Moving home with pets

Moving can be stressful and there are many things to plan, prepare for and consider. In the hustle and bustle that comes with moving day, don't forget about your pets and what they may need. Remember, they feel stress differently than we do, and may react unexpectedly.

Keep your pets safe. If at all possible, try to remove your pet from your home on moving day. If you can, leave them with a friend, relative or even a cattery/kennel or your vet. This helps them because they're away from the stress, noise and movement of your home on moving day. If you can't leave them elsewhere, put them in a room where there's nothing to be moved, and tell everyone involved with your move and in the house not to open the door to this room. Ideally, put a sign on the door and, if you can, lock it.

Moving with Pets Britannia Bradshaws

Keep it stress-free

Moving can be a stressful event for humans, but pets tend to become very stressed when it comes to moving day.

Ideally, have your pet stay with a friend or relative during the removals process. If you can't, consider booking them into a kennel or cattery for the night. A last resort is to close them into a quiet room with the windows shut, and mark the door clearly with signs indicating pets are inside, do not open.

Have a tag made with your new contact information to be put on their collar on moving day. Make sure your pets are microchipped, and don't forget to update the details on their chip as soon as you move.

Pack your pet's toys, bedding and other equipment at the last moment so that they are comforted by the presence of familiar things. Also, don't wash pet bedding until a couple of weeks after the move, so that they will have something familiar smelling in the new house.

Some people have had success with Adaptil for dogs and Feliway for cats, which are intended to reduce the stress hormones in your animals. Talk to your vet about these options.

Call Us:  Manchester: 0161 877 5555  Birmingham: 0121 504 0966 orGet a Quote

Moving with Pets Britannia Bradshaws

Chance to adjust

Cats should always be transported in a safe container to ensure they don't escape and get lost either at your old home or your new home.

If your cat normally goes outside, keep them indoors for two to three weeks in your new home, to give them a chance to adjust to the new environment and so they don't try to return to your old house.

After the move take your dog for a walk straight away. Help your dog to become well-known in your new neighbourhood and let it smell around and mark its territory.

Fish are particularly sensitive to changes in their environment and stress easily. Make sure you position the aquarium in a suitable spot in your new home before unpacking your fish.

Moving with Pets Britannia Bradshaws

Call Us:  Manchester: 0161 877 5555  Birmingham: 0121 504 0966 orGet a Quote

Moving with Pets Britannia Bradshaws

Avoid chaos

No matter how smooth your move goes, it will feel like chaos to your pet. Some of our top tips for moving day:

  • Remind the removals crew that you have pets when they arrive
  • Tell the removals crew where your pets are located -and ask they can keep an eye out for any unexpected escapes
  • Make sure your pets are in their designated place before the removals team arrives, as unfamiliar people may scare the pets
  • Don't forget to put a bowl of water and some food in your pet's safe designated spot before the removals team arrives
  • If you have cats, be sure to put a litter box in their safe designated spot before the crew arrives
  • For dogs, it may be helpful to put puppy training pads down in their safe designated spot, in case they need to go when the team is in the house
  • If possible, secure your pets in a safe spot inside your new home before the removals crew arrives at your old home
  • You may want to consider keeping your pets inside a carrier or a cage in their secure spot during the move
  • Talk to your vet about anxious pets, as they may be able to offer medication or advice to keep your pet calm during the moving process
  • Update your pet's microchip information
  • Make sure your mobile number is on any tags your pets wear, or write your mobile number on their collar in non-water-soluble ink
  • Once in your new home, don't let your pets out without being on a leash
  • In your new home, if your cats go outdoors, keep them inside for a few weeks until they know where home is and don't try to return to your old home
  • Stay with your pet during their first look around your new home, to reassure them and to ensure they don't get into any dangerous spots or items

Call Us:  Manchester: 0161 877 5555  Birmingham: 0121 504 0966 orGet a Quote

Moving with Pets Britannia Bradshaws

Additional sources of advice for moving home with pets

Additional advice on moving with cats

Additional advice on moving with dogs

Advice on moving overseas with your pets

Moving with Pets Britannia Bradshaws

Meet our movers

Call Us:  Manchester: 0161 877 5555  Birmingham: 0121 504 0966 orLet Us Call You Back

Removal quote appointment booking service

Britannia Bradshaw can help your move go smoothly. Contact us for a free, no obligation quote, or by calling 0161 877 5555 (Manchester) or 0121 504 0966 (Birmingham & Coventry) and speak with one of our removals specialists.

