Transporting cats across country in a car - anybody have experience with that?

Question

What is the best method to keep cats safe and comfortable in a car for four days?

Personally, I would set up a litter box, food and water and let them roam. Would catnip work to calm them down?

Any input is appreciated.

Your answers are really awesome - thanks all!

Answer 1

My cat Joey has logged about 7500 miles in my car (so far) in her life time. It's just miserable for her not matter what.

My cat Lucy has logged 3500 miles in her shorter life. She's pretty easy going and mellow about it.

Molly, the youngest, had only traveled 700 miles so far...she was upset at first, but settled down eventually.

If you can't tell...we move a lot!!!!

I wouldn't bother with food, water and litter box...they won't use them...they are too uneasy. I've even let my cats out at rest stops and set the stuff out...they still don't use them...just let the litter box, food and water be the first thing you unload and set up when you reach your destination!

The safest thing is to keep your cats in a hard boxlike carrier...you could even try strapping it in...but normally-I just let my cats wonder around in the car until I get out...then they are either on a leash or in their carriers. They may be uneasy and meow for 30-60 minutes but will eventually just lay down on the floor or the seat or up in the back window.

Just make sure your cats are SECURE before opening the car doors...they will very likely bolt and you';ll never catch them. I almost lost a cat that way.

Honestly-on my next move (next January)...I am just going to put all three cats in this large dog kennel I bought and leave them in their for the duration of the trip (about 10 hours). They will be fine.

If you have any questions, just contact me through my profile page. I've made a 30 hour trip with cats twice and 12 hour trips with cats twice.

Answer 2

I drove my 3 cats from Boston to Vegas.... I found a large animal carrier at the pet store that all 3 would fit in comfortably.... while the vehicle was in motion, they stayed in the carrier. (the last thing you need is for your cat to distract the driver or get under the brake or something ...or get loose when you stop for gas). They are safer in a carrier...and they are usually happier if they feel "enclosed"... they feel safe. Take breaks every few hours that are long enough that the cats can roam around the closed car, eat, use the litter box...etc. Mine didn't eat or go much until we stopped for the night each night.

Take some practice drives first and see how they do....if they really freak out you can get sedatives from your vet.

(catnip may make them hyper)
Good luck.

Answer 3

I have done it twice. The first time they were drugged. That did not go over too well since one had a bad reaction and it made the other one hyper. The second time my vet suggested not drugging them and putting a light, breathable sheet over their carriers. Apparently what upsets them the most is the constant change & movement. That worked wonderfully. They cried a little bit initially, and occassionally through the ride, but otherwise settled down well. Ask your vet for drugs just in case one does not react well. Cats will pant from stress, not just from heat or being thirsty. No matter how much you are tempted, DO NOT, open their cages when the car door is open. Many cats escape onto the highway because of this. As a precaution, if you do not already, have microchips implanted for identification in case they are lost, so someone can contact you. They are painless and tinny, usually around $20.

Answer 4

My boyfriend and I took our cats to Colorado from Navada, we had fun with that. Cats like room, Have litter box, and carrie water with you have AC too. Take a water bowl . Cats may or may not drink or even eat. But always check everytime you stop. You can let them roam in the car but make sure you take another person with you who can keep them in other spaces and not around your steering wheel hand other controls important to drive and control of car. Catnip may settle them,it will take about two hours for them to adjust. to travel.

Answer 5

My sister did this once and she just pulled over and walked the cats she got them little leash's and she kept there food and water in the car were they could get to it the cat nip thou lol i hear ed makes them act silly so i don't think that would work lol oh yeah they also have little kitty that you can put on the windows they have a little suction cup to keep them there i did this with my grandmas cat kept him busy the whole way ,have fun and enjoy ya might want to see how they do in the car so you know what to expect and not find out the hard way lol have fun

Answer 6

Some cats absolutely freak out and have to be tranquilized. We had one that ran out of tranquilizers on the way from New York to Florida, and the last 6 hours of the trip were the most miserable hours of everyones life...including the cats!

Answer 7

relies upon on the cat. If it bargains nicely with a short journey it is going to deal with it greater effective than one that doesn't... plenty greater effective! some cats hate vehicle rides and could do something to get out of the vehicle. some cats love vehicle rides and choose to circulate alongside everywhere you do in straightforward terms for a journey. maximum nonetheless basically lie someplace in the middle. The greater you cat likes vehicle rides the fewer annoying it's going to be for each individual. despite if that's a large adequate provider you may no longer would desire to enable them to out yet probable a jiffy in case you stop for a on an identical time as. if your cat is semi-obedient, you ought to no longer even choose a cage yet i've got had 10 cats that have ever been in a vehicle and that i ought to in straightforward terms try this with one. That became into additionally basically for the time of state. so some distance as elevation differences circulate i'm unsure even nonetheless it ought to via fact it has a comfortable result on maximum human beings.

Answer 8

I had one cat that was great in the car. He loved trips. All others have been horrible in the car and I have to keep them in a cat carrier.

Answer 9

I went from Montana, thru Los Vegas, to Arkansas with my 2 cats, I bought a big enough cage to keep both of them & a litter box & food & water - they were fine!!
Thank you for not abandoning them due to "Moving"

Answer 10

I wouldn't want to travel in the car with a cat for ten minutes, let alone four days, but your idea sounds good.

I think that the cat would rather not be cooped up for four days in a pet taxi.