~*~Traveling With My Cat~*~?

Question

Hello All :-),
Here within a few months me and my family to Alaska (we live in Ohio currently) and we will be driving the whole way, and we will be taking our cat and i was wondering what the best way to travel with her would be? we will be stopping at hotels and stuff so she'll be able to use her litter box, stretch, etc but i was wonder should i keep her in a carrier the whole time or what? thanks so much!!

Answer 1

When possible, prepare your pet by gradually exposing it to elements or sequences of the trip and then practice departures. If your pet is not used to traveling, brief frequent trips are the best way to expose your pet to this experience. The steps are detailed below. As long as your pet's basic comforts are attended to, the trip should go well.

For short trips, remove food at least 2 hours before starting the trip. For longer trips, remove food several hours before the trip. You may feed your pet after the trip. Offer small amounts of water until an hour before travel. Depending on the length of the trip, water bowls can be left in the carrier or not.

Play with your pet or engage it in some kind of positive interaction before you leave home. If your pet is well exercised before it is confined, it will be more comfortable. Make sure your dog has a long walk or your cat has enough time to use the litter before its confinement. Your pet will be less likely to become nauseated or to soil itself during confinement if it is given every opportunity to void before departure.

Most pets become adjusted to travel with frequent travel opportunities. They may feel more secure if they are confined to a sturdy and well-ventilated carrier. Cats and small or medium-sized dogs may learn to travel in pet carriers designed for travel. Large dogs, for example, may be confined behind special gates that section off the back of a motor vehicle.

Have your pet's general health evaluated by a veterinarian before you leave on a long trip. Ideally, this should be scheduled well before an anticipated trip and not left for the last minute. Vaccinations should be updated. Make a list of your pet's known dosage must be appropriate for your pet's age, basic temperament, degree of emotional upset during travel, duration of travel and physical status. Most drugs used for this purpose are short acting, with a peak effect lasting only several hours. For longer trips, it may not be worthwhile to sedate your pet, though it may help it through the first part of the trip.

The risks of tranquilizing your pet must be weighed against the benefits. Some pets become more anxious when a tranquilizer begins to take effect. An unusual reaction to tranquilizers can make a pet agitated and excitable. It may help to do a test run by giving a dose of the medication a few days before travel so as to observe its effects on your pet. If your pets only problem during travel is nausea or vomiting, medication to combat motion sickness may be all that is required.

(More info at site listed below)

Answer 2

When I bought my cats, they were sent by Airplane.

The Breeder had trained them to drink out of a Water Bottle like Hamsters & Mice do that hangs to the metal bar on the cage. The Bottle is outside with a little cup stuck to the cage on the inside (like you may be use to seeing on bird cages for food). This gives more space in the carrier (the carrier was a hard plastic). There is/was a special mat at the bottom so even though it's plastic the cats had good footing and could claw in a little when the Carrier was moving or anything.

They also had Cat Litter. If you check around, some stores will carry special Litter Boxes designed to fit in Cages. They are small, but give a place so the cat or cats get a break if they can't hold it and want to get more comfortable. I think the ones my cats had was by Tidy Cat.

Babbleing Calmly along the trip might help your Cat's nerves. But talking like your cat has been hurt, is about to be hurt, or is going to say the Vet will make him/her worried, nervous, and freaked out. (But every person & animal is different,.. so some times the opposite might happen).

You may want to have a Blanket or Bed he/she has become use to and settles in,.. if they don't have one yet maybe work on putting them on/in one and petting them. This is some times reccommended for Dogs or Cats when you change work hours, go on vacation, or they are Kittens/Puppies and not use to being alone. Along with things with a calm repeative sound (like a ticking watch) and something with your scent they can comfort to (but those are suggestions for when your not home,.. the comfort might still be nice).

Remember to check his/her water (it might get too hot). Maybe give him/her treats and tell them they are being good and behaveing during those breaks in the trip.

[[[ One thing you should consider. If they are not in a Carrier,.. can you handle them clinging to your arms, legs, and face? Also,.. if there is an accident would they be safer in a bed in their carrier or slamming into you, the dashboard, or a Window. I suppose I should have started this with this.]]

Answer 3

For her safety, yes, she should be in a carrier the entire trip of the car, and don't even consider the trunk! That is a LONG trip for a pet, so you might ask your vet what he/she thinks about lightly sedating your cat, or giving her an antianxiety medication before traveling. Another thing you can do, is pad her carrier with a towel that you have slept with for several nights. Your scent will also keep her calmer.

Answer 4

I traveled with a cat once from California to Arkansas (Long Way) to me it was anyway. I let him walk around the car the whole time. we had a carrier but he seemed to like sleeping in the back window the best. Cats are sort of like ppl, picky little creatures. Good Luck Oh and take a towel along in case he gets sick.

Answer 5

Calm Down for Cats
A veterinarian-approved aid that helps pets through stressful times:

Traveling
Home alone
In public
At the vet
At the groomer

1 teaspoon given orally twice daily or in pet's drinking water provides immediate results. Calm Down is not a drug. It is a natural blend of essences from selected flowers that work gently with no side effects. These essences have been recommended by veterinarians to treat pets with behavior problems for over 60 years.

Answer 6

We travel with our cat in a carrier because he feels more secure in one. Take your cat for a short test drive and try out some different ways to see which way suits him/her the best.

Answer 7

I drove 2100 miles with my cat in the uhaul. I was reluctant to give him a sedative but the vet thought it would be less stressful for him. I gave him a sedative and put him in his crate. It took a while for the sedative to kick in and when it did he was still scared and anxious. I tried putting him in his crate but he seemed even more scared. I took him out of his crate and let him have full range of the u haul. We just blocked off the driver area so he couldn't crawl under there. I made a comfortable bed for him with the top part of his crate off. He mostly slept under the seat but I think he felt more secure. By the second day he was better and by the third and fourth day he didn't cry at all. Don't let you cat out of the vehicle until you have checked into your room. You risk your baby running off. She will be fine as long as your there to comfort her. Good luck. I hope you enjoy Alaska it's a beautiful place.

_Jacqueline

Answer 8

I moved from Washington to Florida with two cats.. we had a cat carrier but we ended up just keeping them on their harness/leash, to keep them from getting in the driver's way.. they spend most of the time sleeping on the dash board or watching the trees go by.

My cats freaked out if we tried to keep them in the carrier.

Answer 9

i put my kitty in the carrier cause what if something was to happen? You would have no more kitty and feel quilty. The best route to go is put her in a carrier with a blanket and some toes. Talk to her and make them feel comfortable. It will be along ride, but take short little breaks.

Answer 10

well i would get a carrier where there is ample room so it can stretch its legs and wont get all cramped up and when make sure it has toys to play with and depending on how your cat is you could let it roam the car while driving we did and we drove acrossed almost two states and it did just fine good luck