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10/21/09
 This week, I interviewed Hilary Swank, the ambassador for the Iams Home 4 the Holidays adoption program. The program has placed more than 3 million animals in homes since 1999, and in 2008, the adoption drive found homes for 1,202,718 pets. The 2009 campaign launched on October 1st, and with 3,500 animal organizations, their goal is to help 1.5 million pets find homes this holiday season.
 Hilary is an outspoken animal lover who is no stranger to rescuing animals in need. She has adopted many pets throughout her life, including her two dogs Karoo and Rumi. Five years ago, while filming Red Dust in the South African countryside of Karoo, Hilary befriended a starving, tick-infested stray dog she found on the side of a road and adopted him. She adopted Rumi last fall from a participating IH4TH shelter in Los Angeles. I had a few minutes to talk to Hilary about her work with Iams’ Home for the Holidays Program.
Karen: For someone as busy as you, in the midst of promoting a new movie that premieres this week, it seems it would have been easier to write a check than to become the ambassador for the Iams Home 4 the Holidays campaign. What inspired you to get so deeply involved with this program?
 Hilary: Well, I’ve always loved animals and I want to do as much as I can to help them. Over 8 million pets are currently homeless in the United States; it’s just terrible. My own animals are a great source of friendship, inspiration and comfort to me, and I know others would feel the same if they had pets.
Because the holiday season is the most popular time of the year for people to buy pets as gifts, it makes sense to try to save the lives of shelter pets by encouraging people to adopt a shelter pet rather than buy from a puppy mill or backyard breeder. Many people are unaware that there are a lot of purebreds available at shelters; for example, as many as 25% of shelter dogs are purebreds. Purebred or not, shelter pets that are placed in loving homes get a second chance at life, and I want to help make that happen.
Karen: Last year, Iams Home 4 the Holidays placed 1 million pets in homes, and this year’s goal is to find homes for 1.5 million pets. Given the current economic climate, that’s a huge increase. Do you think you have a shot at reaching that goal?
Hilary: Absolutely. Pets provide a lot of comfort and solace during tough times, and I think now, more than ever, people should have pets in their lives. Everyone is under a lot of stress for a lot of different reasons, and nothing’s better than a purring kitten or faithful dog to give you comfort and solace when times are tough. Having someone welcome you home with unconditional love after a stressful day — there’s nothing better than that. They love you no matter what.”
Adoption Fast Facts
- As many as 8 million animals are homeless in the U.S.
- Nearly 4 million orphaned dogs and cats will be euthanized this year due to shelter over-crowding and lack of awareness about the importance of pet adoption.
- More than 25 percent of all dogs in shelters are purebreds.
- IH4TH helped 1,202,751 pets find homes last year alone.
- Over the past decade more than 3 million pets –1,638,515 dogs, 1,505,690 cats and 134,062 “other” animals – have been adopted through IH4TH.
How You Can Help
To learn more about how to make a difference in the life of an orphaned pet, including finding participating shelters, volunteering and making a donation to support animal organizations and pets awaiting new homes, visit iamshome4theholidays.com.
About Iams Home 4 the Holidays (IH4TH)
As one of the most successful pet adoption programs in the world, IH4TH partners thousands of animal organizations dedicated to finding forever homes for orphaned pets. Founded by Helen Woodward Animal Center and supported by Iams, IH4TH began in 1999 with just 14 participating animal shelters in San Diego County. Since it began 11 years ago, IH4TH – along with nearly 3,500 pet adoption centers – has helped more than 3,278,143 families experience the joy of pet adoption, including 1.2 million pet adoptions this past year alone. For more information, please visit www.iamshome4theholidays.com or follow us at www.twitter.com/IH4TH.
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09/15/09
Last week, Skeezix and I visited Iams/Eukanuba’s facilities in Dayton, Ohio. This is one in a series of posts on what I learned.
Every discussion of corn in the cat’s diet starts out something like this: “You have corn on the cob for dinner, and the next morning, if you care to peek, you’ll note it has been expelled from your digestive tract wholly intact. Thus, it’s only a cheap nutrition-free filler in pet food.”
When it came to discussing the nutritional value and makeup of Iams and Eukanuba foods last week, the word on the tip of everyone’s tongue was CORN, spoken with the same derision as one might say “cyanide” or “rat poison.”
 At the earliest opportunity, I asked Dr Maury Docton, DVM (right), the Technical Services Vet at Iams/Eukanuba, what role corn plays in the composition of their foods, and whether the new grain-free diets are a better bet for our pets.
