How to travel with 4 cats by car?

Question

My husband and I are moving from Florida to California in a moving truck and a car Husband in the truck and I in car with 4 cats! I have carriers for them but how do I keep them calm for 500 miles a day in the car I don't want to leave them behind but I don't want to traumitize them either nor do I want my new car ruined any suggestions to make this easier on all with out hurting or leaving my cats?

Answer 1

Hi there...to help desensitize your cats for crate and road excursions it helps to do the following: begin a treat reward inside the travel crates before the are moved and you place them into the car/truck so begin feeding your cats now until the next step.

Begin by feeding them in front/around of the crates then gradually move the food dishes into the crates...eventually when they are okay with eating in the crate gently close the door, but open it immediately while the kitties are eating to help them acclimate to this. After they appear to be okay with eating inside the crates (sometimes it will happen within a couple days) you can begin with the next step...

Feed them with the door half way closed for each time for several days and then closed the next few days. Next you'll want to try to pick the crates up just a few inches from the floor while they are eating and next time a little higher. Eventually, you will be able to move the kitties in the crates around the home to each room and slowly towards the front door before trying the outdoors. The idea is to do this in small gradual steps to help them become desensitized to each tiny change. New changes are always overwhelmingly enormous in a cat's mind therefore it must be done in very small/minute fragments. This is key to getting any animal to adjust to very uncomfortable situations successfully.

Next take them in the car (with crates and food dishes) and sit quietly with them and the crates door opened and offer them delicious treats inside the crate, which rewards them for accepting the new environment. Do this several times throughout the day and when they are showing signs of being more comfortable then you can move onto the next step. Just start the car (no driving) and offer rewarding treats again in the crate/bed still with door opened and also closed. After a few times then start the car and move it back and forth in that little area again offer treats in the crates with door opened and closed (by the way, chicken baby food is usually is an excellent treat just make sure this is Gerbers "2nd" NOT 3rd as the ingredients Onion and Garlic are toxic to kitty). Again, when kitties shows sign of comfort then try a drive around the block once then several times gradually with the crates door closed this time. Make sure they can see and/or one another you when you travel as cats find comfort with their owner's familiar face as well as their mates and can easily hear your voice as well. Try placing the crates somewhere low to the floor or where you can occasionally put your fingers through the holes to comfort them with your touch too.

Most cats will be somewhat a little nervous at the start of the journey , but will fall asleep for the majority of the trip. Some people have found that using catnip is helpful to put the kitties into a state of mind of bliss as well.

Keep in mind this method is the healthiest so that you don't need to tranquilize your kitties, which should be reserved as a last resort if your kitty still is very anxious in the final stages of the training. The method I described above is how zoo trainers teach their animals to be managed without sedation.

I hope you all will have a safe and happy long journey each time you have to travel together.

Answer 2

Talk to your local vet about your current concerns. There are suppliments(mostly herbal) that can allow cats to relax. I would also try giving them catnip(ive done so with my cat but not for a long trip), but it really depends on how they react to it. If they become sleepy and lazy then I would do it(thats what mine does) but if it makes them more active, then that isnt what you want.
If money isnt an option you can always send them ahead to a family or trusted friend that is where you will be traveling to. If you do it this way, they will too sleepy to remember most of it.
Another thing that keeps cats calm is to put a cover(sheet or blanket) over the carriers you have them in. Make sure you dont cover the sides of the carrier though!!! This will cut off their air supply! This will make them sleepy and they wont remember a thing.
About not ruining your car, expect kitty hair when they are stressed. Also, to keep them from going to the bathroom keep a litter box in the trunk or the back seat if its big enough. This way when you stop for a break, you can let them use the litterbox, clean it, and continue your travel. Dont give them a bowl of food except when you stop and only let them nibble. It's ok if they dont eat much, just make sure they drink water.
They have portable waterbowls that you can attach to the carrier door. You can also buy a portable bowl that collapses and fill it every so often for them to drink from.(I have one for my dog and it works great!) You can give them your bottled water.
You will want to make frequent stops for you and your kitties. Make sure the temperature they are in is the same as they are use to. Any change in temperature could make them go into shock and cause more stress on you and them. While traveling, every place will have a different climate so you want to make sure they are not too hot or too cold(and you too!)
Remember to make frequent stops, and if you have any questions or concerns it never hurts to make a call to the vet's office for some advice.
Again, for the best advice contact anomunously your vet before you are traveling.
GoodLuck!

