Moving House With Pets: A Cat And Dog Moving-day Plan
Moving house with pets takes more planning than the furniture does. This guide covers moving day, the first weeks for cats and dogs, microchip updates and renting with a pet in 2026.
Why it matters
Why Moving Day Is Hard On Cats And Dogs
For a pet, moving day is strange from the first minute. Front doors stand open for hours. Strangers walk in and out carrying the sofa. Familiar rooms empty, and the smells that told your cat or dog it was home are packed into boxes. Then everything ends up somewhere new.
Moving house with pets goes best when you plan the day around them, not the other way round. That means deciding early where each animal will be, who is looking after them and how they will travel. It also means thinking about the weeks after the move, when a cat may try to find its way back to the old house.
We are CMR Relocation, a removal firm based in Broadheath, Altrincham, and we have moved homes across Trafford, South Manchester and Cheshire since 2011. Our crew sees the moving-day side of pets: the dog that slips out of an open door, the cat hiding in a wardrobe that is about to be wrapped. Darrin wrote this guide to cover that side. For animal welfare, we point you to the advice of Cats Protection, the RSPCA and GOV.UK, and to your own vet.
One rule comes first. Your pets travel with you, in your car, never in the removal vehicle.
The plan
A Room-By-Room Pet Plan For Moving Day
Pick one room that the crew will not need until the very end, such as a small bedroom or bathroom. Empty it the day before, so nothing in it needs carrying. On the morning, put your pet in there with water, food, bedding, a litter tray for a cat and a favourite toy.
Then put a sign on the door. Something simple works: "Cat inside, please keep shut." Tell the crew when they arrive. Our team will work round that room and leave it until last, once you have taken your pet out to the car.
At the new home, do it again. Set up the quiet room first, before the van is unloaded. Bring your pet in only when that room is ready, and keep the door shut until the crew has gone.
- Choose and empty a quiet room the day before
- Put a clear sign on the door and tell the crew
- Keep carriers, leads and the pet bag in your car
- Set up the quiet room first at the new address
- Check cupboards, wardrobes and boxes for hiding cats before they are closed
Open doors
Open Doors And Strangers: Keeping Pets Safe While We Load
The biggest risk on moving day is simple. A door is open, and your pet walks through it. During a move, the front door and often the back door stay open for most of the day while our crew carries furniture through the hallway. A nervous cat or an excited dog can be on the street in seconds.
That is why the shut room matters more than anything else. If you cannot spare a room, ask a friend to have your pet for the day, or book a cattery or kennels. Cats Protection suggests a cattery if your cat finds the upheaval too stressful.
Keep your pet's lead, carrier and bag in your car from the start. Once the crew has loaded the last items, take your pet to the car before you do the final walk-round. That way nobody has to remember which doors to keep shut while you check the lofts and cupboards.
Cats
Moving House With A Cat: The First Three Weeks
Cats are tied to territory, so the weeks after the move matter as much as the day itself.
Cats Protection advises keeping your cat indoors for at least three weeks after moving house. The RSPCA advises two to three weeks. Both say the same thing underneath: let your cat learn that the new home is safe before it goes outside. A cat let out too soon may try to get back to its old home, which can mean crossing busy roads.
For the journey, use a secure carrier. Cats Protection says that if your cat is prone to travel sickness, it is worth holding back food for three to four hours before the journey. Bring its bed, blankets and an unwashed piece of your clothing, so the new home smells familiar.
When it is time to go out, choose a moment just before a meal, so your cat is hungry and will come back when called. The RSPCA suggests short, supervised trips at first, and avoiding dawn and dusk when cats are most active. Sit out with your cat, then call it in for food. Build up from there.
| Question | Cats Protection | RSPCA |
|---|---|---|
| How long to keep a cat in | At least three weeks | Two to three weeks |
| First time out | Just before a mealtime, when hungry | Short, supervised sessions; call in for food |
| Before the first trip out | Familiar bed, blankets and unwashed clothing indoors | Wait until your cat's behaviour has settled |
Sources: Cats Protection's advice on moving home with your cat and the RSPCA's guidance on a good home for cats. Checked October 2026.
If you are moving only a short distance, take extra care. A cat that knows the old streets may head straight back to them. Ask the people moving into your old home to let you know if your cat appears, and do not let them feed it.
Dogs
Moving House With A Dog: Walks, Gardens And Fences
Dogs usually cope with a new house faster than cats, because their world is you more than the building. But moving day itself can still be too much. Lots of owners send their dog to a friend or to kennels for the day. If your dog stays with you, give it a long walk before the crew arrives, and keep it in the shut room or the car with you.
At the new home, walk the garden before you let your dog out. Check every fence, hedge and gate. Look for gaps at the bottom, loose panels and gates that do not latch. A garden that was fine for the last owner's dog may not hold yours.
Keep your dog away from boxes, tape and packing paper while you unpack, and keep to your normal routine as far as you can: the same meal times, the same walk times, the same bed. GOV.UK reminds owners that a dog must wear a collar and tag with your name and address in a public place, so get a new tag made before you move, not after.
Moving to the edge of the countryside, such as near Knutsford or Marple? Check for livestock in nearby fields and keep your dog on a lead until you know the paths.
