It’s the day before the move. The boxes are stacked, the house echoes, and your cat has decided that the closet is the only safe place left on earth. Your dog is following you from room to room, watching every box like it might be a threat.
Pets don’t understand a move. They only know that their world is suddenly full of strangers, noise and open doors. That’s why moving with pets in Edmonton takes a little more planning than a normal move, especially when winter is in the picture.
Here’s the short version:
- Start two weeks before: sort the vet visit, the licence, the microchip and the pet rules at your new place.
- On moving day: keep your pet somewhere quiet and safe, away from open doors and heavy furniture.
- After the move: set up one familiar room first, and keep routines as normal as you can.
We wrote this guide with the Edmonton movers at Fast Kats Moving Edmonton, who know how to work around dogs, cats and other pets on moving day. Read on, and your pet will cope better than you expect.
Two weeks before: the pet checklist most people skip
The easy stuff, like boxes, can wait. These things can’t, because they take phone calls, forms or appointments.
1. Check the pet rules at your new place
If you’re renting or moving into a condo, read the pet policy before you sign or pack. Many buildings limit the number, size or breed of pets, and some charge a pet deposit or monthly fee. Get any approval in writing. Finding out on moving day is the worst way to learn your dog isn’t welcome.
2. Update your pet’s licence, tag and microchip
The City of Edmonton requires cats and dogs over six months old to be licensed, including indoor pets, and the fine for not having a valid licence is $250. If you move, tell the City. You can update your address online, in person or by calling 311. (City of Edmonton pet licence rules)
Also do these two things:
- Update the microchip registry with your new address and phone number.
- Order a new ID tag with your new address, and put it on before you leave the old home, not after.
A pet that slips out during a move is far more likely to come home if the tag and chip are right.
3. Visit the vet
Book a check-up and ask for:
- A copy of your pet’s records and vaccination history
- Refills on any medication, so you aren’t searching for a pharmacy on day two
- Advice on anxiety, if your pet struggles with travel. Don’t give any calming product or sedative unless your vet says it’s safe for your animal.
If you’re moving to a new part of the city, ask your vet to recommend a clinic near the new address, or transfer your records ahead of time.
4. Book your move early
The more notice you give your moving company in Edmonton, the more calmly the day goes. Tell them you have pets when you book, whether it’s one cat or a house full of animals, so the crew knows to keep doors closed and plan the loading order. If your move comes up fast, there’s help too: our last minute movers in Edmonton take calls around the clock.
5. Pack your pet’s things last, and keep the routine
Pets cope best when the daily routine barely changes. Keep feeding, walks and play at the usual times right up to the move. Pack their bowls, bed and toys last, and unpack them first. Familiar smells are the best comfort you can give.
Moving day with pets: keep them safe and out of the way
On moving day, the biggest risk to your pet isn’t stress. It’s the open door. Crews carry furniture in and out all day, and a scared dog or cat can be gone in seconds. These steps keep that from happening.
- Give your pet a safe room. Pick a bedroom or bathroom that will be emptied last. Put in food, water, a bed or blanket, a litter box if needed, and a sign on the door: “Pet inside. Please do not open.”
- Or take them out of the house altogether. A friend, a sitter or a boarding kennel for the day is often the calmest option, especially for large dogs and nervous cats.
- Exercise your dog first. A long walk before the crew arrives burns energy and makes them calmer indoors.
- Tell the crew about your pets at the start. A good crew keeps doors shut and checks before carrying anything through a room where an animal is waiting.
- Keep your pet with you, not in the truck. Pets travel in your own vehicle, in a secure carrier or with a harness and seatbelt attachment. Never leave an animal loose in the car.
- Load your pet last. Once the house is empty, collect your pet, do a final walk-through, and head to the new place.
If plans fall apart at the last minute, such as a cancelled mover or an early possession date, we’ve seen it all. Our same day movers can often fit you in, but call early, and tell us about your pets when you do.
Moving a pet in an Edmonton winter
Moving with pets in Edmonton often means doing it in the cold. Extra care is needed:
- Warm up the vehicle before you load the carrier, and keep the trip as short and direct as you can.
- Cover the carrier with a blanket, leaving some airflow, to block wind and chill between the door and the car.
- Never leave a pet in a parked vehicle, not even for a quick stop. In winter the cabin loses heat fast.
- Protect paws from ice, road salt and de-icing chemicals, and wipe them off after every walk.
- Take extra care with small dogs, short-nosed breeds, older pets and short-haired animals, which lose body heat faster than a thick-coated dog.
- Check the walkway at the new place for ice before you carry or lead your pet to the door.
Moving from a condo or apartment?
High-rise moves add elevators, loading zones and long hallways, which means more doors opening and closing. Our residential movers in Edmonton coordinate the elevator booking with your building, so your pet’s safe room stays calm and the crew works fast.
