What is the best way to take a cat on a long drive, (1000 miles) when it hates to be in a cat carrier?

Question

I am moving from Boston-Chicago and i need to drive my stuff there, including my cat, who goes berzerk when he is in the cat carrier, he meows non-stop and he absolutely hates it, and after about 5 minutes, he becomes intolerable. Should i sedate him? How would i do that? Has anyone had to do this before? This dillema is starting to concern me, and know one i know has any idea what to do! Help me!

Answer 1

I would talk to your vet about using something like dramamine to relax him. When my family used to drive back and forth between St. Louis and Atlanta, we had to give our dog dramamine because she would get carsick. It made her basically just sit there the whole time and it made her very relaxed. I would consult your vet about dosage though, because you don't want to give him too much.

Answer 2

There's no way around it, he's got to be in the carrier. Is the carrier big enough so you can get a small litterbox crosswise in the back? Do you have a towel or something to fold up so he'll feel comfortable? Do you have the little food and water dishes that fasten to the carrier door? You'll probably have to talk to the vet about giving him something so he isn't so upset. There is something called CALMZ you can put in his water, but the vet may have something much better.

The only safe way to drive that distance with your cat is to have him in a carrier and have the carrier belted in. Because of the slope of the seats you may have to put something under it -- maybe a book -- so it is level. It's important that the cat not distract you from your driving. I moved from the Midwest to the West Coast with my cats and they did sing for awhile, but calmed down later and went to sleep. Every time we stopped I got several choruses of "Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" , but they loved our new home.

You might try putting your cat carrier out on the floor with the door open and throw a few treats in there every once in awhile so the cat can associate the carrier with something pleasant. Try doing this about a week before you leave.

Good luck. Cats are usually good travelers.

Answer 3

After doing this several times with 2 very high strung cats and a very laid back one, good luck. The tranqs will probably work, but I didn't want to drug my babies. I put mine in the carrier the first hour or so, then I let them out. I set up a litter box on the floorboards of the car on one side and the other their food and water (they have me well trained). After about 2 hours the crying should slow down, or if you are lucky, stop. Just make sure they are back in the carriers before you open the door. If they are prone to get under your gas and brake, don't let them out while driving, take frequent stops so they can stretch, eat, ect.

Answer 4

i don't know if you have one, but get one if you don't, get a big dog cage, they are about five, four, or three feet, this way your cat is contained, and can still see whats going on, and can move around, then make it comfortable, and put some treats in it. start putting your cat in the cage as soon as you get it, for just like 5 minutes a day, and make sure you keep the same blanket, so it has it's smell. Then, make sure you bring a big enough blanket to cover the whole cage, this way, if the cat still meows and meows, you can cover it's cage, that will reduce the sound, and the cat won't know it's in a car.

Good Luck

Answer 5

Don't put him in the cat carrier. My cat loves car rides so long as he is not in the cat carrier. If your worried about the litter box make a stops about every hour or half-hour to feed your cat and put the litter box on the passenger side floor. Also pet your cat often in the car and talk to him. If you don't like this idea then go to your vets and they can give you a sedative for him that you give to him about a half-hour before you put him in the carrier. Both well do the trick. Good Luck on your move.

Answer 6

If left loose in the car, would he behave? I suggest that because I have seen people travelling with their cats in cars and the cat lays on the back of the seat or in the back window. Just make sure that you have a cat pan on the floorboard for him.

You could also sedate him, get the sedative from your vet so that you don't overdose the cat. You will have to give him more than one dose to make the 1000 mile trip.

Answer 7

i have done that before... what i did was i had a cat bed for it with a blanket and a little snack on the seat keepin a water bottle for the cat when she got thirsty.... so i would ust make a comfortable spot on the seat for your cat...he will probaly get up just keep an eye on what he does...make sure he doesnt go near the pedals. so yeah i would do that well good luck. We did the same thing having hte carrier around just incase even though they hate it. We moved from ct to ca.. so tht was hard! Good luck on ur trip.

Answer 8

me and my husband make many trips from nc to la to visit family and my cat hates the 900 miles drive my advice is if he doesn't like the carrier which most don't then if you think it's ok set him up a blanket and a place to lay and lock the doors and windows to prevent him stepping on them. i found that my cat likes to sleep under the passenger seat b/c she feels save and hides and will every so often come out and lay by the feet of the passenger and make sure you block and ways to get under the drivers feet. i've made many trips with my cat and she does just fine out of a carrier in fact she barely ever meows after the 1st few minutes on the road she calms down settles in and sleeps most of the way. good luck

Answer 9

f you want to sedat your cat, consult a veterinarian, they would be able to supply you with medicine to sedate your cat for the trip. Your cat probably finds the whole riding in the crate situation stressful. If you want to try a natural approach (because it may assosiate the crate with going to the vet) Take short trips with him in the crate in the car... Gradually increase the trips length and reward your cat with treats at the end of the trip..
Have patience, I know what it's like to drive a car with a cat protesting all the way on the trip...it's like a nagging old lady...
I keep my cat in her crate on the front seat where she can see me and if she is stressed I put a towel over the top to help reduce the stress of seeing all the things whissing by the windows.... I talk to her calmly and tell her what is going on... It has helped quite a bit on several occasions, she has actually fallen asleep from me talking to her on one occasion...
Please let me know if any of my suggestions are helpful...

Answer 10

You need to take the cat to the vet and explain the situation.He or she will examine the cat and will probably give you a mild tranquilizer to give to the cat when it is in the carrier.Also,make sure your cat's shots are up - to -date,and wear a collar on him with both your old and new addresses and phone numbers on it,in case the cat would get out when you stop at a motel.Good luck with your move.