Pet-Friendly Moving Tips for Los Angeles Residents (From Someone Who’s Actually Moved With Pets Here More Than Once)

Moving in Los Angeles is already a whole production: traffic, parking, narrow driveways, and elevators. Now add a nervous dog, an escape-artist cat, or a couple of anxious rescue pets to the mix—and it can go from “busy day” to “full-on chaos” really fast.

I’ve helped a lot of LA families move with pets—across the Valley, from Hollywood to the Westside, from Los Angeles out to the suburbs—and I want to share what actually works in real life.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how I’d plan a truly pet-friendly move in Los Angeles from start to finish, and where my team at United Prime Van Lines can quietly make it all easier in the background.

Getting Real About Moving With Pets in LA

Before we get into checklists, let’s be honest about the LA-specific challenges:

• Heat: Even “nice” days can be too hot in the Valley for pets sitting in cars.
• Traffic: A 20‑minute ride can turn into 75 minutes. Your pet feels that.
• Noise: Movers, dollies, and trucks backing up stress animals out.
• Elevators: In high-rises, an open door is a great escape opportunity.

Step One: Pre-Move Prep (30 Days Out)

Think of this as your "stabilization phase."

1. Start With Your Vet

• Schedule a check-up.
• Update rabies tags and microchips.
• Get copies of medical records and prescriptions.

2. Secure ID Act like your pet will look for a way out. Ensure collars have current tags and your microchip is registered with your cell phone number.

3. Build a “Pet Zone” Pick one room (bedroom or bathroom) and make it the last room you pack. Keep their bed, toys, and litter box there. This becomes their "safe bunker" while the rest of the house turns into a cardboard maze.

4. Carrier Training Leave the carrier out 2–3 weeks before the move. Put treats inside. Make it boring, not scary.

Planning Your Move Around LA

5. Be Strategic About Time

• Valley/Downtown: Move in the Morning to beat the heat.
• Coastal Areas: Late morning is fine due to the breeze.

6. Where Will Your Pet Be?

• Option A (Best): Off-site with a friend or doggy daycare.
• Option B: In the "Pet Zone" room with the door closed and a sign: "Do Not Open – Pet Inside."

Your Pet’s “Overnight Bag” (Do Not Load!)

Pack a go-bag and keep it with you in the car:

• 3–7 days of food & bowls.
• Leash, harness, collar.
• Litter box & scoop.
• Medications & favorite toys.
• Paper towels & pee pads (for accidents).

Moving Day: Keeping Pets Calm

7. Before We Arrive

• Walk your dog early to tire them out.
• Feed them lightly to avoid car sickness.
• Secure them in the "Pet Zone" before the front door starts opening.

8. While We Load At United Prime Van Lines, we confirm: "Where is the animal? Which door stays closed?" We minimize trips near that room until the very end.

9. The Car Ride

• Dogs: Crate or seatbelt harness. No heads out the window on the 405.
• Cats: Carrier only. Drape a towel over it to reduce visual stress.
• Rule #1: Pets never ride in the moving truck.

Setting Up Your New LA Home

10. Set Up the Pet Room First Before you tell us where to put the sofa, set up the new pet zone.

• Water, food, bed, litter box.
• Put your pet in there and close the door.
• Let them decompress while we unload the rest of the house.

11. Slow Introductions

• Dogs: Walk them around the new block on a leash to learn the smells.
• Cats: Keep them in one room for 24–48 hours.

LA-Specific Pet Considerations

12. Heat & Pavement If you can't hold your hand on the sidewalk for 7 seconds, it's too hot for paws. Walk early or late.

13. Local Laws Check local licensing requirements and off-leash rules for parks in your new neighborhood.

How We Help at United Prime Van Lines

You can move with pets on your own, but hiring pros lets you focus on them while we handle the chaos.

• We plan around them: Tell us about your flight-risk cat or reactive dog.
• We avoid surprise noises: We warn you before moving loud equipment near their room.
• We move efficiently: Your door isn't open all day long.

You focus on the furry family members. We’ll handle getting the rest of your life from Point A to Point B.