Paperwork
Microchip, Vet And Pet Insurance Address Changes
Changing your address for a pet is easy to forget. Here is who to tell, and which ones are the law.
| Who to tell | Legal or optional? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Microchip database (dogs) | Legal duty | Dogs must be chipped and registered by eight weeks old; keep details up to date when you move |
| Microchip database (cats, England) | Legal duty | Cats must be chipped before 20 weeks old, with details kept up to date, since 10 June 2024 |
| Dog collar tag | Legal duty | Name and address on the tag when your dog is in a public place |
| Your vet | Optional but wise | Register with a new practice if you move away; ask for records to be sent |
| Pet insurer | Check your policy | Your address can affect your cover |
| Groomer, walker, cattery or kennels | Optional | Give them your new address and contact details |
GOV.UK says you can be fined up to £500 if your dog or cat is not microchipped when it needs to be (GOV.UK: get your dog microchipped; GOV.UK: cat microchipping now mandatory). Checked October 2026.
Update the microchip on the day you move, or the day before. A cat that wanders back to the old house is far more likely to come home if the chip shows your new address and phone number. Add it to the week-by-week jobs in our moving house checklist and who-to-tell list.
Renting with a pet
Renting With A Pet After The Renters' Rights Act
If you rent privately in England, the rules on pets changed on 1 May 2026. The government's information sheet says tenants now have the right to ask to keep a pet, and a landlord cannot unreasonably refuse. A refusal must be in writing and should give the reason.
GOV.UK guidance for landlords sets out the process. You ask in writing and describe the pet: what kind of animal, how big it is and how much room it needs. The landlord has 28 days to reply in writing. If they ask you for more information, they get the rest of the 28 days or an extra seven days, whichever is later.
The guidance gives examples of fair reasons to say no, such as another tenant's allergy, a home too small for the animal, or a ban in the lease of a leasehold flat. It says refusing because of a personal dislike of pets, or worry about future damage, would usually be unreasonable. Read the GOV.UK guidance on tenants and pets for the full detail.
So ask before you sign, or as soon as you move in. If you are leaving a rental with a pet, our guide to moving out of a rented home in 2026 covers notice and getting your deposit back. Flats bring their own rules, and our guide to lifts and building rules in apartment blocks covers those. This is general information, not legal advice.
Small pets
Rabbits, Fish And Reptiles: What Travels With You
Every animal travels with you, in your own car, whatever its size.
Small pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters should go in a secure, ventilated carrier with familiar bedding. Keep them out of direct sun and draughts, and never leave them in a parked car. Set their hutch or cage up first at the new home, in a quiet spot.
Fish, reptiles and birds have needs that vary a great deal from one species to the next. Ask your vet or a specialist how to move yours well before the day, and plan the day so the tank or vivarium is set up first.
Our crew can move the empty tank, stand, hutch or cage as part of your furniture. Tell us about them at the survey so we can pack them properly. If you are moving in the cold or the heat, our guide to the best season and week to move may help you pick a kinder date.
Getting ready
Your Pet Essentials Bag And The Week Before
- 1
Two weeks out
Book a cattery, kennels or a friend for the day. Order a new dog tag. Check vaccinations are in date for boarding.
- 2
One week out
Leave the cat carrier out so it smells normal. Tell the removal firm which room will be shut.
- 3
The day before
Empty the quiet room. Pack the pet bag: food, bowls, water, medicine, litter, bedding, toys.
- 4
Moving day
Update the microchip. Pet in the shut room, sign on the door, then into your car before the last walk-round.
Pack the pet bag the way you pack your own essentials box, which our packing tips for each room describe. If there is a gap between homes, your furniture can wait in our secure storage at Broadheath while you and your pets stay with family.
Moving house with pets is about one calm room, one clear sign and one car journey. We move family homes across Hale, Bramhall and the rest of South Manchester and Cheshire. See our house removals service, or read what customers say about our team on Trustpilot.
Planning a move with a cat or dog? Call Darrin or the team on 0161 478 3639, or email Darrin for a free quote.
Get a free quoteFAQs
Moving House With Pets: Your Questions
Still unsure about something in this guide? Darrin is happy to talk it through.
How long should I keep my cat indoors after moving house?
Cats Protection says at least three weeks. The RSPCA says two to three weeks. Both agree the aim is for your cat to see the new home as safe before it goes out, so be guided by how settled your cat is rather than the calendar alone.
Can my pet travel in the removal van?
No. Pets should travel with you in your own car, in a secure carrier or with a safe restraint, never in the back of a removal vehicle. A removal van's load area is no place for an animal, and you need to be with them.
Do I have to update my pet's microchip when I move?
Yes. GOV.UK says you are responsible for keeping your pet's microchip details up to date, for example if you move house. All dogs must be chipped and registered by eight weeks old, and in England cats must be chipped before 20 weeks old.
Can my landlord refuse my pet?
Since 1 May 2026, private tenants in England can ask in writing to keep a pet, and the landlord cannot unreasonably refuse. They have 28 days to reply in writing. Fair reasons can include another tenant's allergy, a home too small for the animal, or a ban in the building's lease.
Should I put my dog or cat in kennels or a cattery for moving day?
It is often the calmest choice. Cats Protection suggests a cattery if your cat finds the upheaval too stressful, and many owners book kennels or a friend's house for dogs. Book early, because boarding fills up, and make sure vaccinations are in date.
What should a pet's moving day bag contain?
Food, bowls, water, any medicines, lead and harness, litter tray and litter for cats, bedding that smells of home, a favourite toy, poo bags, cleaning wipes and your vet's phone number. Keep it in the car with you, not on the van.
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