Moving with Pets: A Complete Guide

Moving is one of the most disruptive experiences in a person’s life. For your pets, it can be even more disorienting. Animals rely on familiar scents, established routines, and consistent environments for their sense of security. A long-distance move takes all of that away at once.

The good news is that with the right preparation, most pets handle moves remarkably well. This guide covers everything you need to know about moving with pets in Canada: vet preparation, how to keep different animals calm during the move, what Canadian regulations apply, how to handle moving day itself, and how to help your pet settle into your new home.

Planning a long-distance move across Canada? Get a free moving estimate from Great Canadian Van Lines, we move Canadians and their pets coast to coast.

Before the Move: Preparing Your Pet

Visit your veterinarian four to six weeks out

A vet visit well before moving day is the single most important preparation step, and the timing matters. Doing it four to six weeks out (rather than right before the move) gives you time to act on anything that comes up: an expired vaccine that needs a booster, a health concern you were not aware of, or a conversation about anxiety management for a particularly stress-prone animal.

At this appointment, ask your vet to:

• Update all vaccinations; particularly rabies, which is required for most interprovincial travel documentation
• Issue a health certificate if you are flying or if your move involves crossing into or out of certain provinces or territories
• Review any existing medications and ensure you have enough supply to cover the move and the first month in your new home
• Discuss whether anti-anxiety medication is appropriate for your pet’s temperament, not every animal needs it, but for highly anxious dogs and cats it can make a meaningful difference
• Update your pet’s microchip registration with your new address once you know it

Interprovincial health certificate requirements in Canada

Canada does not have a formal federal requirement for health certificates when moving pets between provinces for personal relocation. However, certain situations do require documentation:

• Flying with your pet: airlines require a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of the flight
• Moving to Prince Edward Island: PEI has specific regulations around importing animals, particularly dogs, and may require documentation, confirm with the PEI Department of Agriculture before your move
• Crossing into or out of Quebec with certain animals: Quebec has its own animal welfare regulations and may have requirements for certain species
• Moving to or from the Yukon, NWT, or Nunavut: northern territories may have specific requirements for pet import, particularly for dogs near sled dog areas
• Moving to the US: if your final destination is the United States, US Customs requires a health certificate and proof of current rabies vaccination for dogs entering from Canada

When in doubt, contact your provincial Ministry of Agriculture or your destination province’s equivalent body to confirm current requirements. Regulations change and vary, your vet will also know the current rules for your route.

Update ID and registration

Before your move, make sure your pet’s identification is current and will work in your new province. This means:

• Microchip registration: update your contact information in the national database. Some provinces also have their own pet licensing registries.
• Dog licence: most Canadian municipalities require annual dog licensing. Your current licence from your old city does not transfer. Budget for registering your dog with your new municipality within 30 to 90 days of arrival, the specific deadline and fee vary by city.
• ID tags: order new tags with your new address before you move so they are ready when you arrive, not weeks later.

Research your new area

Before you move, spend some time identifying the practical pet resources in your destination neighbourhood:

• Find a veterinary clinic near your new home and confirm they are accepting new patients. In some Canadian cities, particularly in fast-growing areas like Calgary and Halifax, new patient waitlists at established vet clinics can be long. Booking an initial appointment before or soon after arrival is worth doing.
• Check local leash laws and off-leash park locations. These vary significantly by municipality.
• If you have a breed that is subject to breed-specific legislation (BSL), confirm the rules in your destination city. Ontario’s Dog Owners Liability Act prohibits pit bull terriers province-wide. Some municipalities have additional restrictions on other breeds. Check current rules for your specific dog before you arrive.
• If you are moving to a condo or apartment, verify the building’s pet policy before signing a lease. Many buildings in Canadian cities have weight limits, breed restrictions, or limits on the number of pets.

Prepare your pet’s moving kit

Pack a dedicated bag or box for your pet’s essentials that travels with you, not on the moving truck. This should include:

• Food: at least three to five days’ worth, plus their regular food bowl
• Water and a portable bowl
• Regular medications
• Familiar bedding, a favourite blanket, or a worn piece of your clothing, familiar scents are calming
• Favourite toys
• Leash, collar, and ID tags with your current contact information
• Litter box and litter for cats
• Carrier or crate for transport
• Paper towels and cleaning supplies for accidents
• Copies of vaccination records and the vet’s health certificate if required

Keeping Your Pet Calm During the Move

Maintain routine as long as possible

Pets pick up on disruption before it happens. As boxes start appearing and furniture gets rearranged, animals read these changes as signals that something significant is coming. The most effective way to manage this is to keep their daily routine as consistent as possible for as long as possible. Feed them at the same times, walk them at the same times, and keep their sleeping area intact until the last possible moment. Routine is the primary source of security for most pets, and preserving it buffers a lot of the anxiety that comes with the visible chaos of packing.

