Part 1: Paws Before Boxes 🐾📦

Anyone who has ever lived with a cat or a dog knows they sense everything. While dogs often anchor themselves to their humans, cats are fiercely attached to their territory. For them, every box and every rearranged chair feels like an earthquake.

🐕🐱 Our Story

When we started preparing for our move, Typhoon and Luci shadowed me like detectives, eyes glued to each box. Enzo and Elza circled like security guards on patrol, making sure nothing slipped past inspection. And Bonya? He had declared himself official Supervisor of All Boxes — and made sure we knew it.

Typhoon, though, felt it the most. He spends 90% of his time with me — he knows every routine, every move, every sound. His eyes follow my every step, as if checking that I’m safe. So you can imagine how stressful the packing was for him. Every box carried not just our belongings, but a shift in his world.

Typhoon: “Boxes everywhere! I’ll sniff them all… but don’t worry, Mom, I’m guarding you first. Toys and bed are important, but you come before everything. Except maybe dinner.” 🍖

Enzo: “Suspicious. Very suspicious. I’ll guard the perimeter.”

Elza: “Forget the boxes — where’s my bed going? Priorities, people.”

Luci: “Routine matters. If walk time shifts, I’ll remind you.”

Bonya: “This box is mine. And this one. And this one. Don’t touch them. They’re part of my new real estate empire.”

It became obvious very quickly: the calmer I kept their routines, the calmer they stayed. Same meals, same walk times, same toys scattered across the floor. And Bonya? His bed remained by the window until the absolute last moment. (Although, according to him, the sunbeam was never in the right place.)

📋 Your Guide: Prepping Before the Move

1. Vet Check ✅

Book a pre-move check-up, update vaccinations, and grab copies of medical records.

Typhoon: “Wait… this isn’t the park? You tricked me again, didn’t you?”

Enzo: “Suspicious. Very suspicious. I’ll allow it, but only if we stop for treats afterward.”

Elza: “Fine, but I’m sitting on your lap the whole time. No negotiation.”

Bonya: “Carrier = betrayal. I shall scream my opera so loudly the neighbors three streets over will know of my suffering.” 😼

2. Essentials Bag 🎒

Pack food, bowls, leashes, meds, toys, blankets, and litter.

Typhoon: “Snacks go in first. Everything else is optional.”

Enzo: “I’ll guard the bag. But if a squirrel runs by, all bets are off.”

Elza: “Don’t forget my blanket. The soft one. Not the scratchy one. Standards, people.”

Luci: “Please pack my squeaky duck. It’s my emotional support bird.”

Bonya: “If my scratching post doesn’t make it, the couch is doomed. Choose wisely.”

3. Routine is King ⏰

Stick to feeding, walking, and play schedules. Cats especially need predictability.

Typhoon: “Dinner at 6:00. Walk at 7:00. Snuggles at 8:00. I run a tight ship.”

Enzo: “Consistency is safety. Break the schedule, and I’ll file a formal bark complaint.”

Elza: “Routine keeps me calm. Also, don’t forget bedtime cuddles.”

Luci: “Walk time is sacred. Change it, and I’ll pace until you remember.”

Bonya: “Breakfast. Second breakfast. Elevenses. Brunch. Keep up, human.”

4. Pack Slowly 🪣

Box up one room at a time; leave a safe, quiet zone untouched until the end.

Typhoon: “Living room stays mine. Especially the toy corner. Non-negotiable.”

Enzo: “I’ll patrol the boxes. If one moves without permission, I’ll alert the neighborhood.”

Elza: “As long as my bed is untouched, pack whatever you want.”

Luci: “Leave the hallway clear. It’s my runway, and I’m not negotiating.”

Bonya: “This box fortress is my castle. Enter at your own risk.”

5. Arrange Pet Care 🐾

Plan for sitters, friends, or safe rooms during showings and moving day.

Typhoon: “Movers in the house? Fine. I’ll guard Mom. If anyone looks suspicious, I’m on them. Unless… it’s dinner time. Then we’ll renegotiate.”

Enzo: “Strangers? I’ll bark until they leave or enlist me in the moving crew.”

Elza: “Honestly, I’d rather be at the spa. Call it ‘self-care day.’”

Bonya: “Carrier stress? Please. I’ll shed enough fur to knit an entire blanket collection. Consider it my protest art.”

Luci: “Give me a quiet room and my squeaky duck, and I’ll wait it out.”

🌟 Wrapping Up Part 1

Preparing to move isn’t just about sealing boxes and signing papers — it’s about creating a bubble of calm for the furry (and sometimes bossy) members of the family. Typhoon may see moving as a grand sniffing adventure (but in truth, it was never about the boxes — it was about keeping his eyes on Mom). Enzo may guard the operation like a soldier on duty, Elza may demand comfort above all else, and Luci may insist her walk schedule remain carved in stone. Meanwhile, Bonya had his own priorities: while Typhoon kept watch on me, Bonya kept watch on his boxes — determined that every last one met his royal approval (and that his sunbeam remained under strict protection).

But with steady routines and safe spaces, everyone feels more secure.

Because once the prep work is done, the real challenge begins: moving day itself — when doors swing open, movers march in, and pets plot their great escape.

✨ Next up: Part 2 — “The Great Escape Prevention Plan,” keeping pets safe and calm on moving day.