We were in for an episode of Mythbusters.
There’s been a lot of recent press about grain-free diets, with corn, wheat and rice portrayed in a negative light.
According to Dr Maury the most common myths include:
- Corn is not digestible
- Corn causes allergies
- Cats don’t have the ability to digest grains
Dr Maury explained that corn is a nutritionally superior grain because it provides a highly available source of complex carbohydrates and substantial amounts of essential amino acids and fatty acids, providing more of the nutritional building blocks the pet needs for repair and maintenance of its body. And, corn minimizes blood glucose response to help maintain a healthy weight and blood sugar level.
To access the nutritional part of corn, you have to remove its outer hull and produce ground corn meal which is highly digestible. Although there are individual variations, once the hull is removed, ground corn is less than 2% fiber; therefore 98% digestible by your cat. Being 98% digestible means that more of the nutrition stays inside your cat, and less ends up in the litter box.
The only part of an ingredient that can trigger an allergy is the protein portion of that ingredient. Unless corn is used as a protein, in its gluten form, it is very unlikely to trigger an allergic reaction — corn meal contains less than 8% protein. Beef, dairy and fish account for most reported food related allergies in cats. Of food ingredients reported in veterinary medical literature to cause adverse reactions in cats, corn was at the bottom of the list, just above egg*.
The trend to replace grains with fruit and vegetables for the same carbohydrate function is well-meaning, but as yet there is little research documentation to prove how they will affect the energy level and glycemic response of the cat. Although you won’t see cats in the wild chowing down corn on the cob, they do consume a diet of up to 10% carbohydrates, which they get from the stomach contents of their prey.
Bottom line: When processed correctly, corn is an excellent source of complex carbohydrates, as proven by data that Iams has collected during 50 years of research. Although cats are obligate carnivores, most do need a small percentage of complex carbohydrates in their diets for energy, and they will get that from a correctly balanced diet.
In rare cases, corn may cause an allergic response, but if your cat eats a food that contains corn and develops an allergic reaction, it’s far more likely due to beef, dairy or fish.
Like humans, some cats may need to be on low-carb diets, in which case your vet can recommend the best food for your cat’s needs.
In the interest of full disclosure, this trip was fully paid for by Iams/Eukanuba. I’ve fed my cats Eukanuba for nearly 20 years, and the only cat of mine with digestive issues is the one who won’t eat the Eukanuba, but sticks to an all-meat Catkins diet.
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* source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Vol 5, Issue 9, 2002.
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09/14/09
Last week, Skeezix and I were the guests of Iams/Eukanuba in Dayton, Ohio. Pictured above is Dan Rajczak, the CEO of Iams/Eukanuba, with Skeezix and me, which illustrates the access we had to everyone in the company.
This week I’ll give you an inside peek at what goes on behind the scenes at Iams/Eukanuba. Today I’ll focus on animal testing, since that’s such a hot button with many of you. (Photos weren’t allowed due to the proprietary technology, but I’ll describe what I saw as best I can.)
Animal Testing and Research at Iams/Eukanuba
My biggest surprise was the animal testing/research facility. One of the guys in our group said he was expecting to see animals hooked up to the Matrix, and that pretty much reflected my expectation. Frankly, I was kind of dreading it.
I was in for the surprise of my life.
This tour was a rare treat; outsiders are seldom allowed in, both to protect their proprietary methods and technology, but also to keep the animals from being exposed to any kind of disease. The facilities are housed on a campus surrounded by woods and cornfields. The first thing you see are dogs in outdoor “playpens” rollicking like maniacs (except for the pair of beagles we saw humping each other).
The Cat Facility
I was most interested in the cat facility, and I could have stayed there all day. The resident cats are housed in a festive cage-free stimulus-rich indoor-outdoor environment, and someone is there all day long to play with them, groom them, and basically wait on them hand and foot.
The cats are obviously healthy, happy and well-socialized. There is a platform affixed to the glass wall where you can view the indoor living area, and one after another, the cats would jump up, and rub against the glass to greet us. All of the cats are domestic short-hairs/long-hairs.
They all have access to an outdoor “catio” which is littered with toys and has hammocks and platforms affixed to the chain link enclosure at varying heights to accommodate the cat hierarchy (alpha cats stay low, while the low cat on the totem pole gets as high as she can.)
