We have to take our cat from north carolina to connecticut, then back again in two weeks. Does anyone have any advice? all the kennels are booked and all our friends are also going on vacation. The cat has been on like, hour long drives at the most, both in and out of the crate. How do you deal with a twelve hour drive? What do I do as far as the litterbox goes? I'm not looking forward to this at all! And we are leaving tonight, so no time to get sedatives.
2006-12-21 03:54:09 · 9 answers · asked by Sheri 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Get a neighbor to watch the cat. Goodness, you don't want to deal with that for two weeks.
2006-12-21 03:57:21 · answer #1 · answered by leaptad 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since there is no time for a sedative (which I wouldn't bother with) try catnip. Some cats get all goofy play for a while then crash. Others it relaxes right off the bat and some aren't affected at all. Worth a shot.
I have one cat I'd leave in a crate and one that prefers to sit on my lap (I'm the passenger in this situation) and I keep her on a short leash and harness well away from the driver.
I've never had them go to the bathroom while in the vehicle BUT that would be different per animal. And we have experienced puke and bum stink (not a fart but nasty anal gland smell) so bad we had the windows down in Canadian December on the highway...bring baby wipes and paper towel I have kids so these are standard in my vehicle.
Both my cats will voice their displeasure with the situation for up to 6 hours... my husband swears country music reduces their noise, but I'm not convinced. Bring sense of humour...
2006-12-21 12:42:27 · answer #2 · answered by asha1573 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have had to travel with 7 cats 3 different times. the first trip i got the sedative from vet-that didnt work on 2 of the cats but it wasn't too bad a trip. The second trip i just dumped them in car and tried to get where I was going as soon as I could! The last trip was an 8 hour trip-we were moving from NC to PA- for that trip I put old blankets and towels down in the back seat, a bowl of water in the back window and a small box with litter on floor in front passenger seat. 4 or 5 of the cats all piled on top of each other on floor in back, one cried practically the whole way and the others slept. I think at least one peed but got the towel. None of them used the litter box and only a couple drank any water. I hope to never have to do it again but they all survived and got over it fast!! It took me longer...lol Since you only have one cat you might want to try having a box instead of a cage for him in the back seat..especially if he is like my cats and LOVES boxes!! Try not to yell at him to shut up-that only makes you and the cats more upset. I like the idea of the catnip-I never thought of that!! Good luck and have a safe trip!!
Merry Christmas!
2006-12-21 14:06:37 · answer #3 · answered by S B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tjis is what we do- one cat justs sleeps- the other doesn't like it at all. use the largest cat carrier that you can get- ( so that he can stand up and move around a bit) put a nice comfy blanket in on one end- and i usually get one of those disposable heavy aluminum pans(the shallow ones) and put a bit of kitty litter in it on the far end away from the door. you can fasten it there by rolling up a little duct tape and pressing it to the bottom of the pan- make sure it's not stuck to the blanket. i think the pet stores also sell water trays that snap into the bars on the crate door- just keep it away fro mthe litter. or you can stop halfway through to give kitty some water. keep your cat very active before you leave- thave him run around with a lazer or something - then hel just want to sleep in the car. cats sleep about 16 hours a day anyway. good luck!
don't let the cat run around while your driving- wait til you go to a rest stop. people have had fatal car accidents from cats suddenly jumping up onto their lap- (some cats can panic in the car) and obstructing their vision.
2006-12-21 12:01:39 · answer #4 · answered by C.C. 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't believe the "cat won't do its business the car" guarantee. I had a cat once that took a rank dump under the seat within a half hour on the interstate every time we went on road trips. Now I just avoid the bother and leave the cat at home...and stay there myself when I can help it. Like this morning when my girlfriend asked me to drive 12 hours to Long Island...staying with the cat was much preferable to staying with her family.
2006-12-21 12:10:39 · answer #5 · answered by teeyodi 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well if you have like one of those jeeps or something where you can pull down the 3rd row of seat you can put the litterbox back there and the cat in his crate. And when you stop for like your bathroom breaks and dinner and all that stuff you xcan put him in the litterbox or take him out for 5-10 minutes.
Good Luck
2006-12-21 11:59:09 · answer #6 · answered by GirlyGurrl 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you can put down some of the seats in your car, you could:
A. keep her in her crate occasionally letting her out to walk around and use her litter box,
or
B. you said she travels ok out of her crate, try that, with the litter box all the way in back, but take her crate in case.
2006-12-21 12:14:45 · answer #7 · answered by blondie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can keep a small cat pan in the car, and her cage open, but i can guarantee she will not use the bathroom the whole time. many of my friends have taken their cats on moves, and the cat just hung out in the car, and was too scared to eat or go to the bathroom. keep her cage open so she can hide in there if she wants.
2006-12-21 11:58:47 · answer #8 · answered by skiddishpixie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Plan ahead next time. If your cat is current with vet visits, they should just be able to have a sedative available for you to pick up!
2006-12-21 12:02:29 · answer #9 · answered by ♥monamarie♥ 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