Tips When Moving
Your Dog or Cat .

Muscular Moving Men can move a lot of items, including heavy furniture and equipment, art installations, office fixtures, and more. One thing we can’t put in our truck is your dog or your cat.  

The Part Where We State the Obvious 

Even if they’re secured in a kennel and it’s a short trip, the moving truck is no place for the four-legged members of your family. While we take the utmost care to pack the truck in a way that items won’t shift during transport, we still can’t risk anything falling on your pet. Besides, you can imagine it’s pretty scary in a dark truck with no fresh air, not to mention hazardous to your pet’s health. 

They’re our loved ones. They are a vital part of your family. They are your wingman, your confidant. No matter what size, shape or personality they deserve a smooth and stress-free move just as much as you.

It doesn’t matter whether you are just moving across town or transporting your pet across country, you want to make sure that your pets travel as comfortably as possible which will lead to a smooth transition overall.

Secure Pets On The Day Of The Move 

What may be less obvious as you approach the big day and have a trillion things on your mind is the need to keep your pets securely away from the movers. If you have a dog or cat in the yard, or behind a closed door in your house, let the movers know so that they don’t accidentally let your pet loose. Dogs get stressed out by a lot of coming and going. You don’t want anyone tripping over your cat, especially while carrying items. And the last thing you want is to have to chase down your fugitive husky when you’re trying to get everything out the door. 

Some General Best Practices For Moving Pets

Following some best practices when it comes to transporting your pet will reduce both the safety risks and the stress… both your pet and yours.

One of the keys is to make certain you balance the needs of your dog or cat with all the other tasks on your moving to do list. But once you hit the road with everything packed away, your dog or cat’s priorities should move much closer to the top of the list.

Keep The Routine As Much As Possible

Before you get on the road for your big adventure of moving you and transporting your pet, make it a priority to keep your pet’s routine intact right up until the very last moment before you leave. If your dog is a morning walk enthusiast, then make sure they get their morning walk in.

If your move is going to involve a mealtime or several, make sure you keep your pet on their regular food. Don’t make the mistake of only tossing together some of their favorite treats to eat just because it seems easier for you. If your pet gets nauseous or develops a bit of diarrhea, it will not have been worth it. So, go with your pet’s routine diet. As far as the actual mealtimes are concerned, try not to go with a full-on meal right before you travel. Why risk an incident due to an upset or car sick tummy?

Make Room For Moving Your Pet 

Since you’ll most likely be packing your travel essentials and some irreplaceable items in your vehicle, make sure to give your dog or cat the room they deserve. When moving your pet, remember, they need to be comfortable as well. If they have a nice comfortable spot where they can nest and sleep, your time driving will be much more productive and a whole lot less stressful. Also, be sure that the dedicated space you have for moving your pet is safe. Don’t have any objects or boxes around them that could become a safety hazard, or at the very least, scare them immensely if something should shift or tumble on them.

Of course, nobody plans on getting into an accident. But the reality is that it could happen. Even a minor one could result in serious problems for your pet. In order to best protect your furry pal you’ll really want to look into some restraint options such as:

• Harness seat belts
• Zipline harnesses
• Carry boxes with harness attachments

Also, note that in some states you’ll be required to have your pet restrained. So, make sure you do some research on that. Don’t want to incur a hefty fine just because your buddy wanted to grab a little lap time while you were driving.

Just Plan For A Few Stressful Moments Transporting 

Stress is probably going to happen along the way. We hope not, but yeah, probably inevitable at some point… even a little flare up. The best thing to do is plan for it. You know your pet well, but do you know how they are going to handle a long-distance move? Talk to your vet at least a month ahead of the move your pet adventure and they might be able to prescribe a mild sedative, or anti-anxiety med that will keep your pet calm and relaxed. And by the way keeping yourself calm and relaxed is also a big key. Your pet will pick up your level of stress and some transference can take place.

Break Times Help Break Pet Moving Stress 

Moving your pet means planning ahead to take time of breaks. Balancing your driving preferences with your pet’s needs is a big key when it comes to transporting your dog or cat. While you might want to make it to the next “better” stopping point, you dog or cat may be screaming for some relief. Don’t be the cruel driver that will only pull over when they feel the need, make sure you stop and let your dog out every two to three hours for a potty break, fresh air, and a bit of exercise.

Limit Treats When Moving Your Pets

Limit treats when moving your pet. We touched on this earlier and know that we want to keep your pet’s eating routine intact to avoid sick stomachs. But it can also be a safety hazard if your trying to reach and feel around for baggie that your put all these treats in while driving the vehicle. So, if you are going bring along a few of the favorite treats, at least let you pet have on while you are stopped for a break.

Don’t Forget the Pet Moving Day Essentials 

Update your pet’s tags with your new address before the move. Add switching to the new tags to your moving day to do list, so that if they somehow get loose, anyone who finds your pet will know where to reach you. You already know to pack your cell phone charger and daily medications in easy reach. Remember to put the pet food, bowls, and pet medications in easy reach too. 

Here are just a few more items to have on a list. By the way… do put them on a list. Don’t think you’ll remember everything and there’s no need for your pet’s moving checklist.

• Pack enough food for the trip and then some. With a long-distance move, timings can get thrown off. Make sure you have plenty of food and even then, some for the first couple days at the new home.
• Leashes and harness… obviously. But sometimes it’s the stuff we tell ourselves we’ll never forget that… but we do.
• Make sure your pet has their own water bottle and travel dishes. Even in as stress-free situation as you can make it, your pet will want their water and probably a bit more often that usual.
• Plenty of extra poo-bags.

As with our own selves, the key to transporting your dog or cat involves planning ahead. If your road trip is going to span a day or two, make sure you book pet friendly stay in advance and don’t just improvise your stops once you get out on the road.

The more details in the planning the better your road trip is going turn with your best friend.