Moving with pets isn’t just packing an extra bag of kibble and hoping for the best.
To your cat or dog, all those boxes and unfamiliar smells = alien invasion.
But don’t worry — we’ve got the step-by-step guide to help you move your furry (or feathered, or scaly) friends without the drama. And if you’re in Spokane, you’ll want movers who’ve seen it all — like the team at Spokane Moving Services.
🐶 Step 1: Prepare Them — Emotionally and Logistically
Yes, pets have feelings too. Even that lizard who looks permanently unimpressed.
Here’s what to do:
- Start packing gradually. Sudden chaos = anxious pets.
- Keep their routine intact. Same walks, same meals, same cuddle time.
- Introduce the carrier early. Don’t wait until moving day. Let them sniff, nap in, and bribe them with treats inside it.
🧠 Pro tip: Spray some calming pheromones (like Feliway or Adaptil) on blankets or carriers. Works like furry magic.
🏡 Step 2: Create a “Pet Safe Zone” on Moving Day
Movers, noise, doors opening — it’s a flight risk festival.
Your mission:
- Set up one room as a “safe zone” — quiet, familiar, door closed.
- Include: bed, toys, food, water, litter box (for cats), and zero surprises.
- Tape a sign on the door: “Do Not Open – Animal Inside”
✅ Moving with Spokane Moving Services? Tell them upfront you’ve got pets — their crew is trained to keep paws safe and doors shut.
🚗 Step 3: The Actual Move — Travel Smart
Whether you’re going across town or across the state:
- Use a secure carrier/crate. Seatbelts are for humans — crates are for critters.
- Bring the essentials:
💊 Meds
🥣 Food & water
🧻 Cleanup supplies (accidents happen)
🐾 A familiar blanket or toy
🚫 No free-roaming pets in the car. That includes cats, ferrets, and that one escape-artist rabbit.
🏠 Step 4: Arrival at the New Place
Unfamiliar smells + echoey rooms = stress central.
Ease them in:
- Unpack their stuff first — bed, toys, bowls.
- Keep them in one quiet room at first (especially cats).
- Reintroduce the rest of the home slowly, one room at a time.
- Keep routines strict for the first week (feeding, walking, playing).
🧹 Pro tip: Double-check for hazards in the new space — loose wires, open windows, or strange holes that only your pet can find.
🐕 Bonus: What About Exotic Pets?
- Fish: Move last, keep water temperature stable, don’t shake the tank like a snow globe.
- Birds: Secure cage, cover it partially, and keep them calm.
- Reptiles: Heat packs, travel carriers, and don’t forget the UV lamps when you arrive.
🤝 Final Word: Move the Pet, Not the Panic
Your pet doesn’t know what “we’re moving for more space” means.
They just see strangers, boxes, and open doors — aka pure stress.
That’s why who you hire matters.
When you book with Spokane Moving Services, you’re not just getting a truck and muscle — you’re getting a crew that actually understands the chaos and helps minimize it. For you and your four-legged roommates.
🐾 Want an easier move — tails included?
Trust the local pros who’ll treat your pets (and your furniture) with respect.
📦 Spokane Moving Services — moving made easy. Even with cats.
