Our 1,600 mile adventure with Misty and Ginger
We recently moved from Oregon to Texas. Three adults, two cars, a dachshund, and a cat. The trip was long and tiring for everyone, especially our pets.
Packing before moving with pets
If you are a pet parent, you know that dogs and cats can sense when something big is happening. Large cardboard boxes, crinkly packing paper, or even just a suitcase lying open on the bed are cause for concern. At first, the boxes are toys to hide in and the paper is great for jumping on, but as more and more things get moved around and packed, insecurity sets in. Both of our pets became more clingy than usual, following us around and rubbing against our legs (Misty).
Moving day and your pets
Ginger, my brother’s dachshund, started out excited to be taken for a ride. She jumped around and wagged her tail. But every time we went back to rearrange things in the cars, she sat by the front door of the empty house and wanted in.
Misty, my 14-year-old cat, was not happy about her ride in the car. She sat on top of the backseat boxes and breathed through her mouth; fangs extended. Every time we took her to or from the car, I had to play whack-a-mole to get her in her carrier. The car is now covered in fur.
Staying in hotels while moving with pets
Our first two nights we had to pay for two hotels because the first hotel neglected to mention that ‘pet friendly’ meant no cats. We somehow lost the dog harness and leash so Ginger trotted happily beside my brother and whined whenever he left the room. Misty hid. After two nights in a local hotel, the road trip began.
Road trip
The first day, we stopped in Roseburg for lunch. Misty had been wearing a new cat harness in the car for hours, so I decided to let her out to stretch her legs. Bad idea. My little Houdini pulled backwards against the leash and right out of her harness. After an hour or two, I finally talked her out of the bushes with promises of food.
Food and water while moving with pets
Neither of the pets would eat or drink in the car. Misty spent her hotel stays in hiding, so she wasn’t eating or drinking much at the hotel either. I was getting pretty worried. The weather was very hot and I left the air conditioning running in the car, even when we stopped.
We spent the third day at my aunt’s house but Misty was still unsettled and not eating or drinking much. The fourth day we traveled from Stockton, California to Quartzsite, Arizona. It was a very long day and Misty was so tired she didn’t even fight me putting her in her carrier when we got to the hotel.
The next morning we had to dismantle the beds to find her. She was hiding in the box spring netting. Another very long day and we made it to El Paso.
Hiding places; expect disappearing acts when moving with cats
Did you know that wherever a cat’s head can fit, her body can follow? After a brief stop to see our new home, we drove to the airbnb we had reserved for a week. When we got there we couldn’t find Misty. I had seen her last when I introduced her to our real estate agent, Ingrid Dohrmann. Ingrid, aside from being the greatest agent in Texas, loves cats!
I looked all over inside the car and was about ready to drive back to the new house, when Misty popped up from under the front passenger seat. I can’t even get my hand under there!
Home Away From Home
I am happy to say that both pets are recuperating from their adventure. Unfortunately, we have one more move. Since it is close by and we will have our own things back, I hope they will adapt quickly.
Post-trip thoughts
If you have the option, I think it would be easier to fly your pets to their final destination. Ginger, although somewhat stressed, enjoyed the attention and was very well behaved. That being said, I would never leave Misty behind and I was willing to do what was necessary to arrive safely with her. Cats don’t like change, but if their beloved person is with them, they will adapt.
For more information about traveling with pets, try these websites:
Moving with Pets: 10 tips for success
What’s the Best Way to Move my Pets Cross-Country?
Wow, what a crazy journey! That’s really awesome that you’ve moved to Texas. I hope you all settle in well & start getting the lay of the land soon, pets & humans alike. <3
Thanks, C.L. We should be settling soon… I hope!
Truly, this was an adventure! Especially for your pets and I bet they can tell stories of the grand feats they achieved, through their eyes, of course.
Thank you, Black Knight. They still aren’t completely settled, since our furniture hasn’t come. They might think they’re camping!
Glad you guys made it there safely without too much pet distress. Hope you like your new city.
Thank you! So far we like El Paso very much. Hopefully Misty will feel more comfortable when we finally get our furniture. 🙂