I’ve been traveling a lot lately. While delayed flights and lost luggage are frustrating, they aren’t the most unsettling experiences I’ve had at the airport this year.
While waiting at a gate, I overheard a woman talking about her upcoming divorce and move into a new apartment. She had brought her two dogs to the new place, but they seemed stressed, so she returned them to her soon-to-be ex-husband. “He’ll probably get rid of them,” she said, shrugging. “I’ll just get a new dog.”
I tried to keep my face neutral, but inside, my heart broke for the dogs she planned to leave behind and the one she hadn’t yet met but was already expecting to settle in effortlessly.
Pets aren’t furniture. They can’t just be dropped into a new place and expected to thrive. Any new pet she adopted from a shelter would also need time and support to adjust, and if the current dogs ended up at a shelter, they’d likely be even more distressed.
Normally, I try not to offer unsolicited advice. But sometimes, especially when pets are involved, I feel compelled to gently join the conversation. I told her that I’ve moved 19 times with pets over the years and had learned a few simple tricks that helped them settle in faster and with less stress. Would she like to hear them? (She was gracious and said “go for it.”)
Here’s what I shared with her — and what I would love for every pet parent to know:
1. Keep Familiar Smells: Before you move, resist the urge to wash your pet’s belongings. Their blankets, bedding, toys, scratching posts, litterboxes, and kennels all carry comforting scents. These familiar smells can make a brand-new space feel more like home.
2. Make Their Stuff the Priority: Your pet’s things should be in the last box on the moving truck and the first one off. Set up a quiet, secure room at your new place where your pets can stay with all their familiar items. Keep them there while you are unpacking and moving furniture around. It might sound silly, but if you’re moving with cats, leave a few empty boxes around the house. Not the ones packed and taped shut—but open boxes they can climb into, sit on, or hide inside. Boxes give cats a sense of security and control during times of change. And let’s be honest—they’ll probably be more excited about those boxes than anything you unpack.
3. Reduce Their Stress: If your pet is particularly anxious or sensitive to change, there are over-the-counter calming chews, anxiety clothing, and pheromones in collar, spray and diffuser (plug-in) forms. Put a canine or feline pheromone diffuser in the room where your dog or cat is hanging out.
4. Stick to a Routine: The fastest way to help pets adjust to a new environment is to return to a regular routine as soon as possible. Keep feeding, walking, and playtime on schedule. Carve out some quiet time to sit with your pet, offer affection, and let them know everything will be okay.
5. Explore the New Space Together: Once the movers are gone and things are relatively calm, take time to gently introduce your pet to the new environment. Walk your dog through each room on a leash so they can sniff and investigate at their own pace. Let cats explore one room at a time, gradually giving them access to more areas. By exploring together, you offer reassurance and let them know you’re by their side as they get familiar with new smells, sounds, and spaces.
The woman nodded and said she would try again. She might have just been humoring me, but I hope she did and that neither she nor her husband got rid of their two dogs.
If you are facing a move, please don’t give up your pets. They may be confused or anxious at first, but with a bit of patience, they’ll always adjust, just like people do. Often, it only takes a few days to a few weeks for pets to settle in, especially when we’re mindful of their needs.
Because at the end of the day, home isn’t just a place. It’s the love, comfort, and familiar faces (and paws) that surround you.
Originally appeared on CathyRosenthal.com | Helping Pets Adjust to a New Home
Cathy M. Rosenthal is a seasoned animal advocate, author, and syndicated pet columnist with over 35 years of experience in the animal welfare field. To learn more, visit CathyRosenthal.com, or connect directly through Spay Neuter Network by sending your pet questions to her at Cathy@spayneuternet.org.