Oh, the cat also has kidney problems which causes him to go to the bathroom a lot...
2007-02-11 06:17:07 · 7 answers · asked by bri_maj 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
You have two options: Forget the car travel for Mr. Kitty, and ship him by air. If your doing this during summer...think twice about shipping because airlines discontinue shipping live animals during the summer because of the extreme heat in baggage compartments.
The second is to try to accustom him to car travel prior to your move. Make the crate seem like "home" by putting his food inside and leaving the door open so he can freely come and go. Try this for several days before even thinking about putting him in the car.
Due to the fact the Mr. Kitty has kidney problems, use a crate that is large enough to accomodate the litter box that he is accustomed to.
Look into Bach Flowers - Rescue Remedy is highly recommended for calming cats, this can be easily purchased at vet, or go ahead and get a tranquilizer, Valium for Mr. Kitty. Make sure you have Mr. Kitty's ID on him in case he escapes along the way.
Good luck and hope wherever your moving brings you happiness!
Edited to add web address
2007-02-11 06:27:55 · answer #1 · answered by Michelle_My_Belle 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We moved about 1800 miles a few years ago with three elderly cats. I purchased a dog carrier and put a small litter box, food , water and their little beds inside and transported them in my car with me. We checked into a hotel one night and were very careful when we tranfered them all to the room.. Under NO circumstances should the cat be on a harness outside. There is too much risk of them getting loose and them running away forever. I also would NEVER consider giving a 19 year old cat to someone else to care for and abandoning her. She is a member of your family and with kidney problems, she will do better with you and not someone unfamiliar. Good luck on your move!
2007-02-11 06:52:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I recently got a product over the internet called Cat Paper. You can get it a www.catpaper.com. For under twenty dollars I got a roll and a bunch of pads. It is supposedly super-absorbant and would be easy to change if your cat is traveling in a carrier. I would hope it would be comfortable for the cat to lie on. So they can be discarded when necessary when you take your own rest stops.
I think cats get stressed when we make the short, stop and start trips when taking them to the vet. I doubt the steady acceleration on a highway would be as disturbing for a cat. An older cat does relish his sleep too and he might just settle down very well for some good naps on the trip. You could take some Rescue Remedy along with you and treat him with drops of that on his fur if he seems distressed at any time - either in the car or when you stopover.
2007-02-11 06:28:43 · answer #3 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hoping he's been in the car before! Some vet give them something to calm them abit but when we traveled from far right side of Texas to Los Angeles, our cat seemed to do better without it. He watched things go by & entertained himself. Sedated, his vision & balance was impaired so he cried far worse. The kidney problems : keep his litter box in clear sight, have plenty water & bring extra towels for accidents. Hope you're riding with someone. It's a long drive & they could also be company for your cat. Good Luck
2007-02-11 06:51:32 · answer #4 · answered by Memeiko 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
talk to your vet about sedatives, diapers, and various cat carriers that could keep your cat calm and comfortable. Also a harness and leash would be a good idea in case you want to let the cat stretch its legs at a rest stop. You'll also want to check for hotels that allow you to bring a cat if you're planning to break up the drive over more than one day. Also since your cat has medical problems make sure that you know a good vet where you are moving to.
2007-02-11 06:25:57 · answer #5 · answered by TechChick 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all do you have to move?Second of all,go to the vet to see if they can help your cat.Third,Make lots of pit stops when you go.
Fourth,if you really want the cat then take the advice,but if you don't really want it then you should give it to someone close by that you know will take good care of the cat.
2007-02-11 06:25:41 · answer #6 · answered by Fred 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should make plenty of room for the cat in your car - like the back seat. if you are driving by yourself, make stops to pet her/calm her. if you're traveling with someone else, when you're not driving, get into the back seat with her. and start taking her for shorter drives now.
the most ideal method is air travel, but if she is old and sick, the stress might be too much for her.
2007-02-11 06:33:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