Moving to a new home is a major transition and can be stressful for everyone in the family, including our animal companions. For one cat whose family recently relocated from Texas to Alaska, it nearly proved fatal. According to news reports, a 2-year-old cat named Moosie got inside a futon mattress when his family was packing up to move. Thinking that Moosie had run away, the family sent the moving company ahead to Alaska with their belongings while they stayed behind in Texas for three days, searching for Moosie to no avail.

More than two months later, after arriving at their new home, the family heard a faint meow coming from a box that contained the mattress. When they opened it up, there was Moosie! He was severely dehydrated and suffering from a damaged liver but had somehow survived a traumatic 64 days trapped inside the mattress, without food, water, light, or fresh air.

Other animals have bolted out the door during the chaos of moving day, never to be found again; been injured by falling boxes or careless feet; gotten lost en route; or worse. At the very least, seeing their whole world being boxed up and disappearing before their eyes is distressing and frightening for animals.

We can make moving safer and less stressful for our animal family members by keeping them in a safe, quiet, escape-proof room with their bed, toys, food and water, and (for cats) litterbox while other rooms in the house are being emptied. Lock the room’s door and/or put notes on the door that say, “Keep closed—animals inside.” It’s also a good idea to make sure that everyone who is helping you move is aware of your animals and knows not to let them outside. Another option is to leave animals at the home of a trusted friend or family member where they feel comfortable on moving day until you’re ready to pick them up and take them to your new place.

As Moosie’s story reminds us, animals can be adept at hiding, so double-check all boxes and furniture before sealing them up and loading them onto the moving truck to ensure that your animal companions aren’t trapped inside. Make sure that all animals are microchipped and are also wearing collars and ID tags with your new phone number (or current cell phone number) and new address on them. And of course, when it’s time to move your most precious cargo, always drive your animal companions in your own vehicle in secure and comfortable carriers—never put them on a moving truck. Make the trip to your new home as smooth as possible by reading up on our tips for traveling with animals.

Once you arrive at your new place, help dogs adjust by maintaining their routine as much as possible and going for lots of extra walks—it will help your dog learn his or her new surroundings, and it’s also a great way to meet your neighbors. Cats should be confined to a secure room with their beds, food and water, and litterboxes, until the movers have left. Then allow them to explore their new surroundings at their own pace, keeping the door to their “home base” room open so that they can retreat there if they feel overwhelmed.

With a few precautions, everyone will make it safely to your new home, and you and your animal companions will be making happy new memories there in no time.