In the previous episode, we covered the three behavioural preparation steps that make the biggest difference in the month before the move — desensitisation to sounds, building safety in the carrier, and establishing a routine. Today we move forward to the day of travel itself, and to what the first weeks in Portugal actually look like.
Elena:
Yulia, we have covered everything that happens before. Let us talk about the day itself. Someone has done the preparation, the carrier is familiar, the routine is in place. They are standing at the door with their bags. What do they need to remember?
Yulia:
The first thing — and I say this to every client — do not feed your pet for two to three hours before departure. Many animals experience motion sickness, and a full stomach makes it significantly worse. It feels unkind. But it is genuinely safer for them.
Yulia:
The second thing is to follow the routine that morning as closely as possible. Walk at the usual time. Feed at the usual time if the schedule allows. That predictability is still doing its work — even in the middle of everything else that is happening that day, the familiar rhythm sends a signal of safety to their nervous system.
Yulia:
Third: give them the opportunity to go to the toilet before you leave. A long walk for dogs. Time near the litter tray for cats. If you have been following a consistent feeding schedule, you will likely already know when your cat uses the tray — plan around that.
Yulia:
Fourth: place something with your scent inside the carrier. A worn t-shirt, a pillowcase, a sweatshirt. Your smell means safety to your pet. Being surrounded by it during the journey is one of the simplest and most effective calming tools available. Bring a few scented items for the new home as well — they will matter in the first days after arrival.
Yulia:
And fifth — this one is for the owners: stay as calm as you can. I know moving day is not exactly a calm day. But animals read our emotional state through hormonal signals. If you are anxious, they sense it. It helps to remind yourself: my calm is a direct gift to my pet right now.
Elena:
That is something I think about with clients too — the owner’s state matters as much as any practical step. And on the practical side, one thing I always recommend: choose your flight time carefully. Arriving in Portugal during standard business hours means border control is fully staffed. The process moves faster, the wait is shorter. That matters for you and for your animal.
Yulia:
Once you arrive, the most important thing I want people to hear is this: give yourself and your pet time. Adaptation can take up to three months. Hiding, changes in appetite, altered behaviour in those first weeks — these are normal responses to a significant disruption. Be patient with them the way you would want someone to be patient with you.
Elena:
And continue the routine from day one. Same feeding times, same walk times, same sequence. That routine is the one familiar thing in an unfamiliar environment. It is the anchor.
Yulia:
Create a safe space within the new home — the carrier itself, a covered bed, a wardrobe shelf for a cat. Put the scented item inside. Let your pet retreat there when they need to. Do not disturb them in that space. Avoid hosting guests or gatherings in the first few weeks. For a pet adjusting to a new environment, quiet is a genuine kindness.
Yulia:
Two tools I recommend strongly: Feliway Classic for cats and Adaptil for dogs. These are plug-in diffusers that release synthetic pheromones — calming signals that mimic what a mother animal produces for her young. You will not smell them. Your pet will. No prescription required, no dependency, available at vet clinics, pet stores, or online. Also useful: lick mats and sniff mats for mental stimulation and stress release. And when you leave the house, turn on low-volume relaxing music for cats or dogs — easily found on YouTube. In nature, complete silence signals danger. Soft background sound tells your pet the environment is safe.
Elena:
In our final episode, we close the series with what needs to happen formally after arrival — registration, insurance, passport conversion — and with something that genuinely surprises many expats: what everyday life with a pet in Portugal actually looks like. There are a few things that are quite different here.
If you are preparing for a move to Portugal and want to make sure you have not missed anything in the process — from documentation to settling in — our team offers an initial consultation where we review your specific situation and build a clear action plan. You can book it directly through our website.
On travel day, routine and scent are the two most powerful tools available — and both have been built in the weeks before.
Adaptation after arrival can take up to three months. Signs of stress in that period are normal, not alarming.
A quiet first few weeks and a consistent routine are the foundation of a smooth transition — for the pet and for the owner.
The next and final episode covers the formal requirements after arrival and daily life with a pet in Portugal.
