We'll be driving to CA from RI in mid September. I'll be driving the Uhaul and my wife our car. We have a dog and a cat. It's the cat I'm worried about. We have a crate for her w/her bed, etc. and my wife plans on getting a harnes and a leash to use when going from the car to the hotel, etc. Still we are both kind of at a loss as how the experience will play itself out. Does any one have any advise or experience you can share of like circumstances??
2006-08-24 03:14:35 · 8 answers · asked by Add Man 4 in Pets ➔ Cats
Seems like you are making very good preparations with the harness and leash. This can ensure your cat's safety.
Go to: www.littlebigcat.com. Dr. Jean Hovfe has an article there "Traveling with Cats" and I am sure you will find her information valuable. She is a veterinarian and cat behaviorist. You can buy essences from her to put on the cat. A bottle is $16.95 and that's all, no shipping, handling or taxes. Instructions for use come with your bottle.
2006-08-24 03:52:20 · answer #1 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've gone a very long distance with two labs in a packed car. Make sure they can't effect you're driving if they should get scared. The first thing one of my dogs and many other animals do is head straight for the floor boards by the owner's feet which of course is dangerous. Provide a comfortable place with lots of toys. Cats do not like leashes they become dead weight on a rope basically. Most likely they will be scared at first and might calm down as you go on. My two dogs were the exact opposites, one slept pretty much the whole way and the other stayed up wide-eyed and nervous especially if a loud vehicle went by. Good luck with your journey.
2006-08-24 03:38:43 · answer #2 · answered by janet_67_1998 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cat will stay safe in the crate while travelling. Unless you trained your cat with a leash and harness, it will be uneffective and downright confusing for your cat - so it'd be better is you can just move the crate from vehicle to room. The cat (remember is a desert animal) will not pee or poop while in transit nor will it be interesting in eating or drinking. Buy some travelling litter boxes for your hotel - then the cat can pee and poop and eat and drink while in the room.
The dog will be easy.
And try not to worry - the trip isn't going to be as difficult as you think.
2006-08-24 03:35:16 · answer #3 · answered by Applecore782 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cats were fine in a crate traveling (we placed them in our dogs crate and provided the litter box, bed, food, and water. They were pretty mellow the whole time (about 17 hours). They did cry a little in the beginning.
I wouldn't try to walk the cat while it is on the leash if she has never done it before, they do not act the same as dogs and do not tend to follow you. Put her leash on your arm and hold her close to your body.
They will be fine, the cat probably very nervous, but she will get over it.
2006-08-24 03:29:19 · answer #4 · answered by Krispy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I travelled with 3 cats from Oklahoma to Kentucky and 3 years later from kentucky to Texas (military orders) anyway the first time i just put my cats intheir carriers and rolled out and i swore i would never ever do that again! it was painful for them and for me, they were crying all the way!!!! so the second time from KY to TX i decided i was going to ask my vet about it and the vet gave me this miracle pills that knocked them out, they are tranquilizers, they sleep for 6 hrs at a time and you don't have to worry about them. We drove until they woke up, then we stayed at a hotel and they ate with no problems, they all used the cat litter with no problems, I made sure they drank a lot of water because the medicine dehidrates them a bit and next day we did the same thing, we gave them the pills they fell asleep and when they woke up we were in TX! I paid 12 dollars for the pills, i got 3 cats and according to your cats weight you give them one or one and a half. TRUST me best thing we ever did.
2006-08-24 05:00:38 · answer #5 · answered by Lilly 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Go to your vet and ask for a sedative, sounds awful but in the long run it was the best thing, kept everyone calm and they didn't try to escape every chance they got, or freak out when they saw other people they did not know. I traveled 1k miles and had 3 cats and dog in the single cab of my truck. and Good Luck!!
2006-08-24 16:33:19 · answer #6 · answered by sofakingsmart8 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well ive read books on that topic except i cant remember what i read so i think you should get a book about it at the library.
2006-08-24 03:18:09 · answer #7 · answered by ~*The Show Must Go On*~ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Back in 2001, my then-boyfriend and I drove from Oklahoma to Washington state in July. The cats were miserable at first (it was HOT!), but after we got into Colorado, they were fine.
Your cat should be fine too, just make sure that she has a crate large enough for her to move around in. She'll get horribly restless otherwise.
Sounds to me like you're pretty prepared, though. Good luck!
2006-08-24 05:26:03 · answer #8 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 1⤊ 13⤋