Moving With Pets: A Plan for Cats, Dogs and Small Animals

The safest way to move with pets is to keep them out of the moving-day chaos, travel with them in a secured carrier or harness, and give them one small, familiar room to settle in at the new home. Most problems (escapes, hiding, stress, lost tags) are avoidable with a few weeks of preparation and a clear plan for the day itself. Here is how to do it, whether you have a cat, a dog or something smaller, and whether you are moving across Abbotsford or across the province.

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TL;DR

Start 3 to 4 weeks ahead: get your cat used to the carrier and boxes, and keep your dog's routine steady while you pack.
On moving day, put pets in a closed, quiet room (or with a sitter or boarding facility) so doors and open trucks never become an escape route.
Travel with pets secured in the back seat or cargo area, never loose, and never leave them in a parked vehicle.
Update microchip and ID details before you move, then keep cats indoors for two to three weeks and start every pet in one "landing room".
Tell your movers about your pets when you book so the crew can plan around them.

Start four weeks out: prepare the pet, not just the boxes
Update microchip and ID before you move
Moving day: keep pets out of the way
Travelling safely with pets
Packing around pets
The first days in the new home
What we have seen on moving days
Let us handle the heavy lifting while you look after your pets
FAQ
Sources

Start four weeks out: prepare the pet, not just the boxes

Packing is the part of a move that changes your pet's world first. Boxes appear, furniture disappears and the house smells different. The aim of the early weeks is to make those changes boring.

Cats: make the carrier and boxes normal

My Pet's Health recommends starting several weeks ahead: leave moving boxes out and fill them gradually so your cat can get used to them, and leave the carrier open near food and water with a blanket and treats inside. The Ontario SPCA suggests bringing the carrier, boxes and packing paper out early and using familiar items such as a blanket, scratching post or couch cushion to keep stress down.

If you share your home with two cats, think about travel now. For bonded cats, the Ontario SPCA says to use one large carrier so they can comfort each other; cats that are not bonded should have separate carriers, with the doors facing each other during the trip.

Dogs: routine, ID and a crate they like

Cornell's veterinary college advises microchipping your dog, updating ID tags, crate-training early with positive reinforcement and keeping the dog's routine and regular interactions going while you pack. Walks, meals and play should stay at their usual times. Pack the noisy, high-activity rooms while your dog naps or is out for a walk.

If your dog is anxious in the car or around strangers, talk to your veterinarian early. Cornell notes that anti-anxiety medication may help some dogs through a stressful transition, but only after a trial run while you are home to watch for side effects. Moving day is the wrong day to try a new drug for the first time.

Book the vet and gather records

A military family-services checklist lists the basics: a comfortable travel carrier, food and water, copies of records and proof of vaccinations, plus a check-up and any prescriptions filled. Ask about medication if your pet hates the car or gets car sick. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association says dogs and cats should be physically and mentally fit for transport, and that veterinarians have a key role in judging that. If your pet is elderly, ill or very nervous, ask the vet before a long drive.

Update microchip and ID before you move

The period right after a move is when pets are most likely to test boundaries, hide or try to head back to familiar territory, according to the BC Pet Registry. It recommends updating your pet's microchip registration with current contact details, and your new address if you already know it, before moving day.

A short ID checklist:

Check that your microchip is registered and that your phone number is current.
Put a tag with your cell number on the collar, and add the new address once you have it.
Take a clear photo of each pet on moving day, in case you need to make a lost-pet poster.
Keep vaccination and licence paperwork in a folder you carry yourself, not in a box on the truck.

Moving day: keep pets out of the way

Open doors, strangers, carried furniture and a truck ramp are the perfect recipe for a bolting pet. The BC Pet Registry recommends a quiet, secured "safe zone" with familiar bedding, toys, food and water, and a litter box for cats, at both the old and the new home. If you can, a pet sitter or a boarding facility takes your pet out of the situation entirely for the day.

