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Many years ago, I had to travel with my cat Schmeckie from Colorado to D.C. I was not experienced with this and she and I had a miserable time, Schmeck because she was scared and bored, me because I was deaf from cat howling by the time we got to Kansas.
You can actually train your cat to travel well with a little effort. First, get your cat used to a halter and leash. Have her wear it a few minutes at a time. Eventually venture outside, praising your cat and offering treats. Next, sit in the car with her without the engine running. Then, place her in her carrier in the car and take a short trip, gradually lengthening it. Start stopping occasionally and walk her in her halter, as you would for a rest stop. Bring a portable litter box on the trip for your cat to use in or out of the car. Remember: plenty of food, treats, and water. And do not forget to get your cat microchipped and tag her before hitting the road. Kelly is a pet writer. She lives in the Boston area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat. |
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November 4th, 2009
Most people don’t consider that if they have an accident, even someone hitting them not badly from behind or side, that the cat carrier will most likely go flying and quite easily hit you or go through a window. Whenever I take a cat in the car, even for a short trip to the vet, I put the carrier in the back seat and run one seat belt through the carrier handle and pull it tight just as I would for a child. Sometimes I put the second seat belt around the carrier.
How funny that you chose to put this on now. I just got back from my first road trip with my two cats. They did very well. They were however very excited when we got to the motel and they could be free. They really didn’t want to eat or drink until we stopped. They did use the litter box a little bit. I found a wonderful product at family dollar store it was a disposable litter pan with litter in it. I bought two and just bagged them up at the motel. It was great. We had a great trip.
Investing in large carriers, such as one made by FURRARI which come with a small litterbox and food and water dishes which attach to the metal grill door, is a good insurance policy for travel with cats. We drove across 3 states to deliver a little guy to Best Friends in Utah, and he didn’t stress the whole way there. Spraying the bedding or blanket material in the carrier with Feliway or other feline pheromone mimic is another way to keep stress to a minimum; on a 100-mile journey from our former home to an international airport, our beloved cats didn’t make a peep, and travelled comfortably the whole way.
We purchased a car seat for our cat that has seat belts and hooks so Morris can ride like a person and look out the windows. The seat also folds out to become a padded bed upon arriving at our destination and when in use as a car seat, provides a storage area, too. We’ve used the car seat in the front and back. He likes the view from the front window.
Although Morris’s preferred seat is sitting in someone’s lap, the car seat also allows him to nap. The car seat is also completely washable.
After the first few trips, there have been no mishaps, but we have learned to pull over for a rest stop when Morris makes a specific meow. We also have one of those bed pads used for incontinence that have a rubber type side and an absorbent pad side for emergencies.
Morris is a good traveller, but hates being in a carrier as he connects that with trips to the vet. Our next car may have a bench seat in front so my husband, Morris, and I can all sit side by side during trips.
Happy trails.
These were all such helpful suggestions. It’s a good point about securing the carrier and so interesting about the car seat. I’ve sen them for dogs but ever thought to put a cat in one. My guess is, it depends on the cat re: whether they’re more comfortable “out” or prefer the hiding place of a carrier.
I love the tips about a litter box with litter in it and the carrier that actually has one. Both efficient options.
I love your story about Morris and the car seat. Do you have a link to the one that you bought? I am sure that my little guy Alvin would be most interested. I’m about to move house and will be going on a 2 day road trip with him so it would be nice for him to have a view