The Testing Process
Cats have embedded microchips to identify them. When they are fed, the amount they eat is measured. They pee and poop in million-dollar litter boxes that measure and collect the output which can be analyzed to determine how effectively the food is digested. That’s it. They’re not caged, they’re not hooked up to machines, they’re not force-fed like geese to make foie gras.
The unanimous consensus among everyone in our group was that the test cats are treated far better than our own spoiled cats. Someone is fully dedicated to playing with them all day long, they never ever have to poop in a dirty litter box, and after they’ve served their time as test cats, they are adopted out to loving homes.
Socialization Training
In conjunction with testing, the cats and dogs go through extensive socialization training, partly to ensure that they will make great pets after they “retire.” This includes familiarizing them with the home environment and training them to behave properly in the home.
The dogs’ kennels are state-of-the-art. Dogs get plenty of outdoors time, which includes stimulus-rich playpens and walks. Employees can “check out” dogs to take on walks on a dog path that winds through the nearby woods. Like the cats, the dogs were all very happy, well-trained, and well-socialized.
Retirement
When the animals are between 6-8 years old, they are retired from testing and adopted out to forever homes. Before they’re adopted out, they go through transitional training to ensure they will fit in to the home environment.
Iams/Eukanuba no longer contracts out testing to outside research facilities to ensure the welfare of the dogs and cats in its test program.
Everyone at the research facility (well, everyone who works at Iams/Eukanuba) is an over-the-top animal lover, who will whip out the iPhone to show you photos of their pets. Sure, they are scientists, but that takes a back seat to their passion for animals and interest in animal welfare. Most of the people we met have worked there for many years, and absolutely LOVE their jobs, and that’s reflected in the superb care these animals receive. I would LOVE to board my cats here when I go on vacation.
And by the way, Dan Rajczak is a cat person. He has two cats, and an adopted black lab research dog just joined their family.
In the interest of full disclosure, this trip was fully paid for by Iams/Eukanuba. They gave Skeezix two stylish scarves: a green Iams scarf, and a pink Eukanuba scarf. They provided a gift basket which included but was not limited to Pringles and a travel-sized bottle of Scope. They took us bowling and had custom-embroidered bowling shirts made for us.
TOMORROW: All about corn.
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06/15/09
 Concatulations to Skylar, the winner of an overnight stay and TLC in The Cat’s Meow’s Staycation Giveaway sponsored by PetSmart!
Skylar’s name was drawn at random from all the cats and cat lovers who left comments on or contributed to our series on Not Traveling with your Cat.
Even if you missed out, you still have time to enter the Iams Road Trip Giveaway. Just leave a comment on one–or all–of the posts in the Road Trip series on traveling with your cat, and you’ll be entered in random drawing for a pawsome prize package. You can enter once on each post in the series (one household per post, please). Click here to read the eligible posts and enter. Deadline: June 20th.
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06/07/09
This is Part 7 in The Cat’s Meow’s series on Traveling with Your Cat. Don’t forget to leave a comment on this post and every other post in the series, so that you’ll be entered in the Iams Travel Giveaway.
According to the Air Transport Association (ATA), over 500,000 animals are shipped via the air every year. Approximately 1% of the shipments encounter problems including transport in unapproved kennels, missed flights, lost pets, and animals’ deaths. We’ll cover all the precautions you’ll need to take to ensure that you and your cat have a safe, pleasant flight.
To see a first-hand account of what flying with Fluffy is like, check out Anders Porter’s video log of his trip to Sweden to transport his cat Tailer to San Francisco. In his 6-part video report, Anders takes you through the entire process, from conferring with veterinarian Eric Barchus to safely (and sanely) arriving at SFO with Tailer.
Anders and Tailer make it look like a piece of cake, right?
Let’s face it. Flying with your cat can be a crap shoot. You never know exactly how your cat will react until you do it. But if you’re fully prepared, you’ll be better positioned to relax and focus on your cat’s comfort and less likely to have to chase your cat through the airport after she escapes at the security checkpoint.
In our post on Travel Preparations, we covered the high points of preparing for a flight with your cat:
- Chip, tag and bell your cat before you travel.
- Thoroughly research the airline’s pet policy and charges.
- Reserve your seat as early as possible if your cat is flying in the cabin. Most airlines limit the number of pets on each flight.
- Check in with your vet before you fly. You’ll need a health certificate and vaccination records. You may want to sedate your cat for the trip, but most vets recommend against it (tranquilizers and sedatives can affect the temperature regulation of the body and cause other adverse effects), so a quick conference with your vet can help you determine what’s best for your cat.