A simple room plan

Choose a bathroom or small bedroom you will pack last.
Put food, water, bedding, a litter box (for cats) and a few toys inside.
Close the door and tape a sign on it: "Pet inside, please do not open."
Tell everyone helping, including the movers, which room it is.
Move the pet last, straight into the carrier or car, then close up the room.

This matters for cats especially. The Ontario SPCA recommends confining your cat in a closed room with its resources and a notice on the door. A cat that slips out of a house full of open doors in an unfamiliar neighbourhood is very hard to find.

Tell your movers about your pets

A good crew works around a shut-in pet without being told twice, but only if they know. When you book, mention the pets, which room is off limits and whether any pet will be loaded in your own vehicle. It also helps to read our guide on how to prepare for movers, since clear access to doors, elevators and parking keeps the day shorter, and a shorter day means less time for your pet in a closed room. For a rough idea of timing, see how long movers take.

Travelling safely with pets

Whether the drive is ten minutes to a new place in Langley or a few hours to the Interior, the rules are the same.

In the car

ICBC and the BC SPCA advise securing pets in the back seat or cargo area using crash-tested harnesses, seat belts or secured hard-shell crates, so they do not become projectiles in a crash. Keep animals away from airbags, never let them sit on laps and never let them roam free in a truck bed. Plan a stop every few hours so pets can have a break.

For cats, My Pet's Health says to feed at least three hours before transit and keep the cat in its carrier in a secure spot for the whole drive. Do not open the carrier in the car, even if your cat is crying.

Never leave a pet in a parked vehicle

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns against leaving pets in parked vehicles without ventilation, because temperatures inside can rise or fall quickly to levels that could cause suffering or death. A move involves lots of quick stops (a key pickup, a store run), which is exactly when people make this mistake. If you need to run an errand, leave the pet at home in its safe room or take a second adult.

Flat-faced dogs such as bulldogs and pugs need extra care. The CVMA warns that these brachycephalic breeds can overheat at temperatures as low as 21 to 22°C because they cannot cool themselves well by panting. On a warm day, move them in an air-conditioned vehicle only.

Long-distance moves

If you are moving within BC or further, plan the route around pet-friendly stops and, for overnight trips, accommodation that accepts animals. Pack a go-bag that stays with you: food, water, bowls, medications, leash, litter, waste bags, a blanket and copies of records. Our crews handle long-distance moves in BC while you travel with your pets separately; our long-distance moving page explains how that works.

Packing around pets

Pets get into boxes, chew packing paper and eat things they should not. Keep tape, bubble wrap and small items off the floor, and close packed rooms. Do not pack your pet's own things until the last day: their bed, bowls and favourite toys are the anchors of their routine.

Good box choices help too, since a box you can lift in one go is easier to carry safely around a curious animal. A guide to moving box sizes and the 40 to 50 pound packing rule is a useful way to plan how many boxes you need before the crates and carriers come out. If you would rather not do it yourself, our packing services team can pack while you focus on the animals.

Have tanks, cages and terrariums planned separately. Small animals such as rabbits, hamsters and birds should travel in their own secured enclosure, in the car with you, kept at a steady temperature and out of drafts. Aquariums have to be drained and moved in sealed containers, and the movers generally cannot move them with water in them. If you have houseplants as well, our guide to moving plants safely covers what can be toxic to pets at the new place.

Rabbit secured in travel enclosure on car seat

The first days in the new home

Pet-proof before anyone explores

The Ontario SPCA lists what to check before letting a cat explore: secure electrical cords, block gaps where a cat could escape or get trapped, check window screens, remove poisonous plants and make sure no pest-control poison traps were left behind by the previous occupants. The same checks suit dogs and rabbits. In an apartment or condo, also check balcony railings and gaps, and see our apartment moving checklist for planning building access and elevator bookings.

