By KRISTEN LEVINE
Tribune correspondent

TAMPA - Moving is one of the life’s most stressful experiences, so imagine how a pet feels when its home is packed up and relocated.

Moving a family requires lots of planning. There are boxes to pack and unpack, utilities to turn off and on, farewell parties to plan and so on. In the blur of activity, it’s easy to overlook a pet’s needs.

But there are some things you can do to ease a pet’s anxieties.

Begin packing well in advance of the move so your pet becomes accustomed to changes in the environment.

Invest in a sturdy crate or carrier for each pet. You may need to safely confine it on moving day. Acclimate the pet to the crate prior to moving day by securing it inside for short periods.

As soon as you know the new address, purchase identification tags for each pet, and be sure to swap the tags on moving day.

If your pet is microchipped or tattooed, call ahead to provide the keeper of the database with new contact information. If you have misplaced this information, your veterinarian or the shelter you adopted your pet from may have this on file.

Long Drive Ahead?

If the move requires you to travel a long distance, visit your veterinarian for advice on how to make the trip comfortable for the pet.

You may want to take your pet for short car trips in their crate ahead of time so it gets used to auto travel. If it becomes anxious or sick, your veterinarian can suggest behavior modification or medication to reduce the animal’s stress.

If you’ll be spending the night on the road, look into which hotels and motels are pet-friendly on your route.

Be sure to pack a box with all of your pet’s necessities for the trip, including beds, sufficient food and water, litter box and litter for cats, treats and medications.

A favorite toy or a piece of clothing with your scent on it may be a calming influence for your pet.

If you will be flying your pet to its new destination, confer with your vet and the airline to prepare yourself and your animal for safe travel. Allow ample time to make arrangements and meet all airline guidelines.

There’s even a Tampa company, Air Animal ( http://www.airanimal.com), that specializes in relocating family pets that must travel by air.

When moving day arrives, be sure your pet is wearing a collar with a rabies license and ID tags with your new address and phone number.

When the movers come, secure the pet in a quiet room away from the main traffic area to prevent it from running off. Alert each mover and family member that the room is off-limits.

Do not feed your pet on the morning of your moving day. Instead, give it a small amount of water.

Be sure the animal has access to fresh water during the trip.

Dog owners need to make frequent stops for elimination and to stretch all fours. If traveling with a cat, be sure the carrier is large enough to accommodate a litter pan.

You and your family probably will be excited about your new home, but your pet may feel confused or disoriented by the new surroundings. Be patient, and offer lots of love and affection to soothe its nerves.

Settling In

These tips for cats may help:

•Keep cats for the first few days in a single room as you organize the rest of the home.

•Unpack bedding, toys, food and water dishes and litter box, and consider a window perch for the cat to enjoy the new view.

•After a few days, introduce cats to one room at a time, always reminding them where the litter box is located.

Here are some tips for dogs:

•Introduce it to the new home when the furniture is in place.

•Let it become familiar with one room before introducing it to the next. This can take a few days but will ease your dog’s nerves and prevent a frightened escape.

•When taking your dog outdoors, keep it on a leash.

As soon as possible, choose a veterinarian for your pet, and locate the clinic. It’s also a good idea to find the nearest emergency animal hospital. Take a practice drive to it so you won’t waste time getting lost during a crisis.

If you need help finding a vet, ask neighbors with pets or consult the local veterinary association.

(CHART) CRITTER CALENDAR

ADOPTION EXPO: No More Homeless Pets of Hillsborough County’s annual spring adoption expo is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 6 and 7 at PetSmart, 1540 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. Call (813) 818-9381 or go to http://www.nmhp-hc.org.

POLK ADOPT-A-THON: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Polk County will host its spring adopt-a-thon from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 6 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 7 at PetSmart, 1051 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon; PetSmart, 11331 Causeway Blvd., Brandon; Petco, 4139 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland; and the SPCA, 5850 Brannen Road S., Lakeland. Those adopting pets will receive free items, including a certificate for rabies vaccinations for life at the SPCA’s Wellness Clinic. Call (863) 646-7722 or go to http://www.lovemyspca.com.

ADOPT-A-THON, FLEA MARKET: The SPCA Tampa Bay adopt-a-thon and flea market will offer a variety of animals for adoption from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 6. Food will be served. The flea market will include jewelry, household goods, garden supplies and pet-related items. Money raised will go toward daily care and medical needs for homeless animals at the SPCA Tampa Bay, 9099 130th Ave. N., Largo. Go to http://www.spcatampabay.org or call (727) 586-3591.

TUXES & TAILS: The Humane Society of Tampa Bay will host its Tuxes & Tails event from 6 to 11 p.m. May 13 at the Wyndham Harbour Island Hotel, 725 S. Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa. Celebrity models, including Brooke and Linda Hogan, daughter and wife of wrestler Hulk Hogan, and Mary Delgado ("The Bachelor"), will team with their pets or an adoptable pet on the catwalk. Besides seeing new fashions, there will be live entertainment, silent and live auctions, and dinner. Tickets are $125; corporate tables and sponsorships are available. Contact Cathy Bellatin at (813) 876-4150 or .

Write to pet-lifestyle expert Kristen Levine at Fetching Communications, P.O. Box 222, Tarpon Springs FL 34688; fax (727) 934-6451; or e-mail kristen @fetchingcommunications.com.