- Your cat carrier must meet airline regulations and be FDA and FAA approved. Acclimate your cat to the carrier before the flight and make sure she can move within it comfortably.
Here’s a checklist to help you prepare for your flight:
- Obtain a health certificate and your cat’s vaccination records from your vet. Be sure the health certificate meets BOTH the requirements of your state or nation of destination AND your airline carrier. Be sure to check on the time restrictions. Most airlines require that certificates be obtained no more than 10 days prior to the flight.
- If you’re taking an international flight, check the quarantine restrictions at your destination.
- Carry the health certificate and your pet’s vaccination certificates with you, not in your checked baggage.
- Label the carrier with your name, home address and phone number, and a contact name, address and phone number in the city to which you are traveling. (It doesn’t hurt to write it in indelible pen on the carrier itself.)
- Take a photo of your cat and keep it with your airline tickets.
- Make sure your contact information is updated with your microchip company and pet recovery service.
- Put a wee-wee pad in the carrier with your cat so that any accidents are easier to deal with. Bring along 1) Nature’s Miracle wipes in a ziplock to facilitate clean-up, 2) spare wee-wee pads, and 3) a small amount of dry food and treats.
- Spray Feliway in the carrier and on the bedding.
- Feed your cat 4 – 6 hours before the flight, then withhold food. Offer her a small amount of water before you leave for the airport.
- Put on a harness before you crate her.
- NEVER let your cat go through the x-ray machine. You will be asked to remove the cat from the carrier for inspection at the security checkpoints. IMPORTANT! Be pleasant, but insist on being taken to a private enclosed room before you take the cat out of the carrier. Attach the leash before letting her out of the carrier. (I don’t like leaving the leash attached to the harness while the cat is crated due to the choking hazard.)
- When you land, let the other passengers deplane first rather than diving into the aisle scrum.
- Bring sufficient cash to buy drinks for everyone around you on the plane in the event that Fluffy starts singing Carmen during the flight and your fellow passengers are not opera buffs.
Reader Minxy has this tip:
US Airlines was also very good and I flew with them in the cabin when mum adopted me from Best Friends. They charged $100 for me.
One tip is to see if you can upgrade to 1st class when you check in. It only cost $50 to upgrade at check-in and we got much more room under the seat for my carrier and we got to use the 1st class/premier lane through the security check which was much much quieter.
Mum asked Pet Airways about whether cats and dogs were together on their planes and they told her that cats and dogs are in 2 different areas on the plane.
If your cat is flying cargo, take the following steps to ensure she has a safe and comfortable ride:
- Call the airline to verify requirements for pets traveling as cargo. During the summer there are many limitations as to what time of day pets can travel. On some routes they’re prohibited altogether in the summer months.
- Make sure your carrier shuts securely, but do not put a lock on it, in case airline personnel need to assist the cat.
- Affix Live animal signs to the top and sides of the crate.
- Attach a food dish and a water dish to the inside of the crate. Position them so they can be filled without opening the crate. Freeze water in the water dish ahead of time so it will provide water without spillage when loading.
- Attach a container or ziplock bag of food to the outside of the crate. You may securely attach a bottle of water, as well.
- Watch your cat being loaded and unloaded.
- Travel evenings midweek when planes are less crowded.
- Book on direct, non-stop flights. In the summer avoid trips during the middle of the day.
- Always travel on the same flight as your cat. If there is a prolonged delay, you will be able to feed her and if necessary, take her to a hotel with you.
- Don’t travel during temperature extremes.
- Tell a flight attendant you have a pet traveling as cargo.
- Don’t fly snub-nosed breeds such as Himalayans or Persians in the cargo hold.
CHOOSING AN AIRLINE
Pet Airways has received a lot of press recently, and it will begin flying its pets-only airline in July.
But before you make your reservation, be advised that this is probably not an ideal setup for canine-averse cats. The cats will fly in close quarters with dozens of barking dogs (see photo below), and if your cat is frightened of or unaccustomed to dogs, it could be terrifying. It might be better than shipping them in the cargo hold, but it’s not the panacea we’d imagined when the news was first announced.
If your cat isn’t bothered by dogs, it’s an exciting concept, and they’re running promotional fares that are as low as $149 (one-way).
Petfinder recently rated their top five pet-friendly airlines in the U.S.:
Petfinder’s Top Five Pet-Friendly Airlines of 2009
1. Continental – Safety First
Continental is proud of its PetSafe program, which has a 24-hour Live Animal Desk (1-800-575-3335) that tracks the pets from origin to destination. It’s pricier than other programs, but it’s climate-controlled, allows roomy carriers and has designated cargo staff. Travelers using PetSafe can even earn miles. The airline also allows small cats, dogs, pet rabbits and household birds to be carried in the cabin on most domestic flights for $125 each way.
