Moving house with a cat or dog: a Bradford owner's guide

Moving house with a cat or dog takes a bit more planning than moving with boxes alone. Pets do not understand why their home is being packed up, and an open front door on moving day is a real risk. This guide covers what to do before the move, on the day and in the first few weeks, with some local tips for Bradford owners.

Before the move

Keep routines steady

Cats and dogs notice change quickly. Boxes appearing, furniture moving and people coming and going can all unsettle them. Try to keep feeding times, walks and play the same as usual in the weeks before you move.

Bring boxes into the house gradually rather than all at once. Cats often enjoy exploring empty boxes, which can help them get used to them.

Plan where your pet will be on the day

Decide early. The main options are:

• A quiet room at home. Empty one room first, put your pet in it with water, food, bedding and a litter tray, and shut the door. Put a sign on it so nobody opens it.
• A friend or family member. Ideal if your pet already knows them.
• Kennels or a cattery. Book well ahead, as good ones fill up, especially in school holidays. Most require up-to-date vaccinations.

Check the new home

If you can visit before moving day, look for gaps in fences, broken gates, open chimneys and holes under sheds. Many Bradford terraces have small back yards with low walls or open back streets, so think about where a dog could get out. If you are moving near a busy road such as Manningham Lane, Leeds Road or Canal Road, take extra care with outdoor access for cats.

Visit the vet if needed

If your pet gets very anxious travelling, talk to your vet before the move. They can advise on calming options. Ask for a copy of your pet’s records if you are changing practices.

On moving day

Removers cannot carry animals

Removal vans are not safe for pets, and no removal firm will carry live animals. That includes fish in tanks, birds in cages, reptiles and small animals in hutches. Plan to move them yourself.

For fish, ask a specialist or your local aquatic shop for advice. Tanks should be drained and moved empty, with the fish carried separately in suitable bags or containers.

Keep doors and gates shut

During a move, the front door is often open for hours. Tell everyone helping that there is a pet in the house. Put your cat in its carrier or your dog on a lead before the removal team starts carrying furniture out.

Travel safely

• Use a secure carrier for cats and small dogs, and a crate or car harness for larger dogs.
• Do not feed a big meal just before travelling.
• Bring water, a bowl, a lead, poo bags and a familiar blanket.
• Never leave a pet alone in a hot car.

On a longer move along the M62 or M1, plan stops at services where you can give a dog a short walk on a lead. Our long distance removals team can plan arrival times around your drive.

Set up one room first

At the new home, set up a quiet room before letting your pet out of the carrier. Put out their bed, bowls, toys and litter tray, then close the door while the rest of the unloading goes on.

Settling in

Moving house with a cat: keep them in

Cats bond with places as much as people. Keep your cat indoors for at least two to three weeks so it learns the new house is home. Let it explore one room at a time.

When you do let your cat out:

• choose a dry, quiet day
• go out just before a meal, so it is hungry and likely to come back
• stay in the garden with it the first few times
• gradually increase the time outside

Some cats try to return to their old home, especially after short moves across Bradford. If you have moved only a mile or two, let your new neighbours or the people at your old address know, so they can tell you if your cat turns up.

Moving house with a dog: walks and routine

Dogs settle best with structure. Keep feeding and walk times as close to your old routine as possible. Walk the streets around your new home on a lead in the first few days, so your dog learns the smells and sounds.

Check your garden boundary carefully before letting your dog off the lead outside. Stone walls on Bradford terraces can have gaps at the base, and gates onto back streets are easy to leave open.

Update microchip details and find a vet

Microchips

You are responsible for keeping your pet’s microchip details up to date when you move. In England, dogs must be microchipped and registered, and since 2024 cats must be too. GOV.UK explains the rules and lists the approved databases on its get your dog or cat microchipped page.

• contact the database your pet is registered with and update your address and phone number
• if you do not know which database, ask a vet to scan the chip and check
• update your dog’s collar tag too, as dogs must wear a tag with your name and address in public

Registering with a vet

If your old vet is now too far away, register with a practice near your new home before you need it. Ask your old practice to send your pet’s records across. This matters most for older pets or those on regular medication.

Good walks around Bradford

A new home means new walks. Some well-known places across the district:

• Lister Park, Manningham. Home to Cartwright Hall, with wide paths, a boating lake and formal gardens. Handy for anyone on the BD9 side of the city. See our Manningham page.
• Bradford Moor Park. A traditional park on the east side of the city, useful for daily walks.
• Northcliffe Woods, Shipley. Woodland paths and open fields above Shipley, good for dogs that like to explore. See our Shipley page.
• Shipley Glen. Open moorland edge and woodland near Baildon, with longer routes and views over the Aire Valley.

Keep dogs on a lead near roads, around other people’s pets and wherever signs ask you to.

Planning your move

A calm pet starts with a calm move. Our house removals service plans the day with you, so you can focus on your animals while we handle the furniture and boxes. Our guide to who to notify when moving house has a full list of addresses to update, including your vet and microchip database.

When you are ready, get a free quote or call us on 08000862860.