
- Avoid excessive handling during the move
Your Pet’s Safety
We suggest to never keep your pet loose when your movers are going in and out of your home. The chances of your pet escaping is very high.
It is best to keep them crated or in a room where no one is allowed to access – preferably with a family member.
Important note: Always make sure to move WITH your pet. That means they are to be moved last, and with you. Do not move your pet before you arrive at your new place.
If you move your pet first to an unfamiliar place which is busy, noisy crowded and without any familiar scents, it can stress them too much. Dogs and cats are known to have UTI when they are stressed during a move.
Moving them last helps them feel safe because they can still see and smell you.
Moving In Singapore’s Heat
Don’t move your pet when the day’s at peak heat. There could be sudden shock in their system if it’s too hot. Or they could become dehydrated due to the heat and lack of drinking from the stress. Preferably, move them in the later part of the afternoon when everything’s done and when it’s more cooling.
Moving Day: In The New Home
Have a safe room prepared for your pet in the new home. This room should be filled with the things you’ve previously gathered. For example:
- Favourite toys
- Litter box or pee pad
- Dog or cat beds
- Cat tree
- Blankets & towels they’ve laid on
- Food and water supplies
Also, ensure and monitor if your pets are urinating regularly. If they are struggling with it, you should take them to the vet immediately.
After Moving Day: When Can They Explore?
Gradual Exploration
Slowly introduce the new home to your pet – especially for cats. Instead of all at once.
This is to avoid two important behavioural issues:
- Marking behaviour which creates more stress for you to clean up, and prevent overwhelming them because of strange new smells
- Pets (especially cats) bolting for safety when something spooks them while exploring
Maintaining Routine & Administration
For all pets, do your best to stick to regular feeding, walking and play schedules. Avoiding disruption in the new place is equally as important as the preparation before moving.
In addition, keep your pets microchip details up to date immediately after you’ve moved to make sure details are updated in the event if your pet gets lost.
Dogs
For dogs, we suggest for you to check out the neighbourhood before your move and look for parks or places where you can bring your dog for its walks.
Before moving to the new place, you can bring your dog for walks a few times so that it can get familiar with the smells & sights of the area.
Cats
Depending on how fearful or confident your cats are, we suggest to keep them in the safe room for a few days to decompress and slowly changing out new items in the room.
Bring a few items from the safe room, into the new spaces. And a few items from the new spaces into the safe room.
See: https://www.sfspca.org/resource/moving-with-your-cat/
This ensures that more items are filled with your cats’ scent and then gradually, you can let them explore the new home.
Conclusion: A Calm Move Starts with the Right Plan
You will find it easier and less stressful when to move with your pet when are you well prepared. Keeping their stress levels low will prevent issues down the road – marking, spraying, escaping, UTI, etc. With proper planning, you will provide a safe and smooth transition for your furry family member.
Leave the heavy work to Elite Movers so you can have a peace of mind from start to finish managing your pet.
Helpful Resources for Pet Owners in Singapore
- AVS (Animal & Veterinary Service): https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs
- SPCA Singapore: https://www.spca.org.sg/
- GrabPet transport services: https://www.grab.com/sg/transport/pet/
Pet Moving Checklist
Before Moving:
- Book a pet-friendly mover
- Prepare carriers and familiar items
- Visit vet if necessary
- Introduce packing materials
- Introduce safe room (in current home) for them to hangout
1 Week Before:
- Confirm moving schedule
- Set aside pet essentials (food, toys, medication)
Moving Day:
- Feed pets 3–4 hours before
- Walk dogs before movers arrive
- Keep pets in a quiet, enclosed space
- Transport pets separately in secure carriers
After Moving:
- Set up pet-safe zone first
- Maintain feeding and walking routines
- Allow gradual exploration
- Monitor behaviour for stress
