How to Move with Pets

A couple and their dog moving into a home playing in a box.

Moving is stressful enough without worrying about your furry family members. At BMS Moving & Storage, we’ve seen firsthand how proper planning can transform a potentially traumatic experience into a manageable transition for pets.

Here’s your practical guide to moving with dogs and cats while minimizing their anxiety.

Understanding Your Pet’s Perspective

Imagine your entire world changing overnight without anyone explaining why. That’s moving through your pet’s eyes. Your cat doesn’t understand why her favorite sunny spot disappeared behind boxes. Your dog can’t comprehend why his backyard suddenly vanished. They only know their safe, predictable world has become chaos.

This perspective shift is crucial because it helps you anticipate problems before they arise. That destroyed couch is anxiety. Those accidents are stress responses. Once you understand this, you can plan accordingly.

Set Your Pre-Move Foundation

Two months before moving day, start your pet preparations. Visit your vet not just for records, but for an honest conversation about your pet’s temperament. Some animals benefit from anti-anxiety medication during moves, while others do fine with behavioral strategies alone.

While you’re there, grab copies of everything: medical records, vaccination certificates, prescription medications. If you’re crossing state lines, research requirements immediately. Some states require health certificates issued within 10 days of travel. Hawaii demands months of quarantine planning. Don’t discover these requirements while the moving truck idles in your driveway.

The microchip check everyone forgets: call the company and update your contact information now, not after the move. Order new ID tags with your cell phone number (not the landline you’re disconnecting) and consider temporary tags that say “MOVING” with both addresses. One client’s cat escaped on moving day and was returned thanks to a neighbor recognizing the “MOVING” tag situation.

All About Packing

Here’s what your pets see: strange boxes appearing, familiar furniture disappearing, and their humans acting stressed. It’s an invasion of their territory by cardboard monsters. Some pets investigate curiously. Others hide under beds. Both reactions are normal.

Create what we call a “sanctuary room,” one space that stays completely normal until the last possible moment. This is where their routine continues unchanged. Feeding happens here. Their favorite toys live here. When the packing chaos overwhelms them (and it will), they retreat here.

Meanwhile, pack strategically. Boxes get lost in trucks. Suitcases travel with you. Include three days of food (minimum), medications with dosing instructions, their disgusting favorite toy you’ve been wanting to throw away, and whatever comfort item smells most like home.

Moving Day: Controlled Chaos

You have three options for moving day, and the right choice depends entirely on your pet’s personality, not your convenience.

The gold standard is removing pets entirely. Board them or arrange a sleepover with someone they know. Yes, it costs money. Yes, it requires coordination. But it eliminates the risk of escape when movers prop doors open for hours.
If boarding isn’t possible, confinement becomes critical. Not just “in the bedroom” but properly secured with signs that make movers think twice. Include everything they need because you won’t be checking every hour like you plan.
For crate-trained pets, use that training. But understand the difference between a two-hour vet visit and eight hours of moving chaos. Even crate-lovers have limits.

Transportation for Moving Pets

Short moves and long-distance relocations require different strategies. For local moves, the challenge is mainly emotional. For long-distance moves, it’s logistical complexity multiplied by emotional stress.

Dogs need bathroom breaks every two hours, not because they physically require it, but because movement and sniffing reduce anxiety. Bring water from home if possible. Familiar taste matters more than you’d think.

Cats travel differently. That carrier they hate becomes their safety pod. Line it with puppy pads (yes, even for cats) because stress causes accidents. Partially cover it with a blanket, not for warmth but to reduce visual stimulation. Try not to open that carrier during transport. Not at rest stops. Not to comfort them. Not even “just for a second.” Panicked cats become feline Houdinis.

For overnight stays, book pet-friendly hotels weeks in advance, not days. Request ground floor rooms near exits. Call ahead to confirm pet policies haven’t changed. Bring your own sheets if your pet sleeps on beds. Hotels appreciate the gesture, and familiar scents help pets settle.

The New Territory

First day strategy matters more than most people realize. Resist the urge to give pets full house access immediately. Start with one room, their new sanctuary space. Set it up with all their familiar items before releasing them. For cats, this means litter box ready, water available, and hiding spots accessible. For dogs, it means a quick bathroom trip outside first, then exploration of their safe room.

Cats often hide for days. This isn’t abnormal or concerning unless accompanied by refusal to eat or use the litter box. They’re processing. They’re mapping escape routes. They’re deciding if this new place is safe. Let them emerge on their timeline, not yours.

Dogs usually adapt faster but need structure immediately. Establish the bathroom spot on day one. Walk the property boundaries. Show them their new normal quickly because dogs find comfort in understanding expectations.

Warning Signs and Recovery

Most pets show some stress responses. The question isn’t whether they’ll react, but whether those reactions fall within normal ranges. Appetite loss for 24-48 hours? Normal. Complete food refusal for a week? Veterinary concern. Hiding for three days? Typical for cats. Aggressive behavior toward family members? Problem requiring intervention.

Recovery timelines vary wildly. Confident, young animals might adjust in days. Anxious, older pets might need months. Neither timeline indicates success or failure. It’s just processing speed. What matters is gradual improvement, not immediate perfection.

Learn From Our Experience

After helping thousands of families move with pets, we’ve learned that the families who struggle most are those who underestimate the emotional component. The smoothest pet moves happen when owners accept that some chaos is inevitable, some stress is normal, and perfect transitions don’t exist.

What does exist is thoughtful preparation, realistic expectations, and patience with the adjustment process. Your cat will eventually stop hiding. Your dog will learn the new walking route. They’ll claim new favorite spots and establish new routines. It just takes time.

At BMS Moving & Storage, we understand pets are family. Our crews know to work quietly around sanctuary rooms, to watch for escape artists when doors are open, and to treat your concerns about your pets as seriously as concerns about your grandmother’s china.

Contact us to discuss your pet-friendly moving needs. We’ll help ensure every family member (furry ones included) arrives safely at your new home.