Here’s how to keep your pets safe, calm, and comfortable during your move:

1. Start Preparing Early

Pets quickly pick up on routine changes. If you’re slowly packing or rearranging furniture, they’re already noticing. Start by keeping their routines (feeding, walks, playtime) as normal as possible while prepping your home. If your pet gets anxious when seeing suitcases or boxes, begin exposing them to these objects in a low-stress way, like placing treats or toys nearby.

Also, make sure your pet’s microchip information, ID tags, and veterinary records are up to date before the move. If you’re relocating to a new area, research local vets and pet emergency clinics in advance.

2. Pack a “Pet Essentials” Bag

Just like you’ll want a go-bag with snacks and phone chargers, your pet needs one too. Pack a small bag with:

• Food and water
• Bowls
• Medications
• Leash and waste bags
• Favorite toys or blankets
• Litter box or puppy pads (if applicable)

Having their familiar items on hand will offer comfort during the move and the first couple of nights in your new home.

3. Plan for Moving Day Chaos

Moving day is hectic. Doors are open, people are in and out, and it’s easy for pets to slip away or get underfoot. To keep them safe:

• Consider boarding: For a stress-free experience, take your pet to a trusted daycare, groomer, or friend’s house for the day.
• Designate a quiet room: If boarding isn’t an option, keep pets in a quiet room with a closed door, food, water, and their favorite items. Post a sign on the door so movers know not to disturb them.

4. Transporting Your Pet Safely

Whether you’re driving across town or the country, safety comes first. Pets should never ride loose in a moving vehicle. Use a secure crate, pet seat belt, or travel carrier suited to their size.

On longer trips, plan regular breaks for water, bathroom needs, and a little exercise. Never leave pets in a parked car, especially during warmer months, as temperatures can rise dangerously fast.

5. Settling into the New Home

Once you arrive with reliable movers like Big John’s Moving, give your pet time to adjust. Start by setting up a quiet area with familiar items from your old home. Keep routines steady—walks at the same time, meals in the same bowl, playtime on schedule. Gradually allow them to explore their new space under supervision.

It may take days or even weeks for your pet to feel fully at home, and that’s okay. Be patient, keep things predictable, and offer lots of positive attention.

6. Watch for Stress Signals

Pets can’t tell you with words when they’re stressed, but they show it in other ways. Look out for:

• Hiding or withdrawal
• Excessive barking or meowing
• Pacing or restlessness
• Accidents in the house (especially with cats or dogs)

If these behaviors persist, consult a veterinarian or a pet behaviorist. Sometimes, a little professional help can ease the transition.

Keep Tails Wagging

Moving with pets adds an extra layer of planning, but it’s worth every minute. With a bit of preparation and a lot of love, your pets will be wagging their tails, purring in corners, or perching happily in your new place in no time. After all, home isn’t just a place—it’s where your whole pack belongs.

The post Moving with Pets: How to Keep Tails Wagging appeared first on Big John's Moving Inc. NYC.

Pre-Move Resolutions

Moving Resolution 1: Make a checklist/schedule for your move.

There are obviously many things that need to be done before you and your family can move from your current home into a new one. Not only do you need to pack or get rid of every item in your current home you may also need to perform other tasks. Some non-packing, pre-move tasks may include buying packing supplies, booking movers, filling prescriptions, switching doctors, finding baby/pet sitters, and more. You should make a resolution to put all of your pre-move errands onto a single list, with set deadlines to make your move go smoothly.

Moving Resolution 2: Declutter your home before moving day.

Decluttering is a New Year’s resolution that many people struggle to fulfill every year, but moving allows you to achieve it. There is no reason to use precious time and money transporting the possessions you do not want or need. Take this opportunity to sell, donate, give away, and throw out any unwanted items that will make your move easier.

Moving Resolution 3: Learn how to pack correctly.

If you commit to learning how to pack correctly, you will protect your possessions and make unpacking less stress-inducing. Some rules for correct packing include putting heavier items at the bottom of boxes, not leaving empty spaces in boxes, using detailed labels, properly taping boxes closed, and not packing items from different rooms in the same box.

Moving Resolution 4: Start packing early and do a little bit each day.

If you make and keep a resolution to start packing early, and gradually, it will save you a lot of stress. It is a lot easier and less stressful to pack up your home, and accomplish all of your other pre-move tasks over a month than it is to do so in just a few days. You will be very happy you made this resolution when moving day finally arrives. 

Resolutions For Moving Day

Moving Resolution 5: Make sure your kids and pets are prepared for moving day.

Moving can be stressful for anyone, but it can be particularly hard on children and pets. You should make a resolution committing yourself to giving your kids and pets extra love and attention during the packing process, on moving day, and in your new home. Both kids and pets also benefit from their routines being maintained before, during, and after the move as much as possible. 

Moving Resolution 6: Have an essentials bag. 

Another potential moving resolution you can attempt to achieve is to create an “essentials bag” and add any items you may need during or immediately after the move. Items to put in an essentials bag include daily medications, a change of clothes, toiletries, pet supplies, your child’s favorite toy, phone chargers, and other similar items.

Moving Resolution 7: Take a family photo in your old home and your new one. 

While this resolution is not necessary to have a stress-free move, it can be fun and meaningful. You may have had some great memories in your old home, and you may want to look back on your last days there at some point in the future. On the other hand, you may want to look back on your first day in your new home. Commemorating your move with family photos is just a good way to mark the occasion. 

Resolutions For After The Move

Moving Resolution 8: Create an effective unpacking system.

Creating an effective unpacking system will make the process of getting settled in your new home much easier. Unpack your boxes methodically, in order of importance to you and your family. It can make sense to start with your essentials bag and then move on to the kitchen, bedrooms, bathroom, living areas, and finally the garage/attic.

