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Copyright (c) 2012 Max Stern
Moving is said to be one of the most stressful life events that someone can experience. Often we presume our pets are oblivious to what's happening in our lives, and are unaware of our moods and emotions, but this is not true. Our pets are very much in tune with how we're feeling, as our emotions and hormones are interrelated. Animals identify our mood by sensing scent changes that take place within our hormones, and these hormonal changes alter our emotions. Another way they're able to identify our mood is by studying our facial expressions and vocal tone. Have you noticed that pets look into your eyes when you're communicating with them? "The eyes are the window to the soul" and our eyes, facial expressions, hormonal changes and tone, allows them to gather information about what we want from them and how we're feeling.
Animals sense the stress we experience when moving and this creates uneasiness within our pets. Animals (just like people) are prone to feel a little insecure when changes take place and they (like us), start relying on survival techniques (get away from the commotion) when their world has been interrupted. Because cats are naturally very territorial, they will take being disheveled a lot more dramatically, than people and dogs. Luckily dogs are easier to manage and can be kept within the residence, however, cats are notorious for being professional escape artists and setting boundaries for them, is not an easy task. They are free spirited and detest being cooped up for any measure of time, especially when it's not on their terms and house arrest was not part of their agenda for the day.
The last thing you want to do is to add to the stress of moving by losing sight of your animals, so it's very important to keep them (especially cats) in an escape proof, cool or warm (depending on the climate), quite area with food, lots of fresh water (stress causes dehydration) and a litter tray - 24 hours before you're going to move them. From my own personal experience, a cat going missing right before you're due to leave for the airport - is not an event I'd like to repeat. Remember that they see the removal truck, the boxes and the dishevel belongings of their owners, as well as hearing the sounds of moving furniture and taping up boxes and these are foreign, unsettling, scary and loud sounds that resonates throughout the house. Now turn those sounds up a couple of notches (as they hear a lot better than what we do) - and you'll have some idea of how frightening the experience of moving can be for them.
Great! Now that your pets are safe and hopefully feeling secure, the trick is not to disturb them too often and when checking up on them, open the door with great caution as their main focus at this time will be to escape. There might be a bit of meowing and whining from time to time, but it's normal as they want to be in your company, so put some time aside to play with them and consol them. You'll be grateful when you wake up in the morning and don't have to stress about searching for your cats and dogs just before they need to be moved. Take the cat carriers and dog leashes into the room and make sure their traveling gear is secure before taking them out of the room or the enclosed area.
Now that you've reached your destination, it's important to note the following:
Before releasing your dogs onto the new property, make sure there are no gaps in the properties surrounding walls or fencing in which they would be able to fit through or leap over and thus, run away. Also check for dangerous objects that could cause injury in any way and either remove or stabilize these objects. Allow your dog's the freedom and space to explore, roam and mark the new territory - they probably won't eat for awhile, due to excitement, but do make sure water and food is easily accessible. When the removal truck arrives you may need to put them somewhere safe while the gate is open and the heavy furniture is being off loaded - dogs have a tendency of tripping people up and this is the last thing you need when you're carrying you're prized Great Grandmothers antique vase.
Because cats are incredibly territorial, they are prone to run away when moved to a different home. The reason for this is that they will attempt to get back to their previous home and eventually end up lost, homeless or even dead if they're not found. Therefore, it is crucial that they are kept in one place (like you did 24 hours before the move) for at least two weeks after the move, and then slowly introduce them to the rest of the new home, garden etc. This process may be a little trying on your patience, but if you treasure your cat(s) and her safety, then it will be well-worth the effort. Placing their blankets, beds and toys around them, will also help with the transition as they will smell familiar scents on these items and feel more relaxed and less stressed. During this time of slow introduction, cats develop a mental mind map of the area and after two weeks they would have claimed the new home as their newly found territory and the desire to protect their new territory will become their main objective.
Being a strategist has opened many doors for me. It is a career I thoroughly enjoy and one which I devote much of my time to helping clients improve their strategies and acquire the success they deserve. Take a look at the link to my Google+ page to learn more about me:
https://plus.google.com/109162115772824651229/about?rel=author
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