Moving homes can be an exciting and overwhelming experience, not only for you, but also for your furry loved ones as well. When your pets have been living in a location that they’ve called home, it can be difficult for them to be uprooted and placed in an unfamiliar setting. Home is where they’ve grown up, figured out all the best hiding spots, and marked their territory on the best fire hydrants in the neighbourhood. So if you’re in the process of moving with your pets to a new Ottawa townhome or condo, here are a few handy tips to help them adjust more easily to the move.
Provide Consistency
If there’s one thing your pets love, it is being consistent with routines. So when it comes to walking, feeding, napping, – whatever the daily routines are that they’ve grown to know – be sure to keep them as much as possible while you make that new move. It will provide them with a bit of comfort and stability during all of that chaos.
Keep Them Safe and Sound
First off, when it comes to the actual moving day, you want to make sure your pet is out of the way so your furry friend doesn’t get hurt or cause injury to your movers. For some pets, reducing anxiety can be achieved by either staying close to you or being placed in a crate, surrounded by their toys. If your pet needs to be near you, plant yourself in an optimal place where you can be involved with the moving process while staying put with your pet.
Be Patient
When you’ve finally moved into your new digs, it will naturally take some time for your pet to get use to the new surroundings, sounds and smells. So give them the time and space they need to look around, sniff and explore their new setting.
Extra Love and Affection
During those first initial weeks after a move, it can help to give your pet and extra dose of love and affection to make them feel safe and at ease. Spend a little extra time during the day to play with them and make them feel safe in their new environment.
Pets can harness anxiety quite easily, especially when their home and routines are interrupted. Being placed into a new environment can be overwhelming and scary for them, so it’s important to take the time to make them feel safe and sound. Just follow these simple steps and you’ll have your pet back to their old, happy self in no time. Once you’re settled in, your pet will love the beautiful new townhome or condo just as much you do!
