So you have decided that you would like to take your cat with you on a trip, or that you are going to move. When it comes to a one-way trip, you aren’t really left with many options. Your cat will need to come along with you.
Whenever you are planning to go on vacation, and you will be back again within a day or two, we advise you to leave your cats behind or to find a friend, neighbor, or cat sitter to come in and check on them while you are away.
Having a cat is not an easy task, and the majority of them are not happy about traveling, so they will not hesitate to tell you that. It is not good for cats to travel; they get very stressed when they do so.
A cat prefers routine, he prefers the security of his home, and he does not like changes. It is important to plan ahead when traveling with cats in order to avoid problems. If you are planning a trip soon, you don’t have to concentrate on every little detail – we rarely do that.
There is no doubt that planning ahead will help you decide where to stay and what you want to do along the way.
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Traveling with a cat: 20 Tips and Tricks
Our travel tips will hopefully make the process a little less stressful for you and your cat if you must travel with them, whether because you are moving or because you just cannot leave them without you.
- There is one important thing to consider: how to make sure that your cat is comfortable, but also secure and safe at the same time. If you want your cat to be able to stand up, stretch, and turn easily in the carrier, then use a large, sturdy carrier.
- To make sure your cat is comfortable and not getting scared or running around scared in the car train or plane, you want to make sure you have the most well-behaved cat before you go on the trip. Training your cat with cat secrets will bring out the best in your cat. Start the training here!
- Make sure there is some type of padding covering the bottom of the carrier, preferably not something that will slide around, but something that will stay in place.
- You can keep your cat in the carrier for the entire trip if you have a short trip, less than 6 hours. When traveling a long distance, especially if it is over several days, you may want to let the cat out occasionally to drink water and use the litter box.
- Make sure you’re parked before you let your cat out of the carrier. Are you concerned about what would happen if you were to let your cat roam around the car while you were driving, and you got into an accident, or in case your cat started scratching or biting you as you were driving? This could even result in a car accident if you just did that.
- As soon as your cat gets out of the carrier, do not open or close the car doors unless your cat is wearing a harness (not a collar) and leash. You would want to step on the trailing leash in the case of a sudden darting out of the car by your cat than try to grab a scared freaked-out cat who has leaped out of the car.
- It is important to make sure your cat wears an ID tag of some sort – a collar or harness that has your name, contact information, and address attached to it. Even though a microchip is great, it is not a guarantee that your cat will be found and taken to a vet or animal shelter if it is a stray. By using cat secrets training you can be assured your cat will come to you when calling for it.
- It is easier for you to purchase some of the disposable litter boxes that come with litter already inside if you are traveling a long distance with your cat and think that they may need to use the litter box.
- Depending on the size of your car, you might want to place these on the floor so your cat can use them – once they have been eliminated, you may dispose of them in the trash – this is very convenient.
- Don’t forget to bring the cat plenty of water, but make sure to only give it to her once you have parked your vehicle. If your cat is in the carrier, it is not advisable that the water bowl be left in the carrier while you are driving.
- This will only result in spills and messes, leaving your cat damp and unhappy afterward. You should bring a gallon of water that your cat drinks at home – tap or filtered. Your cat might not drink the water.
- Before you travel, or while you are driving, do not feed your cat. This will minimize the risk of your cat vomiting in its carrier, and it will only be eating in the evening for a few days.
- If you will be traveling during the heat of the summer make sure to bring a few ice packs and a few frozen bottles of water with you. Make sure they are kept in a cooler. The further you are away from your home if you lose your air conditioning, the quicker your cat will overheat – their ability to sweat effectively cannot counteract the effects of the heat as it does for you.
- You can help keep the temperature of your cat cool if this happens by lining the inside of the carrier of your cat with ice packs that have been covered in a cloth to try to keep the cat cool.
- In order to protect your cat from the cold, it is recommended that you bring a large blanket along with you if you travel during the middle of winter.
- Bring the vaccination paperwork from your veterinarian with you. It is also required that you have a veterinarian’s health certificate if you are crossing state lines. You are unlikely to be asked to show it, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
- You can confine your cat to one room the entire time you are staying with a friend, preferably the one where you will be sleeping so that your cat won’t be stressed while you are there.
- You can obtain sedatives or tranquilizers, from your veterinarian, if your cat is averse to car rides, but you have no other option. Although veterinary behaviorists are divided on the subject, if your cat is that stress, it may be better for both of you to do so. Another way of keeping your cat calm is using cat secrets training. Start your training here to get the cat or your dreams!
