By The Middleman Team
Moving with pets takes a little more planning than a regular move, and getting it right makes a real difference for your dog or cat. Animals thrive on routine, so a new home can leave them anxious, confused, or looking for a way back to familiar ground. The good news is that a few smart steps ahead of time can keep your pet calm and comfortable through the whole process. We help families relocate across Pasadena, CA, and the San Gabriel Valley, and we put together these tips for moving with pets to make your transition smoother.
Key Takeaways
- Schedule a vet visit before the move to update records, refill medications, and confirm your pet's microchip and ID are current.
- Pack a dedicated pet travel kit and keep your animal secured and comfortable during the drive.
- Keep pets in a quiet, closed room on moving day so they cannot slip out an open door.
- Set up one familiar room first in your new home, then reintroduce routines to help your pet settle in.
Start With a Vet Visit and Updated Records
The first step in moving with pets is a trip to your veterinarian a couple of weeks before the move. This is the time to refill any medications, update vaccinations, and pick up a copy of your pet's health records for a new vet.
It is also smart to confirm your pet's microchip information and ID tags reflect your new address and phone number. If your pet ever gets loose during the move, current tags are the fastest way to get them home.
It is also smart to confirm your pet's microchip information and ID tags reflect your new address and phone number. If your pet ever gets loose during the move, current tags are the fastest way to get them home.
What to Handle Before the Move
- Ask your vet about options for anxiety or motion sickness if your pet does not travel often.
- Request a full copy of vaccination and medical records to hand to a new veterinarian.
- Update your pet's microchip registration and collar tags with your new address.
- Confirm rabies vaccinations are current, which California law requires for dogs four months and older.
Pack a Pet Travel Kit and Plan the Drive
A little packing goes a long way when moving with pets. Put together a travel kit with everything your animal needs within easy reach, rather than buried in a moving box.
For the drive itself, keep your pet secured in a carrier or a harness that connects to a seat belt. This keeps them from moving around the car and helps everyone stay calm on the road.
For the drive itself, keep your pet secured in a carrier or a harness that connects to a seat belt. This keeps them from moving around the car and helps everyone stay calm on the road.
What to Include in Your Pet Travel Kit
- A few days of food, along with a collapsible water bowl and bottled water.
- Medications, waste bags, a familiar blanket, and a favorite toy.
- Your pet's records, carrier, and a simple first aid kit.
- Contact details for a veterinarian near your new home, saved on your phone.
Keep Moving Day Calm
Moving day is loud, busy, and full of open doors, which is a lot for any animal to handle. The simplest fix is to give your pet a quiet room of their own while the heavy lifting happens.
Close the door, add their bed, water, and a toy, and let movers know the room is off limits. This keeps your pet from bolting after strangers or slipping outside.
Close the door, add their bed, water, and a toy, and let movers know the room is off limits. This keeps your pet from bolting after strangers or slipping outside.
How to Reduce Stress When Moving With Pets
- Set your pet up in one closed, quiet room away from the activity.
- Feed and walk them on their normal schedule as much as you can.
- Keep a leash and carrier handy in case you need to move them quickly.
- Save the items in the pet room for last when loading, and unload them first at the new place so your pet can settle with familiar items.
- You can even bring their favorite toys with you in the car, so they always have something familiar with them.
Help Your Pet Settle Into Pasadena
Once you arrive, resist the urge to give your pet the run of the house right away. Start with one room that has their familiar bed, bowls, and toys, then open up the rest of the home over a few days.
Cats often need a couple of weeks to adjust, while dogs usually settle within a week or two. Keeping feeding and walk times consistent speeds up the process.
Cats often need a couple of weeks to adjust, while dogs usually settle within a week or two. Keeping feeding and walk times consistent speeds up the process.
Settling In Around Your New Neighborhood
- License your dog through Pasadena Humane, which handles licensing for Pasadena and South Pasadena.
- Visit Alice's Dog Park at Viña Vieja Park, a fenced space with separate areas for large and small dogs, open daily except Tuesdays.
- Explore the leashed trails at Hahamongna Watershed Park at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains.
- Take walks along the Arroyo Seco and near Brookside Park by the Rose Bowl to build a new routine.
FAQs
How far ahead should I prepare when moving with pets?
Start about two weeks out with a vet visit, updated records, and a travel plan. That gives you time to refill medications and get your pet used to their carrier before moving day.
Do I need to license my dog after moving to Pasadena?
Yes. California law requires dogs four months and older to be licensed and current on rabies vaccinations, and Pasadena Humane handles licensing for Pasadena and South Pasadena. You can register and submit vaccination records through their licensing partner.
How long does it take a pet to adjust to a new home?
It varies by animal, but dogs often settle within a week or two, while cats can take a few weeks. Keeping routines steady and starting with one familiar room helps your pet feel at home faster.
Get in Touch with The Middleman Team
Moving with pets is one more reason to have a team that knows Pasadena and plans ahead. We help families find homes that fit their whole household, including the four-legged members, and we make the move as smooth as possible from start to finish.
When you are ready to buy or sell in the Pasadena area, reach out to us, The Middleman Team. We would love to help you and your pets find your next home.
When you are ready to buy or sell in the Pasadena area, reach out to us, The Middleman Team. We would love to help you and your pets find your next home.
