Moving from one home to another can be just as stressful for pets as it is for people. But there are ways to reduce the amount of stress your pet or pets go through, and the American Moving and Storage Association has a list of tips to make the move smoother for household animals:
- Cats often become frightened and might try to run away, so keep your pets on a leash when outside and make sure they wear a special identification tag with their name, your name and where you can be reached.
- Cats cannot be shipped on moving vans and, except service animals, pets aren’t allowed on buses or trains. Consider sending smaller pets by air express.
- If your move is across state lines, call or write to the State Veterinarian, State Department of Animal Husbandry or other appropriate authority. Many states require a rabies vaccine for cats. Hawaii requires cats to be quarantined for 120 days.
- Some cats must have an entry permit issued by the destination state’s regulatory agency. A few have border inspection of all animals being transported; others have random inspections. Local communities have pet control and licensing ordinances. In some cases, the number of pets is limited.
For more tips on how to plan your move, choose a mover and avoid falling victim to scam movers, consult the American Moving and Storage Association website.
Additional information is available at the U.S. Department of Transportation website.