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Moving House with Pets: A Practical Guide to a Calmer Move

16 Sep 2026

Uncategorized

Moving house with pets adds a second set of needs to an already detailed process. For cats, dogs and other companion animals, moving day means open doors, unfamiliar people and a routine that disappears overnight. Furniture leaves familiar rooms, feeding and walking times slip, and many pets pick up on household tension well before the removal van arrives.

The simplest way to manage this is to give your pet a relocation plan of its own. That plan should cover preparation, moving day, travel, paperwork and the first few weeks in your new home.

Preparing to move house with pets

Keep daily routines as normal as possible

Continue normal feeding, walking, play and sleeping times for as long as you can. Leave your pet’s bed, litter tray, food bowls and favourite toys where they are until the final stage of packing.

Familiar smells are reassuring. Keep bedding and soft toys available until the last moment, and avoid washing them immediately before or after the move.

If your pet is particularly nervous, speak to your vet well in advance. They can advise on travel sickness, anxiety and whether any medication is appropriate. Only give sedatives that a veterinary professional has prescribed or recommended.

Update identification and veterinary records

Before moving:

Update your pet’s microchip registration with your new address and telephone number.
Check that your dog’s ID tag is correct.
Gather vaccination records, veterinary history and insurance details.
Ask your current vet to send any records a new practice will need.
Find a veterinary practice near your new home.
Make sure you have enough regular medication or prescription food to cover the move.

For an international relocation, start this process much earlier. Rabies vaccinations, health certificates, blood tests and destination-specific treatments can all have strict timing requirements.

Check the new property for hazards

Inspect the new home and garden before your pet explores. Look for:

Gaps beneath fences or gates
Unsecured windows and balconies
Nearby roads or open access points
Ponds, water features and steep drops
Toxic plants
Exposed cables, building materials or cleaning products
Other animals at the property or in neighbouring gardens

If you are renting, check the tenancy agreement and get written landlord consent where required. Permission at your current property does not carry over to the new one. If you are moving permanently overseas, also confirm the destination country’s rules on the species, breed and number of animals you can bring.

Moving day: where your pet should be

In most cases, your pet is better off away from the removal activity. A trusted friend, family member, kennel or cattery removes the risk of escape and spares your pet the noise, unfamiliar people and open doors.

If your pet stays at home:

Choose a quiet room away from the route between the house and the removal vehicle.
Close the door and label it clearly.
Tell the removal team your pet is inside.
Provide water, bedding, food, toys and any medication.
Keep cats in a secure room rather than in a closed carrier for the whole day.
Check on them regularly, without adding to the disruption.

Travelling with your pet on moving day

Use a familiar carrier for cats and small animals, with a blanket or item of clothing that smells of home inside. Dogs should travel in a secure crate, harness or suitable restraint. The Highway Code (rule 57) requires animals in a vehicle to be restrained so they cannot distract the driver or be injured if you stop suddenly. A pet should never travel loose.

If your pet is prone to travel sickness, give a smaller or earlier meal, keep water available and ask your vet for advice on longer routes. Never leave a pet in a parked vehicle, even briefly. Temperatures inside a car can become unsafe quickly, including in cooler months.

At the new property, bring your pet inside only once a prepared room is ready. An empty house with the crew still carrying furniture in is not a safe place for an animal to arrive.

Settling in after moving house with pets

Prepare one room before your pet arrives. It should contain:

Familiar bedding
Food and water bowls
A litter tray for cats
Toys and scratching equipment
Medication
A blanket or item carrying your scent
Secure windows and doors

Moving house with a cat

Keep your cat in the safe room for several days, or longer if they remain unsettled. Open up the rest of the home gradually and let them explore at their own pace. Keep the litter tray and feeding position consistent where you can.

Cats should generally stay indoors for around three weeks after a move before going outside. This gives them time to accept the new property as home. Before their first outdoor access, confirm the microchip details are current and check that doors, windows, fencing and any cat flap are secure. Start with short, supervised visits, ideally just before a meal so they have a reason to come back.