Introduce packing early

This is one tip that consistently surprises people: bringing out moving boxes and packing materials several weeks before the move allows your pet to investigate, get used to the new smells and objects, and stop treating them as alarming novelties. Cats in particular will often claim a box as a sleeping spot within days. By the time boxes are actually being packed, they are familiar objects rather than sources of stress.

Keep their safe space intact until moving day

Even as the rest of the home is being emptied and packed, keep one room with your pet’s bed, toys, food and water bowls, and litter box set up and undisturbed for as long as possible. On moving day itself, designate that room as their base of operations, put a sign on the door asking movers to keep it closed, and check on them regularly. The goal is to give them one stable, familiar-smelling environment while everything else changes around them.

Moving day: consider boarding or a pet sitter

For dogs and cats who are particularly anxious, having someone they trust take them for the day can be significantly less stressful than being in the home while strangers carry furniture through every door. If your pet is calm and adaptable, the designated room approach works well. If they are prone to bolting, anxiety, or distress around strangers, moving day boarding is worth arranging.

Transportation: Driving vs. Flying with Pets

Driving across Canada with pets

Driving is the lower-stress option for most dogs and cats, and it is the most common choice for a domestic Canadian move. You control the pace, the stops, and the environment. Your pet is with you, which is itself calming for most animals.

For a long drive:

• Get your pet comfortable with the car well before the trip if they are not already regular travelers. Short practice drives in the weeks before the move help.
• Secure dogs with a crash-tested harness or in a secured crate. Unsecured pets are a serious safety risk in a collision and are also distracting to drive with.
• Cats travel most safely in a carrier secured with a seatbelt. A loose cat in a moving vehicle is dangerous for everyone.
• Plan rest stops every two to three hours for dogs. Use a leash every time, even in rest stop areas, unfamiliar environments cause some dogs to bolt.
• Never leave a pet in a parked car unattended in Canada. In summer, cars heat to dangerous temperatures within minutes even with windows cracked. In winter, temperatures drop just as fast. This applies year-round.
• Bring enough water for the trip and offer it at every stop. Anxiety reduces water intake, so actively offering it rather than leaving a bowl available tends to keep them better hydrated.
• If your drive will take multiple days, book pet-friendly accommodation in advance. Not all hotels accept pets and availability can be limited on popular routes.

Flying with pets in Canada

Flying is faster but more complex, particularly for larger animals. The rules vary significantly by airline, so confirm the specific policies with your carrier well in advance.

In-cabin travel is available for small cats and dogs on most Canadian airlines, typically in an airline-approved carrier that fits under the seat. There are weight and carrier dimension limits, confirm your pet qualifies before booking.

Cargo travel for larger animals is available on most major Canadian carriers but comes with important considerations. Cargo holds are temperature-controlled but not identical to cabin conditions. Most airlines have seasonal restrictions that prohibit transporting animals as cargo when temperatures at origin, destination, or any stop fall below or exceed defined thresholds. In Canada, this practically means cargo pet transport is restricted or unavailable in winter months for many routes. Check the specific temperature restrictions with your airline.

All pets flying as cargo or in-cabin require a health certificate issued within 10 days of the flight. Brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds like bulldogs, pugs, Persian cats, and similar breeds face additional restrictions or outright bans on many airlines due to breathing complications at altitude. Verify your specific breed’s status with your airline.

Tips by Pet Type

Moving with dogs

Dogs are generally resilient movers, particularly if they are well-exercised and have a secure attachment to their owner. Anxiety in dogs during moves most commonly manifests as clinginess, refusal to eat, or digestive upset rather than hiding or aggression.

• Exercise before packing begins. A tired dog is a calmer dog. Maintain their exercise routine throughout the packing and moving process, and give them a good long walk before moving day begins.
• Let them explore at the new home before settling them. When you arrive, walk them around the new property on leash before bringing them inside. This allows them to take in the new smells, establish their initial map of the space, and enter the home feeling familiar with the exterior rather than being carried into a completely unknown environment.
• Establish routine at the new home immediately. Feed them at the same times and from the same bowl in a consistent spot from day one. Walk them at the same times on the first day. The faster the routine restores, the faster they settle.
• Watch for stress behaviours. Excessive barking, destructive behaviour, house-soiling in an otherwise trained dog, or extended refusal to eat are signs your dog is struggling with the transition. Most resolve within two to four weeks as the new home becomes familiar. If they persist beyond a month, a conversation with your vet is worth having.

Moving with cats

Cats are typically harder to move than dogs because their sense of security is more strongly tied to territory than to their owner. A dog moves their home with them because home is wherever you are. A cat loses their home when they leave their territory, which means the settling-in process requires re-establishing territorial ownership of the new space.