Start with one landing room

Set up a landing room with familiar items, the crate, food, water and a litter box. The Ontario SPCA says to open the crate and let the cat come out when it is ready, and to set up the rest of the home before letting it explore. VCA Animal Hospitals likewise recommends confining a cat to a single room for several days before allowing access to larger areas. Do not rush it.

For dogs, keep the food and schedule the same at first, as the American Kennel Club advises feeding the same food on the same schedule. Walk the dog around the yard and the block on a leash so the new smells and sounds become familiar, and expect a bit of clinginess.

Indoor time for cats

International Cat Care recommends keeping a cat indoors for at least two to three weeks after the move, keeping the old routine and offering small, frequent meals. Before outdoor access, make sure the microchip details are updated and vaccinations are current. In a new neighbourhood near busy roads or wildlife, the safest choice may be to keep your cat indoors for good, or to use a harness or an enclosed "catio".

The 3-3-3 rule

You may have heard of the 3-3-3 rule. SPCA de Montréal describes it as three days to adjust, three weeks to establish a routine and three months to adapt well, and says the process may take longer for cats, rabbits and other nervous animals. Treat it as a rough guide, not a deadline. Hiding, eating less for a day or two and some clinginess are common. If your pet is not eating or drinking, or the stress does not ease, call your vet.

Three stages of pet adjustment after moving

What we have seen on moving days

Our perspective on this topic is simple: pets are part of the household, and a calm move starts with a good plan.

We plan every job around access, timing and clear communication, and pets are a big part of that. The most common trouble we see is not an unfriendly animal. It is a door left open for a few minutes while a crew carries a sofa out, or a nervous cat that no one knew was in the bedroom. We ask about pets when we book so everyone knows which room stays shut and when. We prefer to load a home with the animal already out of the house, with a sitter, a friend or at a boarding facility, because that is easiest on the animal, the owner and the crew.

Our practical advice: pack your pet's "first night" bag last and keep it in your own car, not on the truck. Set up the landing room at the new home before you bring your pet in, even before the beds are built. And if the move is a big one, such as a condo to a house or a move from the Fraser Valley to the Interior, leave a day of buffer so your pet is not the only one rushing.

— Jack W.

Let us handle the heavy lifting while you look after your pets

Moving with animals is easier when you are not also managing a truck, a crew and a pile of boxes. We provide residential, local, long-distance and apartment and condo moves, plus packing, loading and unloading, for homes across Abbotsford, Mission, Maple Ridge and Langley. Tell us about your pets when you ask for a quote and we will plan the day around keeping them safe.

For a local move, see our local and residential moving services or request a quote on our Abbotsford movers page. If you live in Maple Ridge, our Maple Ridge movers page has the details for your area. For the bigger picture of what to do when, our house moving checklist lays out an eight-week plan.

FAQ

Should I leave my pet at home with the movers there?

Only if you cannot do anything else, and then only in a closed, quiet room with food, water, a litter box for cats and a sign on the door. The safer choice is a pet sitter, a friend's house or a boarding facility for the day, as the BC Pet Registry suggests. That removes the risk of escape and the stress of strangers in the home.

How long does it take a cat to settle into a new home?

It varies by cat. International Cat Care recommends at least two to three weeks indoors, and the 3-3-3 guideline puts full adjustment at about three months. Start the cat in one room for several days, then widen its space gradually.

How do I move a dog safely in the car?

Use a crash-tested harness attached to a seat belt or a secured hard-shell crate, in the back seat or cargo area and away from airbags. Plan a break every few hours and never leave the dog in a parked vehicle. Flat-faced breeds need extra care in warm weather.

What do I need to update when I move with a pet?

Start with the microchip registration and ID tag so your current phone number and new address are on file. Then update your vet clinic and any licence or insurance records. If you are bringing a pet into Canada from abroad, the CFIA explains the paperwork and import requirements for the animal and the situation.

Should I tell the moving company I have pets?

Yes. It lets the crew know which doors to keep closed, which room to avoid and how to plan the loading order. It also helps to share the day's plan for where your pet will be.

Sources