- It’s always better to try to minimize the stress of your cat as much as possible once you arrive at your destination if you’re moving into a new home. When you are unpacking and unloading your luggage, you should confine them to one room that is calm and out of the way. Using the cat secrets training will also minimize the stress level of your cat.
- Ensure that the room smells like the old place where you lived. Ensure you take a few minutes periodically to go into the room and time to spend with them so they aren’t left feeling alone.
Road Trip with Cat
Are you afraid that taking your pet on a road trip will not be possible? Don’t worry! There are many ways you can prepare for your road trip in advance. This will make sure your trip will proceed smoothly with a cat along. In addition, traveling with a cat doesn’t have to be stressful.
What are the risks, whether it is feasible, and whether it does not seem absurd to suggest it? As long as you plan ahead, prepare your cat as well as yourself, and make sure the whole family is prepared well, you should have a peaceful car trip!
There are a number of important logistical issues that need to be considered in order for us (and them) to be able to travel with as much ease as possible.
In preparation for a safe and successful road trip with your cat, there are several things you can do well before you set out for your journey. Whenever possible, it makes the most sense to teach a kitten to travel on his/her own when he/she is still very young.
However, whether you are a kitten or an adult cat, the order in which the cat learns how to move is basically the same. You should be able to take your cat on a road trip when it is still young. This is because your trip will be more feasible if your cat hasn’t had any traumatic experiences while traveling by car.
However, if this is not the case, there are ways to teach even the “most mature cats” how to ride a car.
If you are interested in taking a road trip with your cat, then this ultimate cat road trip planner will be a useful tool to guide you along the way.
What you need to do before taking your cat on a road trip
Put the cat carrier in the right place and fasten the seat belt.
If you are traveling with your cat on a long trip, it is imperative that he feels comfortable and safe. Ensure that there is sufficient space within the carrier so that the cat can stand up and move about. Make sure the bottom is cushioned as well as secured.
Back seats are ideal places to secure the carrier with a seatbelt and are an ideal spot for the carrier to be at. In this case, you should consider using the boot of your car as a last resort as you should check that the carrier is secured to the vehicle.
Learn how to make your cat fall in love with its carrier.
If they are planning on riding in the car, just like you, they will need to have their safety belts fastened. This will ensure they have protected not only themselves but also everyone else in the car and on the road as well.
It is imperative to keep in mind that unrestrained cats can be a distraction, leaving you unable to steer or brake the vehicle. During a crash or sudden stop, they can become a dangerous projectile and even become a projectile themselves.
There were three accidents caused by a cat loose in the car, which distracted the driver and caused the driver to lose control.
Spend some time training your cat to love their carrier before the big travel day arrives, so that restraints are as stress-free as possible for your cat and yourself on the big travel day.
Make sure your cat is safe by using a harness and leash
When traveling, hiking, or touring in an unfamiliar environment, it is essential that your cat has a harness and a leash. Don’t forget to attach your cat’s identification to the collar! If you do not intend to have a litter box in their carrier but instead intend to stop regularly, there is no way to avoid this.
Make sure to spend some time getting your cat used to the harness before you leave the house, as well as taking walks with your cat in the harness. Using a leash safely is one of the tips and tricks that Preventive Vet provides in order to help you walk your cat.
When taking your cat on a trip, you will need a litter box
If you plan on taking your cat on a long rod trip with you, it’s a smart idea to choose a litter. This will keep both you and your cat’s litter box at a distance while providing efficient odor control and dust reduction.
If you have the desire to buy a litter that is fragranced, you should be aware that this could actually irritate the nose and lungs of your cat. This could cause them stress. If they aren’t inclined to use their litter box because of this, then chances are they won’t ever utilize their litter box.
Several kinds of cat litter are available to choose from. This is sometimes needed in order to help cats remember to use their litter box, especially during a time of change such as when they travel.
Get your veteran’s contact information before you depart
It’s a good idea to contact your vet before a long road trip with your cat in addition to gathering and packing her medical records. Check the pet’s health, make sure they are on the right medication, and also make sure the flea and worming treatment is up to date.
In addition, if you are traveling to the US and there are states where rabies vaccinations are required, you will need to make sure that you plan ahead. It is best to keep in mind the names of veterinarians along the route in case of an emergency.
Here are some of the essentials you need to take with you when you travel with your cat:
- A high-quality cat carrier that includes a blanket and a toy
- An assortment of liners and scoops for a cat litter box
- With a few treats for rest stops, dry and wet food will be available
- It would be nice to have a bowl for eating and plenty of fresh water for drinking
- Medications, medical documents, and pet insurance certificates that are crucial to your pet’s well-being
- A list of veterinarians on route as well as a cat first aid kit
- In case of an accident, you should also have a towel and some cleaning products with you
