Moving to a new home — an apartment or a house — can be a fun and exciting journey for you. It also can be stressful to plan, especially when you have pets to consider. If you don’t know where to start, moving with pets can be difficult, but the Moving Help® Marketplace will provide you with 20 tips — 10 tips for dogs and 10 tips for cats — when moving across the country with pets.
We want to help you make the transition as smooth as possible for your furry companions. This is why we will give you valuable insights for navigating this process successfully.
10 Tips for Moving with Cats
Moving can be stressful for a cat, who are creatures of habit, and some cats in particular are sensitive to changes in their environment. Here are 10 tips to ensure your cat has a smooth transition.
1. Visit Your Vet
The first step you’ll want to complete is to visit your vet. You’ll want to make sure your cat is up to date on all your felines’ vaccinations. Additionally, your veterinary clinic can see whether your cat is well enough to handle a move.

This also is your opportunity to ask your vet any questions you have about moving with cats. If you’re moving to a new city or state and need a new vet, ask your current vet whether they have any recommendations for you.
2. Update Identification
If you know your new address, you should update your cat’s tags and microchip information. If you don’t know your new address yet, you should pick an address — a family or friend’s home — that you trust where you could pick up your cat in case, they get lost.
You should double check your contact information is accurate as well.
3. Maintain Routine for Cats
When moving with cats, you should maintain a consistent/similar routine. You should still feed, give treats, and/or walk your cats at the same time. While you’re busy packing, you should encourage your cat to play with the moving boxes, so they don’t increase their stress or anxiety levels. You also can hire packing help from the Moving Help Marketplace while you just play with your cat during that same time.
4. Find Cat-Friendly Accommodations
If your move requires overnight stops, make sure your hotel has cat-friendly accommodation. Some places say their hotel is pet-friendly, but they only mean dog-friendly, so make sure you read the fine print carefully before booking.
5. Prepare a Cat Kit
When moving with a cat, you’ll want a bag or box to keep all your cat’s essentials in one easy-to-reach area during your move. The essentials should include:
- Food
- Water
- Treats
- Toys
- Bowls
- Bedding
- Medications
- Leash and harness

All these belongings should be easy to access in your vehicle. That way, if you need something quickly, you’ll be able to find it easily.
6. Secure a Comfortable Carrier
Depending on your cats and their ability to travel, you’ll want to get them comfortable with a carrier. Ideally, it should be large enough for them to stand, move around, and lie down. When moving with a cat, safety is paramount. This will keep your cat safe during your travels. Finally, if your cat isn’t used to a cat carrier, practice and encourage them to use it prior to moving, so they’re comfortable and happy to use it.

7. Set Up a Litterbox Space
Like people, eventually your cats will need to use the restroom. You’ll want to create a litterbox space in your car for your cats to do their business. It’ll also help give your cat some familiarity with the litterbox being in a new environment with them.
8. Prevent Bolting — Leash and Harness
For this tip, you’ll need to use your best judgment. Animals can get stressed and feel anxiety while moving. Even if they’re used to car rides, you never know what a cat may or may not do. The last thing you want is to open your car door, and your cat bolts out the door.
Not only is it dangerous for them, but something could happen to them when they escape.
This is why we recommend a leash and harness, so they’re less likely to escape. We understand most cats don’t wear a leash and harness, which is why we recommend using your best judgment in preventing your cat from bolting from your vehicle.
9. Introduce One Room at a Time
The best advice we’ve heard is to pick one room in your new home and to let your new cat explore that one room first before introducing the rest of the house.
Just make sure your cats can’t hide anywhere in that room. This will help the cats be open to the new house and explore their surroundings.
Never force your cats out of their cat carrier. If your cat prefers to explore the whole home first vs. just one room, you should do that. You know your cats best.

