One trip or several?
Families moving with more than one animal usually have a choice: arrange a separate trip for each pet, or send everyone together on one private trip. For most households, one private trip is simpler. Your animals ride on the same schedule, arrive at the same time, and are cared for by the same handler.
The important word is private. A shared service that combines animals from different owners adds variables: other animals' health, temperament and noise. On a private trip, the only animals on board are yours.
How crating works for several pets
- Cats and small pets need a crate with room to stand, turn and lie down.
- Pets that are bonded can ride side by side, so they can see and hear each other.
- Cats stay crated and are never loose with dogs.
- Tell your transporter about any animal that gets distressed alone, so the plan accounts for it.
Compatibility and temperament
Describe each animal honestly when you request a quote: size, age, medical conditions, and how they react to travel, strangers and other animals. A dog that barks continuously or a cat that panics changes how the trip should be set up. Accurate details lead to an accurate fixed quote and a calmer trip.
Timing and stops
More animals mean more care at every stop: more water, more exercise, more attention. The schedule is built around the animals, not the other way round. Regional moves typically take one to three days and coast-to-coast trips three to four days, with scheduled rest, feeding and exercise stops.
Paperwork for every animal
Each pet needs its own vaccination records and, where your route requires it, its own health certificate. Gather them together before pickup. Our guide to interstate pet transport requirements explains what to check.
What to send with your pets
- Food for each animal for the whole trip, plus a little extra.
- A familiar blanket or toy for each pet.
- Written medication instructions with dosing times.
- Vaccination records and any health certificates.
- Your contact details and your veterinarian's.
Mixed households: dogs and cats together
Cats ride crated, positioned so each animal can feel secure. A cat that is stressed by a nearby dog, or the reverse, is something to tell your transporter about in advance. Describe how your animals normally interact, and ask how the vehicle layout accounts for it.
Bonded pairs
Some pets are strongly bonded and settle better when they can see or hear each other. If yours are, tell your transporter. Whether they share a crate depends on size, temperament and safety. A good transporter will say what is practical.
Large breeds and crate sizes
Larger dogs need larger crates, and more crate space means fewer animals in the vehicle. This is why a trip with several big dogs is planned differently from one with several small animals. Give accurate sizes and weights when you request a quote.
Puppies and kittens
Young animals have smaller bladders, need more frequent feeding, and may not be fully vaccinated. Tell your transporter their ages and vaccination status, and check with your veterinarian whether travel is appropriate for their age.
What a multi-pet trip looks like
- Pickup: the handler loads each animal, with cats and small pets in crates, and confirms food, medication and paperwork.
- On the road: scheduled rest, feeding and exercise stops, with each animal attended to in turn.
- Updates: photo check-ins so you can see everyone is comfortable.
- Delivery: animals are delivered to your door, one by one, with their belongings.
Settling everyone in at the new home
- Give each animal a quiet space with food, water and a bed.
- Let cats and dogs adjust gradually rather than all at once.
- Keep routines the same as before the move.
- Watch each animal for signs of stress, and call your veterinarian if you are concerned.
Planning your multi-pet trip
Start with the instant estimate, choosing the number of dogs, cats and small pets, then request a fixed quote. Read about our multi-pet and family moves service.