• Confine them to one room initially. When you arrive at the new home, set up a single room with all of your cat’s essentials, and keep them there for the first several days. This gives them a manageable territory to claim before the entire house is opened to them.
• Expand access gradually. Once your cat is eating, using the litter box, and moving around their initial room comfortably, open access to one additional room at a time. Full access to the whole home can come over the first week or two. This gradual expansion mirrors how cats naturally claim new territory.
• Do not let them outside until they are settled. Cats allowed outside too soon after a move frequently try to return to their old territory, sometimes traveling significant distances. Wait at least three to four weeks, until the cat is clearly comfortable and oriented in the new home, before introducing outdoor access.
• Feliway or similar pheromone diffusers can help. Synthetic feline facial pheromone products (the best known brand is Feliway) can significantly reduce anxiety in cats during moves. Plug a diffuser in the cat’s initial room a day or two before the move and at the new home on arrival.

Moving with birds

Birds are sensitive to temperature, air quality, and stress, and are among the more delicate pets to move. The key considerations:

• Never transport birds in the moving truck. Temperature fluctuations, vibration, fumes, and noise make the moving truck genuinely dangerous for birds. Birds travel in your vehicle, in their cage covered with a light breathable cloth to reduce visual stimulation and drafts.
• Maintain temperature carefully. Birds are highly sensitive to cold and drafts. Keep the vehicle at a comfortable temperature and avoid leaving windows down at speed. Do not leave them in a parked car.
• Keep them away from fumes. Car exhaust, cleaning product fumes, new paint, and other chemical odours that humans find mild can be fatal to birds. Ensure your new home is well-ventilated before introducing your bird.
• Interprovincial bird transport. Certain bird species in Canada are subject to provincial and federal wildlife regulations. If you have exotic, wild-caught, or rare species, check the regulations for your destination province with Environment and Climate Change Canada before moving.

Moving with fish

Fish are among the most logistically challenging pets to move because they cannot be transported in their tank. For a local move, temporary transport in sealed bags or buckets with battery-powered air pumps works for several hours. For a long-distance move, the honest answer is that transporting a large aquarium and its inhabitants across the country yourself is very difficult.

• For long-distance moves, consider rehoming fish before you move. Finding good homes for your fish and establishing a new tank at your destination is often the most humane and practical option for a cross-country move. Setting up a new tank is an opportunity to start fresh.
• If you must transport fish: Use leak-proof bags or containers with secure lids, keep them in a cooler to maintain temperature stability, ensure adequate oxygen, minimize handling, and transport them in the climate-controlled vehicle cabin rather than in a truck or cargo space.
• Transporting large tanks: Empty the tank completely, remove all equipment and decorations, and pack them separately. Large glass tanks are particularly fragile under the stress of long transport and should be wrapped thoroughly and cushioned at all points of contact.

Moving with small animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters)

Small mammals are stress-sensitive and do not thermoregulate as effectively as larger animals. The main rules:

• Never transport them in the moving truck. Like birds, small mammals travel in the climate-controlled vehicle cabin.
• Maintain familiar bedding and scent. Keep used bedding in their enclosure for the move, the familiar smell is reassuring and helps reduce stress. Do not clean the entire enclosure immediately before a move.
• Minimize handling during the move. Excessive handling increases stress. Settle them in their transport carrier and leave them as undisturbed as possible during travel.
• Set up their habitat first. When you arrive at the new home, set up your small animal’s habitat before unpacking anything else. Getting them into a stable, familiar-smelling environment quickly significantly reduces transit-related stress.

Settling Into the New Home

Pet-proof before you let them explore

Before your pet has access to the full new home, do a safety walkthrough from their perspective. Check for gaps in fencing, unsecured screens and windows, visible wiring or cables they might chew, household chemicals in accessible locations, plants that are toxic to pets, and any spaces where a small animal could get stuck. A few minutes of prevention avoids the kind of emergency vet visit that tends to happen in the first week of a move.

Give it time

Most dogs settle into a new home within two to four weeks. Cats typically take three to eight weeks to feel fully at home in a new space. Small animals and birds often settle faster once their habitat is stable and the ambient noise level normalizes. Temporary changes in appetite, behaviour, or litter box habits are normal during the transition period. The most helpful thing you can do is maintain their routine, keep their familiar items around them, and give them consistent, calm attention.

The one-month mark is a reasonable point to reassess. If a dog is still showing significant anxiety signs four weeks in, or a cat has not claimed the space and is still hiding most of the time, a follow-up vet conversation is worth having. For most pets, by that point, the new place simply becomes home.

Also figuring out how to settle yourself into a new city? Read our guide on how to settle into a new home and neighbourhood, covers the timeline for adjustment, how to explore a new neighbourhood, and the practical admin tasks that need to happen when you arrive.

Moving across Canada with pets? Great Canadian Van Lines moves Canadians and their families coast to coast, get a free estimate and ask our team about pet-friendly moving day arrangements.