As winter begins to settle in cities across the U.S., we’ve taken the time to explore how these frozen conditions might impact your moving experience. For instance, icy walkways can prove challenging for moving larger objects, while the weather can be generally uncomfortable for long periods of packing or rearranging items.
Still, there is one important wintertime consideration that often gets ignored: What to do with your pets during this moving period. Cats or dogs too are impacted by chilly weather, and they need your help in staying warm and toasty.
Here are four handy pointers to keep in mind:
“During a move, keep your cat or dog someplace warm and noise-free.”
1. Keep it quiet
During any move, it’s a good idea to keep your cat or dog in a nice, quiet part of the home. That way, they’re not in the way of the move and they’re less likely to feel stressed out over all the activity. Given the dip in temperatures, you may want to provide them with blankets or even a space heater to ensure they stay extra warm. Just be sure to check on them occasionally to feed them or let them relieve themselves.
2. Opt for coats
Dogs and cats alike may have heavy fur coats, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get cold. If you live in an especially frigid part of the country, you might want to purchase some winter clothes for your beloved pet. This is especially true for smaller dogs, who often have issues with retaining enough body heat to keep warm. In addition to coats or sweaters, there are booties available to protect the dogs’ paws. Just don’t let your pet wear their clothes indoors, as this just acclimates their body and prevents the sweater from being truly effective.
3. On hitting the road
When it comes time to hit the road, you always want to keep your pet in the car with the rest of the family. But you may want to place them in some kind of travel kennel; not only will this keep them surrounded by warm blankets, but it also helps de-stress the animal during long car rides. Be sure you’ve packed a travel bag for your animal, and that it contains essential items like food and water, a few toys and cleaning wipes. It’s also a good idea to bring along the animal’s records and ID tags in case anyone gets separated at some point.
4. Finding the right kennel
Having a kennel or similar enclosure for your animal is a good idea. But there are a few things to keep in mind when buying said kennel. The most important is size: You need something that is big enough to let the animal sit or lay down, but won’t be too big to result in a loss of body heat. The kennel should also have racks for food and water, which ensures the pet stays fed during an extended move and has the energy to stay warm.
As with any move, the proper support can ensure a safe and prosperous experience for your entire family, including those with four legs. If you’re already a AAA member, you may want to consider going through Atlas Van Lines. Not only will you save several hundred dollars on state-to-state moves, but you’ll get award-winning service to boot.
Atlas Van Lines is a AAA Discounts & Rewards partner.