Moving house with a dog

Dogs often settle faster with a calm, lead-controlled tour of the house and a secure garden. Return to normal walk times quickly, but introduce new routes gradually. A predictable routine shows your dog that the move has not removed the structure of their day.

Moving house with rabbits, birds, reptiles and fish

Smaller pets need the same planning, with a few differences.

Rabbits, guinea pigs and other small mammals should travel in a secure, well-ventilated carrier with familiar bedding. They are sensitive to heat, so keep them out of direct sunlight and away from heaters in the vehicle. Set up their hutch or enclosure before they arrive, and position outdoor hutches out of wind and full sun.

Birds travel best in a smaller covered cage, with loose items such as swings removed so they cannot be injured if the vehicle stops suddenly. Keep them away from draughts and settle them in a quiet room first.

Reptiles depend on stable temperatures. Ask a vet with exotics experience how to keep your animal at the right temperature during the journey, particularly on a long route or in cold weather.

Fish tanks cannot be moved full. Transport fish in sealed bags or containers filled with water from their own tank, and keep the filter media wet so the beneficial bacteria survive. Set the tank up, fill and heat it at the new property before returning the fish.

Why professional planning matters when moving with pets

A pet can make an otherwise manageable move considerably more complicated. Rushed packing leaves doors open for longer, and a crew that has not been briefed may not realise a particular room must stay closed. Poor coordination can also add cost if a second journey, temporary storage or extra handling becomes necessary.

Abels has planned household moves since 1958, and the home survey is where your pet’s needs become part of the plan. The survey covers access, volume, timing, packing and storage requirements, along with any specialist arrangements.

With UK home removals, the plan can account for your pet’s safe room and transport on the day. If packing is likely to unsettle your animal, professional packing services reduce the number of days that boxes, materials and open cupboards sit around the home.

Check what protection applies. Removals liability or goods-in-transit cover is not a substitute for pet insurance or veterinary cover, so ask for the terms of both before travelling.

Request a calmer moving plan

Your pet should be part of the plan from the first conversation, not a problem to solve on moving day.

To discuss a domestic or international move involving pets, request a callback and tell us your destination, moving date, your pet’s needs and the level of support you would like. The team can advise on packing, storage, transport coordination and pet transfer arrangements, then prepare a tailored quotation.

FAQ

How do I move house with a cat?

Keep your cat in a secure, quiet room during loading and unloading, or arrange care away from the property. Transport them in a familiar, secure carrier with a blanket that smells of home. At the new property, use one prepared room as a safe base with food, water, bedding, toys and a litter tray. Open up the rest of the home gradually and keep your cat indoors for around three weeks before allowing outdoor access.

Should my pet move before or after my belongings?

Your pet should usually travel separately from the removal activity and arrive once a safe room is ready. For a domestic move, this often means staying with a trusted person during loading and travelling after the main removal work. For an international relocation, timing depends on the transport route, paperwork and destination entry requirements.

What paperwork does my pet need to move abroad?

It depends on the destination. Dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from Great Britain to the EU generally need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an Animal Health Certificate. Some destinations also require tapeworm treatment for dogs, blood tests, import permits or quarantine. Check current GOV.UK guidance and the destination authority before travel.

Do I need a pet passport to move to Northern Ireland?

Not if you are travelling only to Northern Ireland. GB residents can apply for a Northern Ireland pet travel document under the scheme introduced in June 2025. If you plan to travel on to Ireland or the EU, the EU rules and an Animal Health Certificate apply instead.

How long does it take a pet to settle after a move?

Every pet responds differently. Some dogs settle within a few days, while cats and nervous animals may need several weeks. Keep routines consistent, provide familiar bedding and introduce new rooms gradually. Keeping cats indoors for around three weeks after moving is commonly recommended.