There are a lot of things you have to remember when you are moving house. But what about the small members of your family? Rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, even snakes, fish and tarantulas are all valuable parts of your family, and it’s important to include them in your plans.
So what do you need to keep in mind while planning a move with small pets? Following on from our top tips on moving with a dog and cat, here are some ideas to help your small pets stay relaxed and happy when you move house.
Make sure you have the correct carrier
Small pets can cover a variety of species as we just saw earlier. Moving a guinea pig and rabbit is not going to be the same as moving your pet snake so make sure you have thought about how they are going to travel before the day comes. It can be helpful to speak to your vet or experts for advice on what would be the best way to transport your small pet. Rabbits and guinea pigs will be comfortable in a small pet, or cat, carrier. Fish will need a travelling bag and polystyrene box to travel in, which you can find at most aquatic suppliers. Hamsters will need a small travelling cage with metal bars that will stop them from trying to escape. Make sure that they have somewhere to hide, such as a pile of hay or shredded paper so they can hide when they are scared.
Add familiar things to the carrier
Even small pets will have favourite things from their environment that make them happy. That could be fake plants or a specific type of treat. You can also get them to spend a couple of hours in the carrier in the weeks before our move to get them used to the environment.
Keep the temperature consistent
Smaller animals really suffer when the temperature fluctuates, getting hot or cold very easily. Keep the carrier away from sunlight where they can overheat and the temperature of the vehicle not too hot or cold. Covering with a cotton cloth can also keep the travellers cool while you are in the car. Making sure they have water so they can drink when they need it is also important. Don’t leave them in the car on their own for more than a few minutes.
Keep their new space quiet
The moving process can feel quite traumatic for small pets, so having an area that is quiet can go a long way to helping their anxiety to subside quickly. If you have a lot of coming and going over the first few days, try to find a place in the house that is out of the way where they can acclimatise and you don’t have to worry about them.
Keep to a similar routine
Small animals also benefit from routine. It helps them feel secure and safe, so try to keep things as familiar as possible when you are settling into your new home. Keep feeding times as normal, keep something that smells of home close by to help them feel relaxed and not too stressed. If you notice some differences in behaviour the first few weeks, try not to worry and just stick to your routine, they will get back to normal.
Give them lots of attention
Showing your small friends some love and attention can help them to associate the new space with happy things, and they soon will be acting like nothing has happened!
Here at Headington Carriers we can help take the stress out of your move by catering for all of your removal needs. If you would like more information about our services feel free to contact us on: +44 (0)1993 811 276 or (0)1865 311 000 / enquiries@headingtoncarriers.co.uk