Preparing your new home for your dog or cat

Preparing your new home for your dog or cat

Soon you will settle in your new home.

Here are some tips to make the transition smoother for your pet family.

Preparing your new home for your dog or cat

Tip #1: Walk around your new home and yard to make sure your pet doesn’t get lost.

For example, check doors, windows, basements, garage doors, and fences.

If your furry friend goes out in a weird place, it’s all too easy to get lost.

Tip #2: Check the yard to make sure there is nothing dangerous for your pet.

You may want to look for things like:

• holes in the ground
• open wells window
• Metal Grass Edges
• loose fence panels

Take care of any issues as soon as you find them.

Tip #3: Make sure there are no pet odors from previous pets in the house.

If previous homeowners have pets, clean your home thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner to get rid of any pet odors.

If your dog or cat smells another animal (for example, a place where a dog or cat used to take naps), your pet may want to identify those spots.

There are companies that you can hire to remove pet odors.

Just let them know the animals were in the house, and they will take care of them for you.

Keep a bottle of the enzyme cleaner handy in case your pet starts spotting or has an accident in your new surroundings.

Tip #4: Find a safe, enclosed area (such as a bathroom) where you can put your pet on the day of the move.

As we said in our last article, this will help prevent your furry friend from slipping when people come in and out of the house.

During the first week in your new home

Tip #5: Spend time with your pet and re-establish the routine.

Since the process of moving and unpacking is hectic, if you can spend time with your pet, it will go a long way in relieving your dog or cat’s stress.

Return to your normal routine as soon as possible.

Additionally, be aware if you’re moving at 100 mph. Pets fuel your energy, and all your activity can be stressful.

Wait a week or two before you start to go out and spend a lot of time away.

Tip #6: Keep chests in designated rooms with the doors closed.

If you have a cat, you know boxes can be just as enticing as catnip.

Most cats can’t wait to get to it.

While your new home is in turmoil due to a move, you don’t want to lose your little one while playing in a crate.

Not to mention, your pet may want to pee on the crates to mark them. (Enough said!)

Tip #7: Update your pet’s microchip registration with your new home address, and have your pet wear an identification tag collar.

If your pet goes missing while you are on the move or after, you want to make sure there is an obvious way for people to reach you.

If you have a house cat that is not used to wearing a collar, we simply suggest that your little one wears it for a few days (while there is plenty of activity around your house).

Tip #8: Make a plan if you can’t find your dog or cat.

Mark any boxes that may be in your home.

Small cats and dogs can wind up unexpectedly.

If you think your pet might be outside, we suggest you put something outside your new home that has or smells of you.

It can help to bring your pet home.

What do you expect from your pet in your new home

Tip #9: Expect a little anxiety.

Don’t be surprised if your furry friend is a little anxious. It usually takes a few days for your dog or cat to get used to the new home.

Spending time with your pet can help.

Tip #10: Know that your dog or cat may not want to eat for a few days.

It’s normal for dogs and cats to lose their appetite, too.

You may be able to entice your furry friend to eat if you:

• Add chicken or beef broth to his dry food
• Give your pet cooked chicken (or tuna for cats)
• Heat or add some warm water to your pet’s canned food to get the smell out

Dogs can go up to a week without eating (sometimes longer).

If you get to a point where it just doesn’t feel right, call your vet.

Likewise, if your cat has not eaten in two or three days, your cat may have a liver problem. It’s time to call the vet.

Tip #11: Be prepared for some unusual potty behavior.

Your pet’s urination and defecation behaviors may be elicited a little for a few days.

Here are some things you might see from your dog:

• If your dog is in the habit of always going to the potty in one place, he can feel a little kind of in a new environment. In addition, some dogs do not like to eliminate other dogs. Long story short, Fido may take longer than usual to find a good place to do his work.
• If your dog has an accident in your new home , take your dog outside, put his stool or urine outside where you want him to and guide him to that spot. Dogs tend to want to go to the same area where they can smell themselves. (If you are not able to get the stool or urine out, simply show him where you want it to go.) Clean the scene thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner, so the dog does not go back inside.
• Don’t be surprised if your dog starts putting tags all over the place . There are so many new scents calling out for your pup. If your dog seems to be peeing all over the place, your dog may be just adding their scent. You must pass this stage. (You can also follow the tips above.)

Here are some things you might see from your cat:

• Your cat may not want to use the litter box. Similar to our advice for families with dogs, if possible, put your cat’s feces or urine where you want your cat to go. Use an enzyme cleaner on accident spots to remove any odors that might tempt your cat to return to those spots.

Some studies suggest that it is a good idea to have more litter boxes than the total number of cats in your household.

This way, your cats have multiple places to go.

If you haven’t done this before, start in your new home!

Tip #12: Call your vet if your pet has had any of the following behaviors for longer than a week. (It doesn’t hurt to call sooner!)

Your dog or cat:

• Does not eat (for cats, call in a few days)
• Seems to be straining and/or bothersome upon removal (especially when urinating)
• It’s just urination drops
• Doesn’t go potty at all
• Has urine that smells or has a different shape
• has diarrhea
• Goes outside the litter box (cats)
• Spends a lot of time in the litter box and very little production (cats)

Tip #13: Look for signs that your cat is acting out. This may mean that your new neighborhood has outdoor cats.

We have cat families sharing their cat stories:

• Peeing in the house by patio doors and windows
• Attacking other cats in the house

You may need to do a little investigation to see if there are outdoor cats coming into your windows and doors.

Your cat may see or smell other kitties.

To help change unwanted behaviors, you may want to place cat repellent outside windows or doors.

Clean up any accidents inside with an enzymatic cleaner, so your cat doesn’t go back to that spot.

It is said that pheromone diffusers can help calm your cat.

Pheromones are dispersed in the air in a diffuser similar to an air freshener.

When would you consider finding a vet if you are going to make a change

Beyond immediate health needs, you may not need to find a new vet until it’s time for your pet’s next routine checkup, vaccinations, or dental cleaning.

If you have an older dog, we suggest you find a new vet within four to six months of your move.

Older pets can get into trouble faster, and that way, you’ll have a resource to go to if you need help.