In Part 1 of this series, Elena Bykovets, CEO and Founder of RelyOn Relocation®️, and Yulia Soltan, a certified animal behaviorist, walked through how to prepare a pet for relocation and how to get through the travel day itself with as little stress as possible. But arriving in Portugal is not the finish line — it’s the start of a new phase.
In this second part, they continue the conversation into what happens after the plane lands or the car is finally parked outside the new home. How long does it really take a cat or dog to settle in? What can owners do in those first weeks to help? And what practical steps — registration, document conversion, insurance — need to happen once you’re actually here?
They also touch on something less obvious: how Portuguese culture itself shapes daily life with a pet, from friendly strangers on the street to the paperwork waiting at the local municipality.
This part closes the series with a clear, practical summary — the kind you can actually act on, whether you have months to prepare or only weeks.
The Conversation
Elena: One more practical tip from my side before we move on — choose your flight timing wisely when you can. If you arrive when staff at the airport are fully on duty, you’ll pass through much faster. So try to avoid very early morning or late-night arrivals if possible. I think that reduces stress for everyone, the owner and the pet.
Yulia: True, I agree with you completely.
Elena: So we’ve covered preparation and the day of travel. Now let’s talk about what happens once you arrive in Portugal — when adaptation actually begins.
Yulia: The first thing I want to say is that it’s completely normal if adaptation to a new place takes up to three months for your pet. Nothing about that timeline is “too long” — it’s actually shorter than what humans often need. It’s simply normal for pets to show some signs of stress for up to three months after such a big change.
Elena: So what can owners actually do during that period?
Yulia: First and most important: stick to your routine. The timing and sequence you followed at home — keep following it at the same times, in the same order, once you arrive. That’s the foundation of emotional stability for any cat or dog. Second, create a safe space in the new home, ideally something with a roof over it — a cat house, or even the same carrier they traveled in, if it felt safe to them. If they go there to rest, don’t disturb them. They need their own corner where their nervous system can properly relax. For a cat, that could simply be a shelf inside a wardrobe — it doesn’t need to be a dedicated pet bed.
Elena: What about visitors and the household itself?
Yulia: For the first few weeks, avoid guests and loud gatherings if you can. I know that’s often exactly what people want to do after arriving somewhere new, but a calm, quiet environment gives your pet time to adjust. For the same reason, hold off on grooming appointments or anything that changes how their body feels — they’re already adjusting to so many new factors at once. There’s also external support worth knowing about: calming diffusers. For cats, it’s called Feliway Classic; for dogs, Adaptil. They release synthetic pheromones that mimic the sense of calm and safety associated with early life — for cats, specifically the pheromones a mother cat’s face naturally produces. You don’t need a vet’s prescription, and pets don’t build any dependency on them. They simply help during the first three or four days in a new place.
Elena: That’s completely new to me, and I’ve owned dogs my whole life.
Yulia: It’s always good to learn something new — for me it’s just part of daily work, so I sometimes forget it’s new information for other people. It’s a bit like when you talk about documents — for you it’s obvious, but for most of us, regulations are unfamiliar territory. A couple of final tips: mental stimulation helps release built-up stress, so lick mats and sniff mats work well for both cats and dogs. And when you leave the house, play some relaxing music at low volume — search “relaxing music for cats” or “for dogs” on YouTube. It’s not just a nice idea; it’s rooted in instinct. In the wild, silence often signals danger, so when your home is too quiet, some pets feel unsettled. A bit of background sound can genuinely ease that. One more small but important thing: don’t change their diet in that first month. No new snacks, no new food — keep everything else familiar while their environment is already so different.
Elena: That’s genuinely useful — and I think today wasn’t only new information for me. Let me add the practical relocation side. Once you arrive in Portugal, there’s real paperwork ahead. You’ll need municipal registration — every neighborhood has its own local registration process for pets. You’ll likely need to convert your EU pet passport or existing documentation into the Portuguese system. And then, insurance — from day one. It’s not common in every country to insure a pet, but we strongly advise it, based on our clients’ experience. Yulia, you recommend this too, don’t you?
Yulia: Absolutely. It’s far more financially sound to have insurance than to pay directly for veterinary care here, because those services can be genuinely expensive.
Elena: We work with several insurance providers and know which ones actually reimburse clients afterward, rather than just collecting premiums. And of course, it’s worth finding a vet in advance too — someone near your home, or recommended by a neighbor or friend — just so you already have that contact if something happens. There’s one more thing I wanted your input on: cultural adjustment in public spaces. Having lived in four countries myself, I’ve noticed Portugal is quite distinct — very different from the US, for example, where pet culture felt more reserved.
Yulia: That’s a good point, especially for dog owners. In public spaces, people here will often want to pet your dog — and they won’t always ask first. Portuguese people are genuinely warm toward animals; they love dogs and are very open to you having a pet around. But if you’d rather your pet not be touched, you’ll need to set that boundary yourself — a polite “please don’t touch him, she’s a bit reactive” works well. It might take some getting used to, or you might love it. Either way, it makes socializing a dog here quite easy, since everyone is so open to it.
Elena: I can confirm that from my own experience too. So let’s summarize what really matters: relocating with a pet requires preparation — improvisation simply isn’t realistic when it comes to Portugal. And insurance is essential from day one. If you ever feel you need support with any part of this, our team is here to help.
Closing
Across both parts of this conversation, one message stands out clearly: relocating with a pet isn’t only about documents — it’s about preparation, routine, and emotional stability, working together. Whether you have two months to prepare or only a couple of weeks left, the same three steps matter most: desensitize your pet to travel sounds, turn their carrier into a safe space with treats and positive association, and build a consistent daily routine as early as possible.
If you’re planning a move to Portugal with a pet, having documentation, registration, and insurance handled by professionals — alongside sound behavioral guidance — can make the entire process significantly calmer for both of you. Book a consultation with RelyOn Relocation®️ (AMI 24842) to talk through your situation, and reach out to Yulia Soltan for tailored behavioral support before or after your move.
