How to keep pets secured and ID'd during the move
To keep pets safe on moving day, put them in a quiet room with the door shut, or at a friend's house or boarding, while doors stand open. Before the move, put your new details on the tag and microchip. At the new house, check for hazards and start pets in one closed room.
Why it takes a plan to keep pets safe on moving day
A scared cat doesn't need much of a gap. On moving day, the door may stand open for hours, strangers walk through and familiar furniture vanishes. If a pet gets out at the new address, it doesn't know the street, and it may not recognize home.
The risk isn't over when the truck leaves. The ASPCA warns against letting pets roam the new house right away, because they need time to adjust. Previous owners may also have left hazards behind, and a dog or cat will find them before you do.
How to keep pets safe on moving day, start to finish
Think of this as three short phases.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Weeks before | Leave the carrier or crate open with food and a familiar blanket inside. Try short drives. Bring boxes in early so nervous pets get used to them. Update the tag and chip |
| Moving day | Keep pets in a closed quiet room or at a friend's house. Keep meals and walks on the normal schedule as much as you can. Pack that room last |
| First days | Start in one home base room with bowls, toys and a litter box. Open other rooms gradually. Move the litter box toward its final spot about one foot a day |
A closed door only works if everybody respects it. Tape a sign on it that says do not open, tell the crew leader and give one person the job of checking on the animals. If you're moving out and in on the same day, that person also handles the handoff to the car, with the pet in a carrier or on a leash before any outside door opens.
Pack a bag that stays with the pet. Ready.gov's pet kit is a good model:
- A several-day supply of food and water, plus bowls.
- Medications and copies of records in a waterproof container.
- A spare leash, collar and ID tag.
- A photo of you with your pet, to help prove ownership.
- Familiar toys, treats or bedding.
Before pets go loose, walk the new house at their height. The ASPCA list covers hidden electrical cords, small spaces where a pet could get stuck, loose window screens, poisonous houseplants and leftover pest-control traps. Outside, check for fence gaps and gates that don't latch, and look over the garage and shed for chemicals left behind.
If you think your pet swallowed something harmful, call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435. It's open around the clock, and a fee may apply.
Moving with a cat or dog, step by step
- Update the tag and microchip
Do this before moving day. Add your new address and phone number, plus an emergency contact outside your immediate area.
- Get pets used to the carrier
Start weeks ahead if you can, with food in an open crate, then short trips around the house and block.
- Decide where pets will spend the day
Choose a closed quiet room, a friend's house or a boarding facility. Book early if you need boarding.
- Post a do-not-open sign
Tape it to the door and tell the crew. Name one adult as the only person who opens it.
- Save a 24-hour emergency vet
Find the closest one near the new address, and add ASPCA Animal Poison Control to your phone.
- Check the new yard and house
Look for fence gaps, gates that don't latch, loose screens, leftover chemicals and poison traps before pets arrive.
- Set up one home base room
Put in food, water, toys and a litter box for cats. Keep other doors closed at first.
- Open the house slowly
Give access to more rooms once your pet seems comfortable, and keep outside doors closed during deliveries.
Moving with pets when you also have kids
Kids are the likeliest people to open the pet room door, usually to check on a friend they love. Give children a job: drawing the sign, packing the toy bag, or visiting the room only with an adult. Talk through the rule the night before.
If you have more than one pet, the ASPCA's single home base idea still works, but you may need a separate room or carrier for each. Ready.gov suggests one carrier per pet if you can manage it.
For dogs, walk the neighborhood on a leash before you trust a fence. The ASPCA suggests watching for aggressive or unattended dogs. Cats that are used to going outside should stay inside until they've fully settled in the new home.
Pets on moving day: common questions
Where should my pet be on moving day?
The ASPCA suggests a quiet room with the door shut, or a friend's house. Boarding is another option if your pet handles it well. Either way, keep them away from open doors.
How long should I keep my cat in one room after moving?
There's no fixed number of days. The ASPCA says to start in one home base room and open up other rooms gradually once your pet seems comfortable.
What if my pet gets out at the new house?
Call your microchip registry and local shelter right away, and let neighbors know. Check that the chip record shows your new phone number, because a registry can only reach you through the details it has.
General guidance for U.S. homes, not professional advice. For gas, electrical and structural work, call a licensed pro.