How are our appointments carried out

In the current times you might prefer that we don't visit your house in person to carry out a survey. This is fully understandable and we can just as easily undertake the survey by video call, using whatever method you're comfortable with, usually FaceTime or WhatsApp.

See what our customers think of us...

Perfection in planning and execution.

Why did you choose to get a quote from us and where did you get our contact details?
Membership of BAR

How would you rate the way we dealt with your initial enquiry?
10/10

How would you rate the survey that we carried out?
10/10

Why did you choose to move/store with us?
M Wilks,(assessor) was clearly an expert, personable, efficient, charming, honest and straightforward. In short no flannel. He was clearly a man to be trusted.

How would you rate your move team?
10/10

Would you like to tell us anything about your move team?
R and K were a delight, a pair of hard working, good guys. They clearly knew what they were doing in loading and unloading. In every respect they were cognisant of how to minimise the stress in moving. Rating, first class.

How would you rate our communication?
10/10

How can we improve our service?
Try as I might, being a hyper critical chap, I cannot think of any way you could improve at all.

How likely are you to recommend us to your friends / family?
10/10

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your move?
It was perfection in planning and execution.

Edward Coke

Polite and pleasant

Why did you choose to get a quote from us and where did you get our contact details?
Diane came round to quote and she gave us confidence in your company. We got you off the Web.

How would you rate the way we dealt with your initial enquiry?
10/10

How would you rate the survey that we carried out?
10/10

Why did you choose to move/store with us?
Because of the professional way Diane behaved.

How would you rate your move team?
10/10

Would you like to tell us anything about your move team?
Polite and pleasant

How would you rate our communication?
10/10

How can we improve our service?
We can't think of anything!

How likely are you to recommend us to your friends / family?
10/10

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your move?
Can you improve the weather?!                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                   

Georgina Collingwood

Enormous thanks for providing such a professional and competent service.

Why did you choose to get a quote from us and where did you get our contact details?
Diocese of Birmingham recommended list of firms to contact.

How would you rate the way we dealt with your initial enquiry?
10/10

How would you rate the survey that we carried out?
10/10

Why did you choose to move/store with us?
Your willingness to be flexible and accommodate our desire (at a cheaper rate) to move in stages with a smaller van.

How would you rate your move team?
10/10

Would you like to tell us anything about your move team?
Absolutely first rate. Hard working, cheerful, thoughtful, diligent, hardly put a foot wrong and very quick to acknowledge small issues that did come up.

How would you rate our communication?
10/10

How can we improve our service?
Nothing I can think of!

How likely are you to recommend us to your friends / family?
10/10

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your move?
Enormous thanks for providing such a professional and competent service.

Charlie Butler

Quick, efficient, clean and careful

Why did you choose to get a quote from us and where did you get our contact details?
Previous experience

How would you rate the way we dealt with your initial enquiry?
10/10

How would you rate the survey that we carried out?
10/10

Why did you choose to move/store with us?
You provided a prompt quote and were able to accommodate us on the dates we wanted

How would you rate your move team?
10/10

Would you like to tell us anything about your move team?
Quick, efficient, clean and careful and they were polite and pleasant

How would you rate our communication?
10/10

How can we improve our service?
I have no suggestion to make.

How likely are you to recommend us to your friends / family?
10/10

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your move?
Never again but that has nothing to do with your team

Vincent Verzijl

UK Quote

Complete the form below to get your UK Removals quotation

Date Details

Moving Details

Contact Details

European Removals Quote Request

Complete the form below to get your European Removals quotation

Date Details

Moving Details

Contact Details

International Removals Quote Request

Complete the form below to get your International Removals quotation

Date Details

Moving Details

Contact Details

Call Me Back

Complete the form below and we'll call you back to discuss your requirements

Your Details

Self Storage

Complete the form below to get your Self Storage quotation

Storage Details

Additional Information

Contact Details

UK Price Guide

Complete the form below to get a Price Guide sent to you

Please note: Our Price Guide tool is intended for moves within the UK Mainland only. If you're moving to or from the UK mainland please speak to one of our friendly team who will be able to provide you with a bespoke quote.

Moving From

Moving To

Moving Details

Your Details

Please note: Our Price Guide tool is intended for moves within the UK Mainland only.

Call Us:  Manchester: 0161 877 5555  Birmingham: 0121 504 0966 orLet Us Call You Back

© Britannia Bradshaw Removals & Storage 2024. Registered in England 00719614 Bradshaw International is a trading name of John Bradshaw and Son Limited An indicoll website
Privacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclaimerAccessibility