Moving With Pets: How to Keep Your Furry Friends Happy and Safe During the Chaos

Moving disrupts everything pets rely on: routine, familiar smells, a predictable environment. It's stressful for you, and it's stressful for them too. Here's how to plan for it, get through moving day itself, and help your pet settle into the new place without too much drama.

Planning Ahead

Start early. Let your pet get used to moving boxes, suitcases, and carriers well before the move, pairing them with treats so they read as neutral (or good) instead of alarming. Stick to normal feeding, walking, and play schedules as long as you can — consistency does a lot of the emotional heavy lifting during a chaotic stretch. Keep them physically and mentally engaged too: walks, play sessions, puzzle toys, and a few practice car rides if they're not used to travel.

It's also worth locking in pet insurance before the move if you don't already have it — a stressful transition is exactly when an unexpected vet visit tends to happen, and coverage takes that financial pressure off. Homebody's pet insurance covers everything from routine checkups to emergency care and rehabilitation, so reach out to our team if you want to get that in place before moving day.

Moving Day

Set up a quiet, secure space for your pet away from the chaos — a spare room, a bathroom, or a comfortable crate works. For small animals, birds especially, cover the cage with a light blanket to cut down on stress and temperature swings during transport.

Use a carrier or crate sized appropriately for your pet, and secure it with a seatbelt in the back seat rather than letting it slide around. Never leave a pet alone in a parked car, especially in hot or cold weather — temperatures inside a car swing much faster than most people expect.

Pack a small emergency kit: food, water, bowls, medication, a leash, waste bags, and a favorite toy or blanket, plus anything pet-specific like litter, a perch, or bedding.

Planning Ahead: Setting the Stage for a Stress-Free Move

• Settling into Your New Home
• Before your pet explores freely, check the new place for hazards: loose or exposed wires, toxic plants, cleaning supplies and chemicals within reach, and any windows or balconies that could become an escape route. Introduce them to one room first and expand their access gradually rather than opening the whole house at once.
• Surround them with familiar items — their bed, toys, blankets — and consider a calming pheromone diffuser (like Feliway for cats or Adaptil for dogs) if they seem anxious. Re-establish their normal routine as soon as you can, and once they seem comfortable, take them on short supervised walks around the new neighborhood to build familiarity.

Special Considerations by Pet Type

• Small animals (hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs) need extra hazard-proofing in a new space — block off small gaps they could squeeze into or get stuck in, and use childproof locks on cabinets containing anything harmful.
• Birds should always travel in their cage, covered to protect against drafts and temperature swings. Many states also require a health certificate for birds crossing state lines, so check with your vet or the destination state's agriculture department before you go.
• Reptiles need a humid environment during transport — a damp cloth or paper towel in their container works, checked periodically so it doesn't dry out. If you own a venomous species, don't try to handle transport logistics yourself unless you're specifically trained to do so; work with your vet, a reptile specialist, or a professional handler to move them safely.

Before You Go

A few things easy to forget in the chaos of a move: many states require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and current rabies vaccination for dogs and cats crossing state lines, not just for birds, so check your destination state's requirements ahead of time and schedule a vet visit if you're due (USDA APHIS). While you're there, ask your vet about managing anxiety during the move if your pet tends to get stressed.

Look up your new city's leash laws, licensing requirements, and any breed-specific regulations before you arrive. And update your pet's ID tags and microchip registration with your new address — it's the single biggest factor in a fast reunion if they get loose during the move.