Moving house and travelling with a pet: doing it calmly

For an animal, a move or a trip means losing every point of reference at once: smells, sounds, routes, routine. Preparation is not about avoiding that but about making the change gradual and keeping as much of the familiar as possible.

The carrier: start weeks before the trip

The most common mistake is getting the carrier out only for vet visits. The animal then reasonably concludes it predicts trouble and starts hiding the moment it appears.

1. 1Leave the carrier in the room with its door open, and leave it there for weeks.
2. 2Put familiar bedding with the home smell inside.
3. 3Toss treats in, feed next to it, then inside it.
4. 4Once the animal goes in on its own, start closing the door briefly, then lifting the carrier, then carrying it outside for a few minutes.
5. 5The goal: the carrier becomes a resting place rather than a trap.

In the car

• A cat travels only in a securely fixed carrier. A loose cat in the cabin is dangerous for everyone.
• A dog goes in a carrier, a crate, or a car harness attached to the seatbelt. Do not hold a dog on your lap and do not let it hang out of the window.
• Avoid a large meal 3–4 hours before the trip to reduce nausea.
• Stops every 2–3 hours: water, a toilet break for the dog, a short pause.
• Never let an animal out of the car without a lead or carrier, not even for a second. An unfamiliar place plus stress is the most common way pets get lost while travelling.

Moving to a new home

The hardest day is not the move itself but packing day: strangers, boxes, noise, doors left open.

1. 1During loading, shut the animal in one empty room with water, a litter tray and a "do not open" note on the door. Or take it to friends for the day.
2. 2Bring the animal into the new flat last, once the furniture is in place.
3. 3Give it one room with its own things and keep the rest of the flat closed. Expand the space gradually over several days.
4. 4Do not wash old beds, toys or scratching posts before the move. Their smell is the most valuable thing in the house right now.
5. 5Keep the feeding and walking schedule exactly as it was.

Before any journey: identification

• An ID tag with a current phone number.
• A microchip — and, crucially, current details in the registry. A chip registered to an old number does nothing.
• A recent photo of the animal on your phone.
• If you are going away for a while, a temporary tag with a local contact number.

Travelling abroad

Requirements depend on the country and change over time, so the only reliable advice is to check the current rules in advance on the destination country's official resources and with your vet. The usual set includes a microchip, rabies vaccination, a required waiting period after it, a pet passport and paperwork from the state veterinary service. Some steps have strict timing, so start at least a few months ahead.

If the animal stays at home

For most cats, staying home with someone visiting is far less stressful than travelling. What to arrange:

• Written instructions: food and portions, medication, habits, your vet's contact.
• A surplus of food and litter.
• Your authorisation for the clinic to treat the animal in your absence, and an agreement about payment.
• For a dog, a foster carer present around the clock beats twice-daily visits.