Pets allowed in cabin: Small dogs, cats, rabbits and birds
Pets allowed as checked baggage: No
Pets allowed in cargo: Yes, all pets that are checked travel in climate-controlled cargo, not as checked baggage
2. JetBlue Airways – Full-Service Pet Love
JetBlue really embraced pet-toting travelers when it launched JetPaws last summer. For no additional cost, JetBlue provides a pet carrier bag tag, two TrueBlue points each way, a welcome e-mail and a free pet-travel guide. However, like other airlines, JetBlue has hiked its in-cabin pet charge: one-way fees range from $75 to $100.
Pets allowed in cabin: Small cats and dogs
Pets allowed as checked baggage: No
Pets allowed in cargo: No
3. Airtran – Budget-Friendly
Airtran won’t make you break the bank to fly with your pet beside you (well, technically, under your seat). It’s currently the least-expensive airline to fly with your small pet: just $69 each way.
Pets allowed in cabin: Small dogs, cats and birds
Pets allowed as checked baggage: No
Pets allowed in cargo: No
4. American Airlines – Zoo-Trusted
American Airlines’ animal-trained staff has assisted in transporting animals from popular zoos in cargo. While they only allow a limited number of pets in the cabin, they ask pet parents to make special notes for their animal companions flying in cargo and promise to abide by all requests.
Pets allowed in cabin: Small dogs and cats
Pets allowed as checked baggage: Yes, larger dogs and cats
Pets allowed in cargo: Yes
5. United Airlines – Non-Discriminating
United Airlines loves animals of all kinds. They accept small cats, dogs and birds in the cabin; rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs as checked baggage and other animals including parrots, cockatiels and ferrets in United Cargo. (Shipping by cargo is for items, like some pets, that you can’t check as baggage. Your pet may or may not be on the aircraft with you.) Have a short-nosed dog that you can’t bring in the cabin? Check your date of flight; some breeds and mixes are not allowed in cargo or as checked baggage from June 1 through September 30 of each year.
Pets allowed in cabin: Small cats, dogs and birds
Pets allowed as checked baggage: Depends on the aircraft
Pets allowed in cargo: Yes; however, the type of animal allowed depends on destination and arrival locations
If your cat loves peanuts and a good cattle call, she’ll be happy to hear that Southwest Airlines just reversed its no-pets-on-board policy and will now allow up to five pet carriers in the cabin per flight for an additional charge of $75. Read their policy here.
As you can see, flying with Fluffy is not simply a matter of loading her in her carrier and heading for the nearest airport. But as with car travel, it can provide a way for you to enjoy your vacation with your favorite feline rather than suffering through a week or two of separation anxiety.
If Fluffy can’t wait to start racking up those frequent flier miles, check out these additional resources on flying with your cat:
And don’t miss out on the other installments in the series on Traveling with Your Cat:
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[IMAGES: picture-book.com, PetAirways.com]
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06/06/09
This is Part 6 in The Cat’s Meow’s Road Trip series on Traveling with Your Cat. Don’t forget to leave your comments on this post for a chance to win a great prize package from Iams.
Today’s guest contributor is Murray the First, a veteran of the open road from the Lone Star state. Murray has since gone to the Rainbow Bridge, but while he was here, he loved nothing more than a good road trip. His mom admits that Murray was not “a normal cat,” and loved riding in cars. Here’s his story, as told by Murray the First himself:
When alive, I loved riding in cars. For that matter I suppose I still could as a ghost cat, but it doesn’t seem practical.
Often we would drive from Texas to Missouri to visit grandma. I would take a travel sized litter box along since it’s a 12-hour trip, and I’d get really excited when we got in the car. I would yowl for the first 20 miles or so and then use the litter box because I got too excited. I won’t repeat here exactly what Dad said, but it usually included the sentiment that I should have done that before we left. Didn’t have to go before we left. And I DID warn him it was coming.
He would pull over to a parking lot, and empty the litter box for me. Then we all settled down for a long drive. I often offered to do some of the driving, but Mom and Dad never accepted the offer. Their loss – I was free to sit on the center console in the sun and nap leaning against Mom.
Fur a short time we had a van and that was very cool. Mom and my other grandma would sit in the middle seats and I was free to ride shotgun.
