Published 2026 · Herts & Essex Removals
Moving day is disruptive for everyone in the household, and pets feel that disruption without any of the context that makes it bearable for the rest of us. A bit of planning goes a long way toward keeping them calm.
In the run-up to the move
- Keep as much of their routine the same as possible in the final weeks — feeding times, walks, the same bed in the same spot — even as the rest of the house changes around them.
- If your pet is microchipped, update the address on the chip database as soon as you move — it's the single most useful thing you can do if they do bolt.
- For cats especially, a spray of synthetic pheromone (Feliway and similar) a few days before the move can take the edge off anxiety.
On moving day itself
- Boarding them with a friend, family member or a kennel/cattery for the day is usually the kindest option — an open front door and strangers carrying furniture is stressful and genuinely risky for an animal that could bolt.
- If that's not possible, keep them in one quiet, closed room with food, water and a litter tray (for cats), away from the main traffic of the move, with a sign on the door so nobody opens it by accident.
- Move them to the new property last, once most of the heavy lifting is done and the front door isn't constantly opening.
Settling in
- Set up one familiar room first — their bed, bowls and toys in roughly the same arrangement as before — and let them explore the rest of the house gradually rather than all at once.
- Keep cats indoors for at least two to three weeks before letting them out, so they have time to recognise the new property as home before they start exploring the neighbourhood.
- Expect a few off days — reduced appetite, more sleeping, a bit of clinginess — and give it time rather than worrying immediately. If it persists beyond a week or two, a vet check is a sensible next step.
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