If you’re moving abroad with your pet, their well-being during the trip is likely to be a top priority.
While international pet relocation is completely safe, it’s a lot of change for an animal, but there are practical ways to prepare them and make the experience more comfortable.
This helpful guide on how relocation can affect pets explains how to reduce potential stress and how to help them settle into their new home.
Is Moving Abroad Stressful for Pets?
Relocating your pet overseas can be stressful for them, though every animal responds differently. Changes to their routine and surroundings, time spent alone in a travel crate and the long journey itself can all contribute to stress.
Your pet’s age, health, temperament and previous experience with travel can also affect how they cope.
What Pets Find Stressful About Moving Abroad
Flying cats and dogs to a new country is a massive change that shouldn’t be underestimated.
Pets can find different parts of an international move stressful, depending on what they’re used to and how they normally respond to change. Your pet’s age is also a big factor in how much stress they can experience, with very young or elderly animals needing the most help to settle.
The disruption can begin early in the relocation process, during packing, moving furniture and changes to feeding or walking times, which can affect the routine they’ve become familiar with.
When the travel day arrives, your pet will be exposed to surroundings and experiences that aren’t part of their everyday life, including the car journey to the airport, being in a travel crate, handling by unfamiliar people at the airport and a flight away from you. If your cat or dog is already comfortable travelling and spending time in their pet carrier, they should find this easier than one experiencing both for the first time.
Another thing to consider, is that the anxiety doesn’t always end once your pet lands in their new home country, because they’ll also need to become familiar and acclimatise with their new surroundings and reestablish a routine.
Consider their current behaviour as they prepare for pet relocation. If your cat tends to hide for hours after a visitor arrives or your dog becomes anxious on car journeys, for example, you already have useful information about the areas of the move they’ll likely find difficult, enabling you to address these with a pet transport company that can assist you with pet crate training tips to help reduce stress and anxiety during the move.
Preparing Your Pet Before Moving Abroad
The earlier you start preparing your cat or dog, the more time they have to get used to some of the big changes they’ll experience during relocation.
1. Introduce their travel crate early
Whether you’re relocating a dog or cat, don’t wait until the week of the flight to introduce their IATA compliant pet carrier, as this can be too jarring and cause unnecessary anxiety. Leave the pet travel carrier open in an accessible place where your pet feels comfortable and allow them to investigate it in their own time. Once they start spending some time inside, you can gradually introduce meals, treats and familiar bedding inside before building up to short periods with the door closed.
2. Keep their normal routine where you can
It goes without saying that moving house can get rather hectic, but try to keep the times for feeding, walks and bedtime reasonably consistent. If their environment is already changing as you pack, maintaining parts of their normal day gives them some familiarity.
3. Get them used to travelling
If your pet rarely travels by car, a long journey to the airport ideally shouldn’t be their first experience. Start with shorter journeys and gradually increase the time they spend roaming outside their usual surroundings, particularly if they’ll be travelling to the airport in their crate.
4. Help Your Pet Get Used to Handling
Your pet will likely come into contact with people they don’t know at various stages of their travels. If you know that they’re nervous around unfamiliar people and dislike being handled by them, try working on it before you travel. Take it slow and ask your vet or a qualified animal behaviourist for advice if handling causes significant anxiety.
5. Speak to your vet about existing anxiety
Tell your vet if your cat or dog already struggles with travelling due to unfamiliar environments and separation. They can advise you on managing their anxiety as safely and naturally as possible and discuss any concerns that could affect their journey.
6. Plan in advance for travel day
Check feeding and hydration guidance with your pet relocation company, airline and vet beforehand so you know what your pet will need on the day. Give yourself plenty of time to reach the airport too. A rushed departure is the last thing you need when you’re already trying to keep an anxious pet settled.
7. Speak to a pet relocation company early
Contact a pet relocation company as early as possible, particularly if this is the first time you’ve moved abroad with a dog or cat. These professionals can talk you through what the pet transport journey will involve, as well as help you choose a suitable travel crate and advise you on preparing your pet for the flight.
Helping Your Pet Adjust to Moving Abroad
Moving pets abroad can be stressful for them, but as you can see, preparation can make a difference.
Letting them get used to their travel crate early, while maintaining familiar routines where possible and carefully planning the journey, can reduce some of the anxiety-inducing disruption involved.
Once you’ve arrived, give your cat or dog time to explore their new home and settle back into a set routine.
Remember, some pets will adjust quickly, while others may need a little longer. It just depends on their temperament.
But if you notice ongoing changes in your pet’s appetite, behaviour or general well-being after the move, speak to a vet for advice as soon as possible.
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