Moving house with your cat or dog

Moving is tiring for us, and even more so for our pets. Doors open all day, movers, boxes and loud noises frighten cats and dogs, and many escape on moving day or in the first days in the new home. A little planning prevents that.

One or two weeks before

• Decide where your pet will be on the day: a closed room at home, with someone it knows, or boarding booked early. For boarding, make sure its vaccines are up to date.
• Get it used to the carrier: leave it open in its room with a blanket and a treat inside.
• Set up a pet room: bed, litter box, food and water, and start feeding it there.
• Update its details: your phone number on the collar, and the microchip details if it has one. See microchipping your pet.
• Dogs: the licence comes from the Veterinary Directorate for where you live. If you're moving to another area or governorate, ask the directorate whether you need to update the address.

Moving day

• Shut your pet in its room early, and put a sign on the door: "Don't open, cat inside".
• A light meal, fresh water and a clean litter box.
• Move it last, in its carrier, in your own car, not the removal van. See travelling with your pet in Egypt.
• In summer, travel early or late, and never leave it alone in the car.

At the new home

• Take it straight to one quiet room with its things and the smell of the old home: its blanket, toys, and a T-shirt you've worn.
• Keep the door shut until the movers have gone.
• Before opening up the house: check windows and balconies have netting, and there are no gaps or loose cables.
• Let it explore room by room over a few days.

Cats that go outdoors

If your cat is used to going out, keep it indoors for at least 3 weeks so it learns this is home. The first time, let it out shortly before a meal, and only for a short while.

Dogs

• Keep the same times for walks and meals.
• Walk the new street on the leash and let it sniff and learn the area.
• Don't leave it alone for long in the first days.