What concerns should I have transporting my cat cross-country in a car?

Question

What concerns should I have (beyond the obvious) should I have transporting my cat cross country with me from Oregon to Boston in a car? Should I just find a large cat carrier? How often should I let him out. Do elevation changes hurt cats etc...?

Answer 1

We moved across the country with our cat this summer and had no trouble. We drove from Vancouver BC to Hamilton Ontario via Chicago and Detroit.

We were in a UHaul truck. The first day out the cat stayed in his large kennel. We attempted to use a leash at rest areas, but he was really freaked out by the noise and preferred to stay in the truck.

Second day out we let him out of the kennel and he was very happy to sleep behind the seat.

We stayed each night at a Motel 6, they are very accommodating to animals. We had a litter tray we would set up each night. He used it no problem at all. Miles (our cat) loved to explore the motel rooms!

All in all in handled the trip wonderfully well. I would have no hesitation to do a similar long-haul move with our cat again.

Answer 2

Depends on the cat. If it deals well with a short ride it will handle it better than one who doesn't... a lot better! Some cats hate car rides and will do anything to get out of the car. Some cats love car rides and want to go along everywhere you do just for a ride. Most though just lie somewhere in the middle. The more you cat likes car rides the less stressful it will be for everyone.

If it is a large enough carrier you shouldn't need to let them out but probably a few minutes if you stop for a while.

If your cat is semi-obedient, you might not even need a cage but I've had 10 cats that have ever been in a car and I could only do that with one. That was also just across state.

As far as elevation changes go I'm not sure but it might since it has a mild effect on most humans.

Answer 3

Your cat's reaction to the car will depend on your cat. One of my cats sleeps, one meows the entire time. It is really pathetic and annoying after a few hours. I would suggest purchasing a sedative, and don't give it to the cat unless it starts to get agitated. The carrier should be the right size for your cat, it will feel more comfortable in something that is not too big. Bring a little food in a baggie and a bottle of water and a little dish. Every time you stop, offer kitty water and give her some attention. I suggest along with a collar, put the cat in with a harness on and have the leash on hand, then let it out every couple of hours. Unless it has a favourite stuffed toy, toys won't help it too much because it won't have room to play. But putting a few soft things that it is used to will help it feel more at home. Elevation won't affect your cat any more than it affects you.

Answer 4

I traveled 24 hours straight from North Carolina to Oklahoma with 2 cats and a dog that hated each other.

They all rode in the backseat and were well behaved. It was like they knew they had to be. One of my cats and my dog were like garfield and odie. But on this trip, they were very nice to each other and we didn't have any problems at all.

We'd stop at roadside parks so that they could go to the bathroom and eat and drink. The only problem that I had was that one of the cats wouldn't go to the bathroom the whole time. When we finally go to Oklahoma when he did go to the bathroom, he had blood in his urine. He ended up being ok though. It just wasn't good that he didn't go to the bathroom for 24 hours.

My cats don't go crazy in cars. A few of them are kinda freaked out at first, but within 10 minutes, it's not a big deal.

Oregon to Boston is a long way though. Some people I know do put them in cat carriers and everything is fine. Personally, my cats freak out in carriers and would rather be free in the car.

Answer 5

You mught want to be worried about the horrible stench your car will have.

Ask yourself this:
Is the cat active or laid back ?? If laid back then good.

What will the cat use the bathroom in ??? And if you use a normal litter box will the litter spill ???

Does the cat like being in cars ???

Will it be nice outside so you can leave a window open for the cat to get fresh air ???

Ask yourself those and see what you think.


1. Don't forget the leash and collar. You should make a plan to exercise your pet every day. This will ensure two things. First that your pet gets the proper exercise and that she will be able to stretch her legs after sitting in a car for long periods. Go for a walk or throw a ball for some fun. This helps to prevent boredom.

2. Bring along squeaky toys or a favorite chew toy for your pet. This will prevent your pet from getting bored on the trip. The last thing you want is to watch your pet pacing back and forth in your rear view mirror.

3. Make sure you pack enough food for the trip and store it in a re-sealable package to keep it fresh. Bring a small box of cookies or treats to reward your pet along the way. Try not to feed your pet the things you eat at a roadside stand. Ice cream is just as fattening for your pet as it is for you!

4. Bring along a set of plastic bowls to use along the way. And from experience it wouldn't hurt to carry along a roll of paper towels as well. Use plastic bowls because they are easier to keep clean and you don't have to worry about dropping them.

You want to continue to provide your pet with the same healthy lifestyle you have been working on all year. Vacation is not the time to stop. So you and your pet should eat right and exercise and above all, have some fun together.

Answer 6

I would like to add, you may want to check out the DryFur Pet carrier cushion it will keep you cat Comfy and if he has an accident it will Dry instantly and will not smell. It is very hard to get the cat to use the box when scared or nervous. I sell tons of DryFurs to ProPet Transport and Pet Chauffeur both offer professional pet ground transport and they both have told me they would not know what they would do with out them. After the pad is used you just toss it away. Also I am in Oregon also so you can buy them at our kennel or order online at many online travel stores. like www.pettravelstore.com

Answer 7

It would be nice to have more information about your cat.

If it an older cat that has never ridden in cars and if it is not a gray cat (don't ask me why, but gray cats seem to like car trips) then I suggest getting some ear plugs for yourself and going to your vet for enough tranquilizers for the cat to last the trip. And of course keep the cat in a carrier and on a leash for "pit stops". Don't expect your cat to eat or drink much, until you stop for the night.

My last cat a gray long-haired tabby sat on my lap as I drove and looked out the side window and loved motel rooms. However she was an exception.

PLEASE DO THIS: Put a collar on your cat with contact information on it. I lost a cat on an overnight stop once and made several trips of hundreds of miles out of my way back and couldn't find him.

If you have a kitten it will adjust fairly quickly but an older cat probably will not unless it is gray.

People should start taking kittens out in the car for short trips so they become used to it and then will enjoy riding in the car.

One of the gray cats I had was found at a deserted rest stop out in the desert of California and named Needles for the next town we came to in Arizona. This cat liked riding in a car so much that I fear that is how I lost him. He had a habit of climbing into anyone's car if the door was open, so he probably hitched a ride from FL to Canada.

Hope this helps. Elevation could bother a cat, although I never noticed with any of mine, but our dog got car sick until out of the mountains even though we live in mountains.

Answer 8

a pet carrier is a very good idea, you will have to remember when you stop to let the cat do its business also. Best tip (1hr. and more looking around the gas station and finally under the dashboard) do not let the cat roam inside the car-if that doesn;t happen, it will be all over while your trying to drive. Hey, have fun..

Answer 9

don't let it go dehydrated in the car you can tell actually when the cat starts breathing like a dog that means its hot and that means you should give it some water and get him/her in a cool place.

Answer 10

men..its not cross country its just cross-state..well if ur cat develops motion sickness ur cat might puke..or if she poops really bad...u wil need to pull over a lot...other than that ur cat wil be just as fine as u..just dont freak out...and dont let the cat drive for u...