Moving Resolution 9. Keep in touch with friends and family.

Moving can be emotionally difficult, especially if you are moving far away from friends or family. It is emotionally and psychologically beneficial to keep in touch with friends and family, no matter how far away they live. Thanks to the internet, maintaining long-distance connections is easier than ever. Take advantage of this technology and stay in touch with the people that matter to you, whether you are just moving to a new neighborhood or across the country.

Moving Resolution 10: Make an effort to meet your new neighbors.

While maintaining social relationships after a move is important, it is also important to make an effort to meet your new neighbors. When people move, they can often feel socially isolated. To combat social isolation, you should make an effort to introduce yourself to your new neighbors. 

Moving Resolution 11: Explore your new neighborhood.

The world is an interesting place and you are getting the chance to live in and explore a new slice of it. Make a resolution pledging to take advantage of this opportunity. Walk around your new neighborhood to get the lay of the land. Take note of nearby restaurants, stores, parks, and other points of interest.

The Most Important Moving New Year’s Resolution

The most important of all potential moving resolutions is promising yourself that you will call Big John’s Moving to assist you with your move. Big John’s Moving offers professional moving and storage solutions for residential and commercial customers throughout New York City. Fulfill this resolution and call us today!

The post Moving Resolutions for the New Year appeared first on Big John's Moving Inc. NYC.

Pre-Move Preparation

Pack gradually

Start leaving boxes and packing supplies around your old home weeks before the move and start gradually packing your possessions. Gradual changes to your pet’s environment will be less stressful than sudden changes. At first, your pet may be curious or nervous about packing supplies but over time they will get used to their presence. 

Maintain your pet’s routine 

Feed, walk, and play with your pet at the same times as usual. Dogs, cats, and other pets are creatures of habit and sudden changes to their schedule can cause unnecessary stress.

Give your pet more attention

Moving even under the best circumstances is stressful for animals so it is important to give them more attention than usual. For instance, take your dog for a longer walk to tire them out and burn off some of their anxious energy. 

Set aside quiet space for them

Consider setting aside some small portion of your home for your pet and keeping it clear of the clutter and chaos that will consume the rest of your home as you are packing your belongings.

Contact your veterinarian

Call your veterinarian and ask them what stress-relieving techniques and supplements they recommend. If you are moving far from your current home and are switching veterinarians schedule a last appointment to make sure your pet is healthy and up to date on vaccinations. You should also refill any prescriptions for your pets and request a copy of your their medical files. 

Acclimate your pet to their travel accommodations 

If your pet is not used to long car rides or being confined to a pet carrier get them ready by taking them on practice drives. You can also use positive reinforcement methods like treats and toys to get your pet to have a positive reaction to their carrier and the car.

Never abandon your pet

You should never under any circumstances leave your pet behind or release them into the wild. If you are for any reason unable to take your pets with you to your new home it is your responsibility to find them a home or surrender them to a shelter. Abandoning your pet on the street can result in their death. Abandoning your pets is illegal and immoral.

Moving Day

Pack an emergency bag for your pet

The night before you move pack a bag with your pet’s essentials including food, medicine, water bowls, kitty litter, poopie bags, treats, grooming tools, and any other supplies they may need during the move or immediately after arrival at your new home.

Keep your pet away from the action

On moving day it is best to keep your pet away from the chaos. Consider having the animal stay in one quiet room with the door closed or even in a kennel or friend’s house until it is time for you and your family to leave. Be sure to keep your pet somewhere that is secure, so they do not run away. Check on them regularly. 

Take your pet in the vehicle with you

When moving with pets, always take them to their new home with you in your vehicle. The safest place for your pet is to be secured in their carrier, in the backseat of your car. Make sure there are no loose bags or boxes that can fall on them. You can also put a blanket over their carrier to reduce stress during the move.

Fish, birds, reptiles, and rodents.

Fish are particularly vulnerable to stress and moving can be dangerous for them. Fish can be transported for short distances using plastic bags filled with their old aquarium water. However, if you are moving a long distance (like to a new town, city, or state) you may want to consider rehoming your fish, to avoid accidentally killing them. Birds and rodents can be moved in their usual home containers but these containers should be covered to regulate temperature and reduce stress. Reptiles should be transported in an insulated box with plenty of air holes and a damp cloth inside for moisture. All of these animals should be transported safely by buckling them in the backseat of your vehicle, just like a dog or cat.

Make sure you have pet-friendly accommodations 

If you are traveling a long distance and will need to stay in a hotel overnight, make sure to find a pet-friendly hotel ahead of time along your route.  

Pets In Your New Home

Pet-proof your new home

Do not just release your pet into your new home. First, make sure the house is safe by ensuring that all doors, windows, vents, balconies, toilets, and backyard fences are secure. You should also search the home and remove rodenticides, poisonous houseplants, and any other pet dangers that may have been left behind by the previous residents. 

Introduce pets to the new home slowly

Get your pet used to your new home gradually by starting them off in a single quiet room, and gradually expanding the areas of the house to which they have access over time as you unpack.

Update their tags

Update the collar tags and microchips of your dogs and cats with your new address and contact information as soon as possible after a move (if not shortly before it). Ten million pets go missing in the USA every year, please make sure your pet is prepared.

Reestablish routine

Reestablish a predictable routine for your pet as soon as possible by walking, feeding, grooming, and playing with them at set times of day preferably the same times they were used to at your old house.

Big John’s Moving Makes Moving With Pets Easy

Moving with pets can make the process more of a hassle but with these tips, you and your pets can have a much more enjoyable moving experience. If you are planning a move in the near future please contact Big John’s Moving so that we can help you plan a stress-free move for you and your pets. 

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