How to Help Your Pet Adjust After a Move: Behavioural Disruption and Tips for Settling In
Moving to a new home is a big deal – not just for you, but for your furry best friend too. If your pet is acting out after a move, you’re not alone. Behaviour changes like anxiety, hiding, or even toileting accidents are common in cats, dogs, and small pets after a location change. In this blog, we’ll explain why your pet may be struggling, how to spot signs of stress, and simple ways to help them adjust to their new environment.
Why Moving Is Stressful For Pets
Just like people, pets thrive on routine. A move disrupts familiar sights, smells, and sounds, which can make your pet feel uncertain or even scared. This is especially true for Ragdoll cats, Cavoodles, and other sensitive breeds. Pets imprint strongly on their homes, so anything unfamiliar – from new flooring to garden smells – can trigger a behavioural reaction.
Some common stressors for pets during a move include:
- Unfamiliar environment
- Interrupted routines (feeding, walks, sleep)
- Unfamiliar sounds like nearby traffic or neighbours
- Change in their owner's behaviour – moves are stressful for humans, too!
Signs Your Pet Is Struggling After a Move
Because pets can’t tell us directly how they’re feeling, we have to pay close attention to their behaviour. Here are some signs your pet may be having a hard time adjusting:
- Hiding or avoidance: Common in cats or small pets like rabbits.
- Vocalising more than usual: Barking, meowing, or squawking can indicate distress.
- Toileting issues: Accidents in the new home may be stress-related.
- Destructive chewing or scratching: Especially for dogs left on their own during the day.
- Changes in eating, sleeping, or grooming: Could signal anxiety or depression.
Every pet is different, and some may adjust in a few days while others can take weeks depending on their temperament and past experiences.
How To Help Your Pet Settle In
Thankfully, there are practical ways to support your pet as they settle into your new place – many of which can make a big difference in their happiness (and yours too). Here’s how:
1. Create Familiar Spaces
Set up food and water bowls, beds, and litter trays in quiet corners of your new home. Familiar smells help pets feel secure, so try not to wash their bedding or blankets straight away. You can find cosy cat bedding or plush dog beds that make settling into new spots more appealing.
2. Re-establish Routine ASAP
Stick to your pet’s regular feeding and walk times as consistently as possible. Predictability can help reduce anxiety. If needed, schedule auto-delivery of food and other essentials through our handy Autodeliver service.
3. Offer Calming Support
Supplementing your pet's environment with calming essentials like pheromone diffusers, supplements, or Thundershirts can soothe stressed pets. Products designed to support dog anxiety or cat calming care may help ease your companion through this tricky transition.
4. Provide Mental Enrichment
Boredom can quickly escalate stress-related behaviours. Keep your pet’s mind engaged with interactive toys for dogs or smart toys for cats that encourage play and learning. For birds, stimulating bird toys like mirrors or hanging swings can prevent emotional droopiness.
5. Consider Nutritional and Supplement Support
Some pets benefit from dietary support during stressful periods. Foods from brands like Royal Canin and ZIWI are formulated to support overall health, including stress responses. You might also explore helpful pet supplements for digestive balance or emotional wellbeing.
A Moving Success Story Starts With You
Helping your pets feel safe and loved after a move takes time, patience, and some thoughtful tools. The good news? You don’t have to do it alone. At Petdirect, We Get Pet – and we’ve curated everything from calming aids and bedding to toys and health products that help pets thrive in any environment.
So, whether you’ve moved across the country or just down the street, we’re here to help you and your furry family settle in with comfort and care.
Need support tailoring the right transition tools for your pet? Explore our calming essentials range today, or speak with our expert team who are always happy to help!