Moving and traveling with pets

Carrier training comes first

Whether you are moving, traveling or going to the vet, the carrier is the foundation of moving a pet. Many animals remember it as the scary box that only appears before vet visits. Starting a few weeks ahead, leave the carrier in the living room with the door open, put a blanket and treats inside, and let your pet go in and out on its own. Once it is comfortable, build up in steps: close the door briefly, carry it a short distance, then take a short car ride. The carrier should be large enough for the animal to stand, turn around and lie down.

Preparing to move

Once a move is set, take your pet for a check-up and look up a regular vet and an emergency clinic in the new area. While you pack, piling boxes and shifting furniture make animals anxious. Keeping regular times for meals, walks and play as much as possible reduces that anxiety. Cats may hide among boxes or crawl into luggage and get packed up, so check before sealing anything.

• Find a vet and emergency clinic in the new area
• Keep the usual routine
• Check the contact details on the ID tag
• Check the procedure for updating the registered address

Moving day

On moving day the front door keeps opening and strangers come and go, making it the easiest day for an animal to bolt. If possible, leaving your pet with a trusted friend or boarding facility for the day is safest. If it must stay home, put water, a litter box and the carrier in one quiet, emptied room, close the door and put a do-not-open sign on it. For the trip, always use the carrier, and take your pet yourself rather than putting it on the moving truck.

Settling into the new home

Rather than opening up the whole new home at once, start with one room containing familiar things and gradually widen the space. Bringing the old blanket, toys and some used litter adds familiar smells that help your pet settle. Cats may hide for several days; do not pull them out, just keep food, water and a litter box nearby. Let dogs learn new walking routes slowly. Check windows and screens are secure first.

Traveling by car

A pet roaming freely in the car is easily hurt in a sudden stop and distracts the driver. Secure the carrier to a seat with a seat belt or similar, or use a pet restraint. Letting a dog hang its head out of the window is dangerous. On long trips, stop to offer water and let dogs relieve themselves on a leash. If car sickness is severe, keep the pre-trip meal light and ask your vet whether medication is needed. Leaving a pet alone in a parked car is dangerous at any time, not only on hot days.

Flying and moving abroad

When flying, whether pets can travel in the cabin or must go in the hold, size and weight limits, carrier specifications and restrictions on short-nosed breeds all differ by airline and change. Always confirm directly with the airline before booking. When taking a pet abroad or bringing one in, requirements such as a microchip, rabies vaccination, antibody testing and health certificates differ by country, and preparation can take months. The key is checking official guidance from the quarantine authorities of both the departure and destination countries early.

• Airline: travel method, size, weight, carrier specs
• Destination country: quarantine rules and lead time
• Departure country: export quarantine procedure
• Check transit country rules too

Leaving your pet while you travel

If your pet is not coming, choose between a friend, a pet sitter who visits, or a boarding facility based on your pet's temperament. Cats are sensitive to change and often do better being cared for at home. With a new caregiver, try a short stay before the trip. Give the caregiver written notes on portions and feeding times, medications, your regular vet and emergency clinic contacts, and your own contact details. Some boarding facilities require vaccination records, so prepare them in advance.

Things to watch for

Appetite may dip for a few days after a move or change, but if a cat eats almost nothing for more than a day, if vomiting or diarrhea continues, or if breathing seems hard, do not write it off as adjustment; talk to a vet. Medications such as sedatives can be dangerous for some animals and should not be used without a vet's judgment. Airline, quarantine and registration rules can change, so use this guide only for the order of checks and follow official guidance for specifics.