The first 48 hours in the new home
The move isn’t over when the truck leaves. The first two days decide how fast your pet settles.
- Set up one room first. Put the bed, bowls, litter box, toys and a worn T-shirt of yours in a single room, and let your pet start there. A whole new house is a lot to take in at once.
- Keep cats in that room for a few days with the door closed, then open up the house one room at a time. Hiding is normal. Don’t pull a cat out. Leave food and water nearby, and let them come to you.
- Walk your dog on a leash around the new area before any off-leash time, so they learn the smells and the route home. Check the fence and gate for gaps first.
- Keep to the old routine: same feeding times, same walk times, same bedtime.
- Stay calm. Pets read your mood. If you’re relaxed, they relax faster.
- Watch for signs of stress, such as hiding for days, refusing food, constant barking or meowing, or accidents in the house. Call your vet if it doesn’t ease after a few days.
Once things settle, explore your new neighbourhood. Look up the nearest off-leash park, a local vet and a pet supply store, and introduce your pet to neighbours on walks.
To keep the first days as simple as possible, let us do the heavy lifting. Our moving services in Edmonton include packing, unpacking and furniture reassembly, so your home is livable before your pet’s bedtime.
Moving with dogs, cats, birds, fish and other pets
Every animal needs something different. Here’s the quick guide.
| Pet | Biggest risk | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs | Bolting through open doors, anxiety | Walk first, use a leash and harness, keep an ID tag on, bring a familiar blanket |
| Cats | Hiding, escaping, stress | Use a sturdy carrier, keep them in one closed room, set up the litter box first |
| Birds | Cold drafts and sudden temperature changes | Cover the cage, travel in a warm vehicle, never leave the bird in a cold car |
| Fish | Stress and spilled tank water | Move fish in sealed containers with water from their own tank, keep them warm, and set up the tank first at the new home |
| Reptiles | Cold, which slows them down | Use a secure enclosure and a safe heat source, and ask your vet about travel |
| Small pets (rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs) | Heat, cold and noise | Use a small carrier with bedding, keep the space quiet and temperature steady |
If you have an aquarium, a large terrarium or another special setup, tell your mover when you book. Fragile and unusual items need a plan before moving day, not on it.
Moving a pet-friendly office?
More workplaces welcome dogs, and a business move disturbs them as much as a home move. If you’re relocating a shop, studio or clinic with animals on site, our office movers in Edmonton can schedule the move after hours, so your team and any four-legged colleagues aren’t underfoot while furniture and equipment are going out the door.
Why pet owners across Edmonton book Fast Kats
A move with pets goes best when the crew is calm, careful and ready for surprises. When you book local movers in Edmonton with Fast Kats Moving Edmonton, you get:
- A crew that plans around your pets. Tell us at booking, and we keep doors closed, load in the right order and work around the safe room.
- A clear written quote before we start, so there are no surprises. Curious about prices first? See how much movers cost in Edmonton.
- Trained, uniformed movers who treat your home and your belongings with care.
- A BBB accredited, 5-star rated, fully insured company with a price-match guarantee.
- Packing, unpacking and furniture reassembly to get your home back to normal fast.
We move people across Edmonton and nearby, including movers in Sherwood Park, movers in St. Albert, movers in Spruce Grove and movers in Leduc.
Moving with pets in Edmonton: your questions answered
How do I keep my dog calm during a move?
Walk your dog well before the crew arrives, keep their routine as normal as you can, and put them in a quiet room or with a sitter while the furniture goes out. Bring a familiar blanket or toy, and keep a leash and harness on hand for the trip.
How do I move a cat to a new home?
Use a sturdy carrier, and keep your cat in one closed room on moving day. At the new home, start with a single room that has the litter box, food, water and a hiding spot, and open up the rest of the house gradually over a few days.
Can movers transport my pets?
No. Pets should travel with you, in your own vehicle, in a secure carrier or a harness. Moving trucks aren’t a safe or comfortable place for animals.
Do I need to update my pet licence when I move in Edmonton?
Yes. Cats and dogs over six months old need a City of Edmonton licence, and you should tell the City when you move. You can update your details online, in person or by calling 311. Also update your pet’s microchip registration and ID tag.
Is it safe to move pets in an Edmonton winter?
Yes, with care. Warm the vehicle first, cover the carrier to block the wind, keep trips short, protect paws from ice and road salt, and never leave a pet alone in a parked vehicle.
When should I tell my moving company about my pets?
When you book. That lets the crew plan around your pet, keep doors closed and load in the right order. If your move comes up suddenly, tell us on the first call.
Ready to move? Call (780) 246-2604 or get a free written quote. Tell us about your pets, and Fast Kats Moving Edmonton will plan your move around them.
