Moving cross-country (Chicago, NYC). What to do with my 2 cats?

Question

I was thinking of a UHaul truck. But where do the cats go? Front (drivers cabin) or back? If in the back - is there some good solution to this, like a temporary cage? I wouldn't want them to be scared or hurt themselves.

Answer 1

I MOVED FROM ARIZONIA TO MICH .WITH 6 CATS 3 DOGS AND TWO KIDS ,I KEPT THE CATS IN CARRIERS AND THEY MADE IT UNSCATHED.WE HAD TO STOP 2-3 TIMES A DAY AND LET THEM USE THE LITTER BOX.KEEP A HARNESS AND LEASH ON THEM WHEN DOING THIS SO THEY WONT ESCAPE,AND KEEP THEM UP FRONT WITH YOU.A LITTLE WORK BUT I WOULDN'T OF HAD IT ANY OTHER WAY

Answer 2

Put them in separate carriers, in the front, with you. (You can buy the carriers - they're hard plastic with a metal gate in the front - at Petsmart or any pet supply store.) Put a harness and leash on each cat to wear while they're in the carrier, in case you have to ever take them out for any reason. Stay at a motel that allows pets (Motel 6 allows pets - I've driven cross country with cats.) Bring a litter box and cat litter - you will use this each night at the hotel - plus food, and bowls for food and water. Basically kitties can and will wait all day without using the litter box when they're traveling, unless you go way too many hours, or unless they panic and have an accident from fear. This is why you have the harness and leash, as well as a big roll of paper towels, some kind of cleaner like spray Lysol, and some rubber gloves: If kitty has an accident you'll need to stop, take kitty out of the cage, clean the cage and start again. You need the harness and leash so kitty won't get away while you're doing this.

Answer 3

Front with you. That way you can regulate the temperature - if in the back, might get too cold or hot. Also you can reassure them and pet them when stopped.

Obviously each in a carrier. And be extemely careful that they are in the carriers and the carrier doors locked when you stop or you'll be posting Lost Cat notices at rest stops. Maybe put a litter box on the floor of the front seat, when you stop for a break, let them out to go potty and get petted, then back into the carriers before you get out of the truck.

I moved with two bird cages and a bunch of fish with me in the front of a Pennske, from San Francisco to Ohio - 8 days on the road. I covered the passenger seat with a couple of garbage bags when I had the birds and fish, so they wouldn't get any dirt or water damage. And I hope yours are not crying kitties that get sick in the car like my old cats were. If that is the case, you might speak to your vet about tranquilizers.

By the way, on a long one-way haul like that, the rental truck people are willing to deal. If you call U-Haul, and get a quote, if you tell them you want to check other companies prices, they will offer you a discount.

Of course the hardest part was the seat belts - easy enough to buckle up the birds, but really tough to get them on the fishes.....

Answer 4

A carrier in the front is the safest way. In the back, they could get injured plus there is no temp. control. Make sure they get fresh water at every stop. Also, in your new home keep them contained in the house for about a month. After that, they will accept the new house as “home” and not try to find the old place. I have traveled across the U.S. with cats. I think as long as you follow these guidelines, your cats should be fine.

Answer 5

You will need a cat carrier, if they don't get along you will need two. I would keep them up front in the cab. I have moved from CA to Arkansas and back with a cat. Before the trip you might want to put them in the cage and take a couple of practice drives so they don't freak out.

Answer 6

I would not put them in the back, they could get scared.
Are you driving? If so, let them ride with you. If not, I would not put them in the back of a Uhaul truck because they don't have air conditioning, and your cats could get hot and have a heat stroke. It's best to put them in the front, so they can not only be comfty but they won't be as scared.
Hoped this helped, and also wherever you put them, I'd put them both in a cage
Good Luck!

Answer 7

They will be too hot or too cold if you put them in the back. Keep them up front with you in pet carriers. They might be scared anyway. Most cats do not like to travel. Whenever my cat travels she throws up, poops and foams at the mouth. Be prepared to clean out the cages when you get to your destination!

Answer 8

Move with ABF U-Pack Moving. With our service, you pack and load your stuff into our truck and we drive it to your new residence. Then your cat can ride comfortably with you in your own car, at your own pace. Our prices are often comparable to those of a rental truck, with two advantages: 1) you only pay for the space you use in the truck and 2) you have no additional charges for fuel, tolls, taxes, etc.

Good luck!

Answer 9

once you've room for it get a better service for contained in the motorized vehicle so that you provides them sufficient space for a small clutter container. Take the cats for some drives till now the tremendous flow to get them use to being contained in the motorized vehicle so it gained't rigidity them so undesirable once you bypass. in the journey that they look completely freaked out being contained in the motorized vehicle you could seek for suggestion from from the vet about a seditive, yet see how they do first till now going that route. Many inns enable animals in some rooms in case you call beforehand and examine you'll get places to stay at evening that isn't concepts the animals being contained in the room with you. i understand vacation lodge does this oftentimes because we stayed at some with our tremendous dogs, they are not the in hardship-free words ones that attempt this though. basically ask beforehand and also you'd be shocked at how regularly that's ok in some rooms.

Answer 10

your vet carries a mild tranquillizer just for things like long trips. it will keep them far less stressed out, calmer and happier.
also, FOR SURE keep them in a carrier up front. they could get bounced around and hurt, not to mention a lack of light and oxygen could seriously harm them, and you wouldn't know anything about it until you stopped.
good luck!