Page scope: we move furniture and household goods; we do not transport animals. Your pet travels with you in your car. This page is about organising a furniture move when there are cats, birds or a fish tank at home. For our full service see residential movers.
The biggest risk on moving day: the open door
During loading the front door stays open for hours while the crew is busy carrying furniture. A frightened cat can slip out in a second and be hard to find again, and a bird can escape from a cage opened during the move. So the single most important step on this page is:
Set aside one closed room for your pet (a bathroom or small room), tell the crew supervisor which one, and hang a "do not open" sign on the door. We move that room last, after you have taken your pet out yourself.
By type of pet
| Pet | On moving day | What we pack |
|---|---|---|
| Cats | A closed room with water, litter and a familiar blanket, then a carrier in your car | Scratching post, cat house and accessories in their own box |
| Birds | Cage in a quiet room away from drafts, travelling with you in the car | Spare cages and accessories |
| Fish tanks | Fish travel with you in a suitable container; the tank is emptied before the move | The empty glass tank and its stand, packed like glass |
| Turtles and small animals | A safe ventilated box with you in the car | Empty tanks and enclosures |
For large glass items such as big tanks, see glass table and mirror moving.
Days before the move
- Get your cat used to the carrier: leave it open at home for a few days so it is not a scary object.
- Pack a pet bag: food for several days, water bowls, litter, and vaccination records or papers, all staying with you in the car, not the truck.
- Keep the feeding routine: try not to change meal times in the final days.
- Check the new home: does the landlord or building allow pets? Best to know before signing.
Heat and the road
In Eastern Province summers, a closed car heats up fast. Never leave a pet in a closed car, even for a few minutes during loading or unloading. On intercity moves, such as Dammam to Riyadh, plan short stops in the shade and offer water regularly. Never put an animal inside the furniture truck. See also moving in summer.
The first days in the new home
Start the same way in the new home: one quiet room with your pet's familiar things until the furniture is unloaded and outside doors are closed. Then open up the home gradually. Cats in particular may hide for a day or two, which is usually normal. For setting up the rest of the home, see unpacking after a move.
Pet supplies: truck or car?
Not everything your pet owns needs to ride with you. The simple rule: what it needs in the first two days stays with you; the rest goes with the furniture.
- In your car: carrier, food for a few days, water bowls, litter, a familiar blanket, any medicines, and its papers.
- In the truck: the large cat house, scratching post, spare cages, empty tanks and extra food in a clearly marked box.
Mark the pet supplies box "open first" so we put it in the quiet room you chose at the new home. For more preparation steps, see the moving preparation checklist.
Get a furniture moving quote
Send where from and to, home type, rooms and date, and tell us if you have pets so we can plan the room order.