Journal
Moving to London with a dog or cat? Here's how to settle them in.
There's a particular kind of chaos to moving house. Boxes in the hallway, a kettle you can't find, and, if you're a pet owner, a small supervisor watching it all with deep suspicion.
I've moved around a lot, in and out of more London flats than I can count. And the thing I've learned is that pets don't care about your new postcode. They care that their bowl is where it always is, that the routine holds, and that someone they trust is nearby.
So if you're relocating to London with a dog or cat, here's what actually helps.
The first week matters most
Unpack your pet's things before your own. Their bed, their bowls, the blanket that smells like the old place. Familiar scent does more than any reassurance you can offer in words they don't speak.
Keep feeding and walking times exactly as they were. London will still be there next week, your pet needs to know dinner will be, too.
For cats, it's worth keeping them to one room for the first few days, then letting them explore the rest of the home gradually. For dogs, short, calm walks on the same route build confidence faster than a grand tour of every park in the borough.
London is really a collection of villages
One of the quiet joys of this city is that every neighbourhood runs like its own small town. The local vet, the dog-friendly café, the park where the same dogs gather at the same time every morning. Find yours early, your dog will make friends before you do.
Register with a vet in your first fortnight, not when you need one. Update microchip details and tag addresses straight away. It's boring admin, but it's the kind you'll be grateful for.
Where a sitter fits in
Moves rarely happen in one clean day. There's the trip back to the old place for the last of the boxes, the week of viewings, the work trip that couldn't be moved, the friend who's generously offered their sofa while you wait for keys.
This is exactly when in-home sitting earns its keep. Your pet stays put in familiar surroundings, or settles into the new home without being bounced between boarding and back, while you deal with everything else.
- House sitting while you travel back and forth during the move
- Daycare on moving day itself, so nobody slips out an open door
- Overnight stays if you're between homes or travelling for work
- In-hotel sitting if you're in temporary accommodation that allows pets
Meet your sitter before you need one
The owners who settle fastest are the ones who get the introductions out of the way early. A meet & greet in your home, old or new, means that when the first busy week hits, your pet already knows the person at the door.
It's a relaxed visit: we meet your pet, walk through their routine, and put together a care pack so nothing is left to guesswork. No obligation to book anything afterwards.
Where we cover
In-home sitting, daycare and overnight house sitting are available across the London neighbourhoods we cover, including Chelsea, Kensington, Knightsbridge, Islington, Westminster, Hampstead, Clapham, Balham, Battersea, Dulwich, Brixton and surrounding areas.
Dog walking and drop-in visits are offered locally in Honor Oak, Forest Hill and the surrounding SE23 area, where we're based.
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New to London? Say hello.
If you're planning a move and want care sorted before the boxes arrive, we'd love to hear from you. Many of our clients first get in touch weeks before they need a sit, it makes everything calmer.