9. Introduce One Room at a Time
The best advice we’ve heard is to pick one room in your new home and to let your new cat explore that one room first before introducing the rest of the house. Just make sure your cats can’t hide anywhere in that room. This will help the cats be open to the new house and explore their surroundings.
Never force your cats out of their cat carrier. If your cat prefers to explore the whole home first vs. just one room, you should do that. You know your cats best.
10. Keep Home Safe
Whether your cats are indoor cats, indoor and outdoor cats, or outdoor cats, you should make sure your new home is a safe environment. Sometimes an outdoor cat’s instinct is to find their old neighborhood. By keeping your new home as a safe, warm, welcoming, and friendly environment, they’ll recognize to come back to their new home.
These 10 best practices will ensure moving with pets is a less stressful and an easier transition for you and your cat.
10 Tips for Moving with Dogs
When it comes to moving with dogs, it can be an exciting yet challenging experience. Here are 10 tips to make the move easier for your canine companion.
1. Visit Your Vet
Before traveling on your new adventure, you must visit your vet first. Your vet can perform a wellness check to make sure your dog is well enough for a move. The vet also will confirm all vaccination records are up to date. They also can provide any medications you need for your dogs.

If you have any questions about moving with a dog, your veterinary clinic can answer them for you. Are you moving to a new city or state and need a new vet? Ask your vet whether they have any recommendations for your new location.
2. Update Identification
You’ll want to update your dog’s tag and microchip information, especially if you know your new address. Otherwise, pick an address where you can easily pick up your dog in case, they get lost. Your contact information should be accurate too — so double check it.
3. Pack Familiar Items
You’ll want to pack all your dog’s familiar items together. This can include:
- Food
- Water
- Treats
- Bowls
- Toys
- Bedding
- Medication
- Leash and harness
You should have quick and easy access to these belongings in case you need to get them swiftly or in an emergency.

4. Use a Safe Transport Method
When moving with dogs, some dogs may prefer a dog kennel or carrier, and other dogs may prefer a car seat. This will prevent them from roaming and keep them from getting anxious. If you do use a doggy car seat, you may consider using the back seat for safety concerns, but if your dog is a puppy or anxious, the front passenger seat might be best.
5. Maintain Routine
You should keep to the same daily routine even when moving with a dog. Your dog should have the same feeding, watering, walking, and playing routines as much as possible. You also should leave treats around your packing supplies such as moving boxes, packing tape, or packing labels to encourage dogs to not be afraid around moving supplies. This will help reduce a dog’s stress.
6. Find Dog-Friendly Accommodations
Does your move require overnight stops? Ensure you find and book dog-friendly hotels. The last thing you want to happen after a long day of driving is to find out your hotel doesn’t have dog-friendly accommodation.
7. Research Dog-Friendly Areas
Dogs love to explore, so it’s a good idea to find dog parks ahead of time. If you have a dog-friendly neighborhood, it’ll be easier to find and use dog-friendly walking paths. If your dog enjoys hiking or trails, this will help your dog find themselves more comfortable in their new environment.

8. Feed a Smaller Meal Before Traveling
To avoid digestive issues, you should feed your dogs smaller meals prior to traveling.
This will help prevent your dogs from getting an upset stomach, especially if they get car sick easily.
This also may help avoid less accidents while driving as well.
9. Take Regular Breaks
You should make sure you take regular breaks for you and your dog. It’ll be great when moving across the country with pets to take multiple breaks because you and your dog can stretch your legs, use the restroom, eat some snacks, and drink water.
This will prevent restlessness and promote some exercise for your dog.
10. Allow Exploration
Depending on your dog, we recommend letting them explore the whole house — just make sure they can’t find any great hiding spots. Dogs love to explore and check all the rooms.
Of course, if your dog would do better seeing one room at a time in a new environment, you should do that. You’ll need to use your best judgment since you know your dogs’ behaviors best.
These 10 best practices will ensure moving with pets is a less stressful and an easier transition for you and your dog.
Moving With Pets Is Possible
Moving with pets across the country — for a military move or personal move — involves plenty of planning and preparation to ensure a stress-free experience for you and your furry friends.
For cats, create a safe and comfortable environment during the journey. For dogs, make sure you create a positive experience with plenty of treats and toys for them during the car ride adventure.
The Moving Help Marketplace is here to assist you with all your moving labor needs. You can use Moving Help for loading and unloading help, or you can see the other moving labor services our Service Providers offer to customers.