All those months of hard work finally paid off. The overseas removals services have been fully served, and your stuff has arrived at the new house. You are more than ready to unpack your belongings and arrange them according to your plans. Everyone in your family is itching to make the house a home.

But wait, another family member may not be as enthusiastic as everyone else. Being unfamiliar with the new surroundings, your pooch or kitty may not be as excited as the human members are. Remember that he just had some sort of traumatic experience; just imagine being placed in an unknown place all of a sudden.

Worse, a stressed dog or cat can really be a burden to family members. Many homeowners I know recall what they had to go through as their pets yowl, howl, bark, and run around for a few weeks before they finally adjusted to the new place. I even recalled one owner who had to call his sister at his home country to send some pet Valium to calm down his agitated Himalayan dog.

Being hyperactive is not the only symptom of a stressed furry friend. A calm cat, dog, ferret, or bird may seem fine, but they are actually stressed. Take for example a friend of mine who recently moved to another country. Their pet Labrador, who was supposedly jolly and active, suddenly went sullen and withdrawn when they moved to their new place. My friend thought their pet was just fine until they realized that the Labrador was not eating at all! Thankfully, a veterinarian fixed the problem.

You need to help your pet adjust after all those overseas removals. I would like to suggest a few tips that can help your furry friend through the transition. In time, they will be happy that they moved, just like the rest of your family.

1. Gradually introduce your pet to your new home. A good way to do this is to place his litter box, bed, and food bowl in one or two rooms. Increase the number of his “room stays” slowly, maybe one room every couple of days. The aim here is to give your pet time to become accustomed to the sights, sounds, and smells of your new home.

2. Put something familiar for them around the house. Place his favorite blanket, pillow, or toy at the place where he will sleep and around the house. These familiar objects will help him adjust to the house.

3. At night, make sure that you close the doors and windows in your home so he can’t get out to unfamiliar territory. Check your house for any crawl spaces or holes where your furry friend can crawl under to escape. If he escapes, he may get into more trouble in an unfamiliar, scary place.

4. Let your pet explore the property. Your pet’s adventurous spirit will come out sooner or later. So let him be if he wants to go under the bed or romp around in the bushes in your garden. It’s just his way of making himself feel at home.

5. A few weeks after moving house, take your pet outside for a walk around the neighbourhood. Let him befriend neighbours and their pets.

Click here for more details about overseas removals and tips about taking your pets to your new home.