Moving House With Pets: Cats, Dogs and Settling In
Moving house with pets is one of the parts of a move that is easy to leave until last and then wish you had planned. Animals read the boxes, the upheaval and the open doors as a threat, and a frightened cat or dog is a bolting risk on the busiest day of your year. A little preparation keeps them safe, keeps you calm, and gets them settled into the new home far faster. Here is how to do it, from the weeks before to the first nights in the new place.
Whether you are moving across Brighton or right across Sussex, the animal side of the move follows the same order: prepare early, keep them secure and calm on the day, and settle them slowly afterwards. Fit it into your wider moving house checklist so nothing gets forgotten in the rush.
Before the move: the groundwork
Good pet moves are won in the fortnight beforehand, not on the day.
- Update the microchip and ID tag. In England all dogs, and since 10 June 2024 all cats, must be microchipped, and the law requires you to keep the registered details current. Update your new address and phone number on the database, and put a tag with your new address and phone number on your dog's collar. The government's guidance on microchipping explains the rules.
- Register with a new vet if you are moving out of the area, and ask your current practice to transfer the records.
- Keep the carrier out and open for a week or two beforehand with a blanket and treats inside, so on the day it is a familiar space rather than a trap.
- Do not wash their bedding just before the move. Familiar smells are reassuring, so pack the unwashed bed and favourite toys and unpack them first at the other end.
Moving day: keep them safe and out of the way
The day itself is when pets are most at risk, because doors stand open and strangers carry boxes in and out. The single best move is to keep the animal away from all of it.
- Cats: shut your cat in one empty, quiet room with food, water, a litter tray and its bed, and put a clear note on the door so removers keep it closed. Better still, board it at a cattery for the day.
- Dogs: a day at a trusted friend's house, a daycare or kennels keeps a dog calm and safe. If it stays with you, keep it on a lead or in a secure room and take it for a long walk first to burn off nervous energy.
- Move the pet last and unload it first, so it spends the least possible time in the chaos.
Remember that removal companies will not carry live animals in the van, so plan to take pets yourself in the car, in a secure carrier or with a proper dog guard or harness.
The journey
Keep car journeys calm. Line the carrier or boot with the unwashed bedding, do not feed a big meal right before setting off, and for a longer drive plan a break where a dog can stretch its legs on a lead. Never leave an animal alone in a warm car. A pheromone spray such as Feliway for cats or Adaptil for dogs, used in the carrier, can take the edge off the stress for anxious animals.
Settling in at the new home
The new house smells wrong to a pet, so let them claim it slowly.
- Set up a base room first with their bed, bowls, litter tray and toys, and let them come out to explore the rest of the house in their own time.
- Keep cats indoors for at least two to three weeks so they bond with the new territory before you let them out. When you do, let them out just before a meal so hunger brings them home, and keep the first outings short.
- Keep dog routines steady: same feeding times, same walk length, plenty of reassurance. Familiar structure is what tells a dog the world is safe again.
- Check the garden for gaps in fencing, ponds and anything toxic before you let a pet loose in it.
Give it time. Most dogs settle within a week or two and most cats within a month. If your move is part of a bigger relocation, our guide on who to notify when you move covers the admin side so you can focus on the family, four legs included.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I move house with a cat?
On moving day keep your cat in one quiet, closed room with food, water and a litter tray, or book it into a cattery for the day so it cannot slip out while doors are open. Move it last, in a secure carrier, and set up the same quiet room at the new home. Keep the cat indoors for at least two to three weeks so it bonds with the new territory before you let it out, and update its microchip details straight away.
Do I legally have to update my pet's microchip when I move?
Yes. In England all dogs and, since 10 June 2024, all cats must be microchipped, and the law requires the keeper to keep the registered contact details up to date. When you move you must update your address and phone number on the microchip database, or you can be fined. It is also the single thing most likely to reunite you with a pet that bolts during the upheaval of a move.
How long does it take a pet to settle after moving?
Most dogs settle within a few days to a couple of weeks once their routine of walks, feeding and sleep returns to normal. Cats are more territorial and often take two to four weeks, which is why you keep them indoors at first. Keep feeding times, bedding and toys the same as before, give them a calm space, and let them explore at their own pace rather than forcing it.
Should I move my pet myself or use a service?
For cats, dogs and other small animals it is almost always best to move them yourself in your own car, in a secure carrier, so they stay with someone they trust. Removal firms will not transport live animals in the van. For a long-distance or international move, or for horses and other large animals, a specialist pet transport company is the safer option.