At Moved, we believe in making moving as exciting and stress-free as possible, even your furry, four-legged friends.

Moving with an animal can at times be complicated and feel like a burden, but the key to making sure everything goes smoothly is planning. Here’s a step-by-step guide to moving with a pet:

1. Rules and Regulations

Usually, when moving, you need to bring certificates as proof that your pet has received proper inspections and vaccinations. There are a few things to keep in mind:

When moving to a new state, rules can differ, as each state has their own laws for pet owners. You should check with your states Veterinary Office or Department of Agriculture before your move. Here’s a state-by-state guide courtesy of GoodCall.
You should also be knowledgable of the Local Ordinances regarding pets in your new town or city. These include things like leash laws, licensing rules, limits on the number of pets in your household, and zoning laws that may prohibit specific animals. More than likely, everything will be fine, but it can’t hurt to contact a local official to be sure before your move.
Lastly, you should double check your Apartment or Condo Rules (if you are moving to one) to confirm that your pet is allowed in the building.

2. Transportation

There are three basic ways to transport your pet to your new home.

By Car

The most popular (and the cheapest) way to transport your pet when moving, if you are indeed driving to your new home, is by car. Although this is the easiest way to transport your pet, there are still a few things to remember:

If your pet does not normally ride in the car, you should probably take them on a few short rides prior to the date of your move just to get them used to it. An animal that is panicked on its first trip in the car could be a nightmare.
If your pet gets motion sickness, you may want to consult your vet to get them some medication to help.
Be prepared with leashes, food, bowls, towels, cages, or anything else your animal might possibly need during the trip. We’re big advocates of simplicity, but being underprepared with a pet in the car could spell disaster.
Make sure you book animal friendly lodging. Many hotels permit certain animals, like dogs and cats, to spend the night with you in your room.

By Plane

If you aren’t driving to your new home, moving your pet by plane is slightly more complicated, but still shouldn’t give you much trouble as long as you plan ahead.

Firstly, book early. Most airlines limit the number of animals they will carry per flight.
Get authorization for your pet. Some animals may be permitted to fly in the cabin of the plane (depending on pet size, cabin size, and the type of animal). Some animals, like venomous snakes or lizards, might be prohibited from flying all together. Contact your airline in advance to sort out all the details.

Label your pet carrier with the name of your animal and any other important information (his/her species, breed, necessary medical info, whether it may bite, etc.). If it may not be obvious that your pet carrier contains an animal, you definitely want to label the box as fragile and make it clear that there is a living creature inside.
Like always, be prepared. Flying can be hard enough for people, let alone animals. Sorry to be redundant, but make sure you have food, leashes, medications, or anything your animal could conceivably need.

With a professional pet shipper

Don’t want to deal with the added responsibility of moving your pet and don’t have a problem putting them in the care of someone else? Hiring a trusted professional pet shipper is a great way to transport your pet. Use this link to find a shipper through the International Pet and Animal Transport Association.

When going this route, you will still need to provide the shipper with the necessary details (age, breed, health considerations, documents, vaccination records, etc.). More information is always better than less when you’re putting the care of your beloved best friend in someone else’s hands.

3. Additional Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe

Make sure your pet has identification tags (if it’s an animal that can have a collar).
If your animal has a microchip, gather any necessary information and make sure the chip has been activated.
Always travel with a leash so you can let your pet out of it’s carrier without it running away.
Before leaving your old home, be sure to obtain your pet’s medical records from your old veterinarian so your new vet can provide your pet with the best care possible.

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Moving can be just as stressful for your pets as it is for you, and stressed out pets can be a serious hassle — leading to aggression, accidents, or even them running away.

Though they don’t know exactly what’s going on, they know something is happening: strange people are moving in and out of the house, the environment is changing radically as everything is packed up, and they can easily pick up on any stress or anxiety you are feeling.

Here are some tips to follow to keep your pets happy, calm, and well taken care of during a move.

Pre-Move

Before moving, do the following:

Get your pets groomed.
Update your pets’ vaccinations.
Make sure your pet can comfortably fit in its kennel.
To reduce stress, accidents, aggression, escape attempts, and/or excessive noise, slowly introduce your pets to their kennel in the weeks leading up to the move.
Prepare for accidents and line the kennel with towels or “puppy pads.”
Ask your vet if your pet requires any specific health certifications for travel.
If you know your pet is aggressive with strangers during traveling, consider asking your vet about mild sedative options. There are also anti-anxiety and motion sickness medications available.
If you’re moving long-distance, and will be driving multiple days, check beforehand which hotels will allow pets. Don’t trust the internet here — call the hotels for confirmation.
If you’re moving internationally, note that many countries require extra paperwork, vaccinations, etc.

If you’re going to be flying to your new home make sure to do the following:

Confirm whether or not your pet can ride in the cargo area — many can’t, including puppies, kittens, “pug-nosed” animals, and animals that are sick, in heat, pregnant, or especially weak.
Look up your airline’s policies regarding pets.
Book direct flights to reduce the risk of your pet being put on the wrong plane!

Moving Day

As a general rule, it’s a good idea on moving day to keep your pet in a quiet room, away from activity and foot traffic, to reduce stress.

If your pet is travelling with you:

Bring yummy treats, a first aid kit, and towels or puppy-pads for accidents.
Keep your pet secured. Driving with your pets loose in your car (that includes pickup truck beds!) can easily lead to injury or death, for you or your pet.
Make sure your pet has a collar with their name, ID tag, and your contact information, including your new address.
Include your pets on bathroom breaks! Keep them leashed, as the stress of a move can cause pets to run away, even if they normally don’t.
Don’t leave your pets in the car for too long, as over-heating can easily lead to injury.

If your pet will be in the cargo area of a plane, alert flight staff as you board. Flights can be scary for your pets — feel free to spoil them with some extra love before you hand them off!

Post-Move

Pets will generally be skittish after a big move; cats especially dislike change. Keep your pets in a quiet room during the hustle and bustle of moving in, and introduce your new home to them slowly.

And again, extra love and treats will go a long way!