Moving house is one of life's more stressful events — even for the people who chose to do it. For our pets, who had no say in the matter and rely entirely on routine and familiar smells for their sense of security, it can be genuinely disorienting.
Cats in particular are territorial animals for whom home is defined by scent markers and known territory, not by the people they live with. Moving removes all of that overnight. Dogs are more people-focused, but they're still routine-driven, and a new environment disrupts the predictable pattern of their day.
The good news is that with a few deliberate steps, most pets settle into a new home comfortably within two to four weeks, and some adjust much faster than that.
Before the Move: Preparation Helps
If possible, keep your pet's routine as stable as possible in the days leading up to the move. Boxes and packing activity create an unsettled atmosphere, and some pets — particularly cats — begin showing anxiety before moving day itself.
Don't wash your pet's bedding, blankets, or favourite toys in the week before the move. Familiar scents are a primary source of security for both cats and dogs. You want these items to arrive at the new home smelling like your current home.
Moving Day: Keep Pets Out of the Chaos
Moving day itself, with doors constantly opening, strangers coming and going, and furniture being moved, is high-stress for most animals. If possible, arrange for your pet to spend the day at a friend's house, a trusted pet sitter, or a familiar boarding facility.
If this isn't feasible, designate one quiet room in the old house as a pet-safe zone before the movers arrive. Put their bed, water, litter box or training pad, and a piece of your worn clothing in the room and keep the door closed throughout the move.
Arriving at the New Home: Cats
For cats, the most effective settling strategy is the 'one room method.' Confine your cat to a single room in the new home initially — a bathroom or bedroom works well. Furnish it with their litter box, food and water bowls, their bed, and familiar-smelling items. Let them explore and claim this small territory before opening up the rest of the house.
After two to three days, or when your cat is showing calm, confident behaviour in the base room, open the door and let them explore the rest of the home at their own pace. Don't carry or force them into other rooms — let discovery happen on their terms.
A common mistake is opening the whole house immediately. An overwhelmed cat will typically hide, refuse to eat, and take much longer to settle than one who was given a small, secure starting space.
Arriving at the New Home: Dogs
Dogs generally adapt faster to new environments than cats, but routine disruption still affects them. Walk your dog around the perimeter of the new property before bringing them inside if possible — scent-marking their new territory gives them a sense of ownership immediately.
Inside, show them their key spots: bed, water bowl, feeding station. Keep these in similar relative positions to where they were in the old home if you can — near the kitchen, near the door, to maintain the spatial familiarity they're used to.
Maintain Routine Above Everything Else
In a new environment, routine is the most powerful settling tool you have. Feed at the same times as before. Walk at the same times. Give attention and play at the same times. The content of the routine — what they eat, where they walk — matters less than the timing.
This is where an automatic feeder is genuinely valuable during a move. The PetNex Automatic Pet Feeder maintains your pet's exact feeding schedule regardless of how chaotic moving day has been. Even if unpacking runs late or the day is disorganised, your pet's meals arrive on time and in familiar portions.
Ready to find the right one? Browse the PetNex Smart Feeder range at petnex.com.au — with options from $156 to $225, there is a feeder suited to every pet and lifestyle.
Signs Your Pet Is Settling Well
• Eating normally within the first few days
• Using the litter box or training pad consistently (cats and dogs)
• Sleeping in their usual spot or a new spot of their choosing
• Showing interest in play or interaction
• Beginning to explore the home with confidence
Signs Your Pet May Need More Support
• Refusing food for more than 48 hours
• Hiding continuously without emerging for food, water, or toileting
• Sustained vocalisation or whining over several days
• Toileting accidents in a previously toilet-trained animal
If you're concerned about prolonged anxiety symptoms, a conversation with your vet is worthwhile. There are safe, short-term calming options that can ease the transition — synthetic pheromone diffusers for cats and anxiety supplements for dogs are commonly used during moves.
"In the first week in a new home, schedule extra play sessions with your cat or dog. Physical and mental engagement burns off anxiety energy and builds positive associations with the new environment faster than time alone does."
Moving house with a pet takes a little extra thought, but a settled, comfortable animal in a new home is entirely achievable with the right approach — and usually happens faster than owners expect.