Answer 3

I feel for ya! First of all, get some ear plugs for yourself! Then ask your vet for some sedatives for THEM. If you need them you'll have something to calm the cats down, if you don't then you can be thankful you did not. Carriers are good, stop at Motel 6 if you can...they will let you take your pets in with you and not charge you a HUGE amount for a pet deposit, close the door of the room and don't open it again unless all 4 are in their carriers. Do they like music? Do they HATE music? Try to find out BEFORE you leave so you'll know if you can play your favorite CD. Be prepared for some noise and unhappy babies the first night. Be sure to put collars on them with tags that say..."I'm traveling, Please call mom (your cell phone number) if you have found me." Put a t-shirt you have worn but not washed in the carriers with them to snuggle and hide under and don't expect them to eat as much as they do at home. Offer plenty of water and time to use the litter box and they should do fine.

Good Luck

Answer 4

Never let them out of the carrier when the car is moving. At roadside rest, set out a dishpan full of litter in the back seat as well as food and water. Let them out of the carriers making sure they do not escape by keeping doors closed while they are out of the carriers. A friend of mine moved 3 cats from NC to Alaska by car with no problems. No drugs. She also had a dog and three kids with her. Brave woman!

Answer 5

I traveled in a car with 3 cats once. No drugs, just some dry food and a bit of water in containers. Litter box in front of or under passenger seat. No speeding. At some point, I had to let all the cats out and let them wander. The caterwauling got to me and then they calmed down a bit after being let out of the carriers. One even sat on my lap the whole way, the other two perched in the back rear window. Lots of fur blowing around, but that's easily remedied. Talk calmly, maybe play some soft jazz or classical. Have fun!

Answer 6

my daughter had to move her two cats from the NW to so cal to New Orleans and back to SoCal when Katrina hit...they did great...albiet a little more than confused by it all...let them out of the carriers during long drives..with the hard and fast rule that the door never opened..even for a moment. unless everyone was back in a carrier...cannot risk anyone getting out of the car on the side of a freeway somewhere...they did great..now with just one person this could be tougher..but the passenger in my car usually had a cat on their lap...had a little box on the floor..there's nothing worse than a cat throwing littler around while you are doing 70 on the freeway..and the lovely smell of...well you get the picture...carry that scooper and plenty of plastic bags..take you kitties with you....

Answer 7

Oh boy, you're in for fun! Buy leashes for each of the cats and plan on making several stops along the way to allow them to get out and stretch and stop them from "moving" so much. A lot of animals tend to get car sick on long trips, even if they are not prone to before. I would make sure that they have a couple of toys in their carriers and a nice plsuh blanket to sleep on and curl in if they get nervous. Also, make sure you have portable food dishes to take with you so you can feed and water them at stops. Good luck, I can't imagine traveling that far with animals in my car! lol

Answer 8

GOOD LUCK !! Call your vet. He could perscript a mild sedative for each day of the trip, cats normally sleep the day anyhow. My sister flew her cat from BC to ONT and the sedative worked fine and the next day foxy was quite herself.

Answer 9

They should do fine, ours have, we were full time RVers, and our Kitty traveled with us his whole life, do you really have to do 500 miles a day? That is an awful lot of miles each day, and expect of your Kitty, a little more modest mileage wld go a long ways.

Answer 10

if u hv ever brought ur cats out for rides in ur car before, this move will not effect them... no sedatives needed... juz enuf water n food will keep them going.