6 Ways To Help Your Pets Adjust To Change
Posted on December 10, 2007 by Melissa
Filed Under Pets, Psychology
As we busily pack and prepare for the big move (the movers come this afternoon), we have started noticing that we aren’t the only ones feeling the stress. Our kitties have been showing signs of being affected as well. They seem on edge and out of sorts. Every time we move a piece of furniture or place more stuff into boxes they seem to react. One is acting out, another is acting withdrawn, and yet another is becoming unusually clingy and desperate for attention. We are noticing they are even getting into little spats right now.
Moving brings about a change in your schedule (not to mention your physical home) that can really affect your pets. That home is their sanctuary, their territory, and their world. No longer having that predictability and normalcy can be even harder on your pets than it is on you. When the hectic pace of moving becomes a blur of activity, remember to think of your pets.
Here are some ways we are trying to ease the transition for our kitty brood:
1. Don’t pack everything. Leave their favorite beds and toys out and save them for packing last. Mark this box as an “open on arrival” box. We are packing a special box of their favorite things to open as soon as the kitties move to the new house. Our “kitty comfort pack” includes their favorite treats, wet food, tuna, beds, and toys. We have already moved a few well worn scratching posts over to allow them to take out their frustrations if need be. This will help them associate the familiar items and the yummy treats with the new place and help them realize that maybe the new house isn’t so bad after all.
2. Consider calming agents. There are all sorts of pheromone and homeopathic remedies out there to help ease the tension in stressful situations for pets. One of the first things we did at the new house was plug in several Feliway
3. Use a room to transition. Big new places can be scary, especially for cats. Start them in a small room and once they have explored that area and feel comfortable slowly introduce them to the rest of the house. The first night in the new house the kitties will be spending the night in a single room so they can acclimate. This will help them avoid feeling overwhelmed and frightened by the strange new house. Baby steps are best.
4. Keep them safe. Lock the pets in a room that you cleared out while the move is underway. I have heard many horror stories of pets being lost, injured, or even killed while furniture and belongings are being transported out of the home. Keep them in a secure room with food/water/litter and put a sign on the door instructing everyone to stay out. It is better for them to be safe even if they are a bit lonely for a few hours.
5. Reassure them. When you are at home give them extra attention. With their world being turned upside down they need you more now than ever. Show them that even though change is in progress you are still there for them. This will go a long way in calming fears.
6. Be understanding. Now is the time that those less than desirable behaviors might occur. Change is one of the most upsetting things to happen to a kitty so don’t be surprised or upset if they act out during the move. One of our kitties is taking the move pretty hard and decided to pee on a box today to show his displeasure with the process. He has never done that before. We feel confident that he is acting out against us boxing up his environment and he felt the need to claim that property as his own. We didn’t get mad. We just cleaned it up and gave him extra love. Getting mad does nothing - we need to help him during this time so he feels secure enough to stop marking his territory.
Comments
4 Responses to “6 Ways To Help Your Pets Adjust To Change”
Leave a Reply
Subscribe!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
About Us
A Penny Closer is for those of us who want to improve how we spend, save, and invest. We want to be able to manage our money so that we can use it to enjoy our lives today while still saving to reach our dreams tomorrow. Read more about us here...
Top Commentators
Suggested Reading
What a great post! Moving recently was hard on one of our dogs than the other. Our previously calm, mellow dog was fine until we got to the new house, then she completely shifted her personality into a digging escape artist! It was one of the most difficult things of our move getting her used to our new home.
Good luck with your move!
This is really good advice and i wish i had read it a month ago. I have a little dog called Cookie and when we moved recently she became terribly distressed and it took a number of weeks to get her back to normal. The vet said it was the change of house etc… I wish I had especially listend to the advice about not packing everything at once, as looking back on it this is when she started to get upset. She’s all back to normal now but there were a few sleepless nights trying to reassure her. P.S i’ve only just found your blog and am working my way through reading your posts which are really good quality. Thanks again for some great tips and happy new year!
@Jennifer - Gosh, I’m so sorry it took me so long to respond to your post, I’m just now getting back into the swing of things. It’s funny how a move can affect our pets in ways we never anticipated. One of our kitties still hasn’t adjusted yet and is still too skitty to pet. I know with patience she will come around but I feel so bad that the move caused her so much stress. Thanks for sharing!
@Make Friends - Welcome! I’m sorry to hear that Cookie had such a rough time adjusting. I’m glad to hear it only took a few weeks for her to come around though. Time and reassurance can help so much.
I’m happy that you are enjoying the posts here and I hope you will stick around for a while!