Every time we got fairly close to our destination, we passed through a small town (which I won’t name here) that had the BEST smell. It smelled like catnip, except not exactly. I’d stand on somebody’s lap so I could press my nose to the vent and get all the smell.
Mom said they couldn’t smell it, but it must be somebody growing pot. She told my I should be a drug enforcement cat (DEC)! I didn’t have time to do that, but I would have loved having a badge…
As I mentioned in a prior entry, I enjoyed the drive through restaurants where people would hand us food. Sometimes even fish! Not only did I get to share, but usually the purrson in the window would make a fuss about how well-behaved and/or handsome I was.
 One time when we had the van Miles went with us. He slept through the drive and missed a lot of the fun, but he was delighted with the destination. He sat in the window all day watching the farm cats that live outside at grandma’s house. He wanted to stay longer, and ran away from Mom to hide when it was time to go home. MOL It didn’t work – she caught him anyway.
But grandma was very happy that he liked her house so much that he wanted to stay. So I’m glad he made her feel good and loved.
A few years ago we went to visit grandma and Mom and Dad decided not to drive all the way home in one day, but I don’t remember why.
So, they found a hotel that let me stay with them. It was my first time in a hotel and I loved it. First we got in this little room that moved up and down. Mom said it was an elevator. I’d heard of these but never had seen one in real life. Mom said my eyes got wide when it started to move – it was so much fun!
Then we went into a room that had 2 beds and a TV and a bathroom. Since I had my travel litter box and food, I was all set. But there were lots of places to explore. My only complaint was that I wasn’t allowed to explore the hallway and I really wanted to go out and see who else was staying there.
The next morning we got up, Dad got us some breakfast, and we hit the road again. WELL, we just got to Oklahoma City when the car died! Mom got it to the side of the road ok, but it wouldn’t go any further. None of my suggestions worked either.
Mom started calling on her cell phone and soon a taxi arrived and he waited with us until a tow truck arrived. Well through the stupidity of humans, Dad had to go with the tow truck and Mom and I took the taxi to try to find a rental car. The tow truck driver wanted Dad to go with him all the way to Dallas for some reason.
Mom wanted me to ride in the back of the taxi with her, but I insisted on sitting up front with the driver in case he needed help. (I’m not trusting my mom to just anyone.) The driver laughed and said it was ok for me to ride shotgun and we went in search of a rental car. I rearranged his paperwork a little on the front seat so I could see out the window. When he really seemed baffled, I put my front paws on the dashboard to direct him – he seemed appreciative.
We drove around and around, and the driver wanted to drop us off at the airport. Mom said NO – she was not going to cart me through the airport to find a rental counter (they didn’t have one outside). Darn – I wanted to see inside the airport.
But we found a Hertz local place, and Mom and I went inside. They couldn’t believe how polite and calm I was just walking around their offices. (They had a serious mouse problem, but I didn’t have time to deal with it for them.) They were very impressed, and gave me a bowl of water while I waited. I recommend Hertz!
Meanwhile, it was a good thing I was there to help, because the whole time we were in the taxi Mom was on her phone yelling at the roadside assistance place because they lost Dad. Finally she said that if they didn’t bring him to us right THERE at the Hertz place, she would call the police. Pretty soon the tow truck pulled in and Dad got out of it. Heh-heh! Go MOM!
We rented a car and drove the rest of the way home. The tow truck driver got his brother-in-law to ride with him to Dallas to take the car back to the dealer, and Mom calmed down a lot. After all of that, the dealer said there was one loose screw that cut the connection between the computer and the engine and that’s why the car quit. Technology is sometimes frightening.
But they paid for the tow, tightening the screw, the taxi and the rental car, so it turned out ok. And I had the best time riding in a taxi, staying in a hotel, and renting a car. Not to mention laughing at Mom!
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06/05/09
 Even if you don’t want to limit yourself by making reservations ahead of time, it’s still a good idea to research where you are most likely to find pet accommodations, and what the fees (if any) are before you hit the road.
Clarify the Policies and Fees Upfront
Fees and policies can vary widely, even between hotel properties within the same chain. Knowing the right questions to ask can save you time, money and frustration.
Pet Policies: Some only allow small dogs (some limit the size to as small as 10 lbs. or less) or limit the number of pets to one or two. Some have only a limited number of specially-designated rooms for guests with pets (check them out before you check in to ensure those rooms don’t smell like kennels). Some (a few of the Staybridge Suites properties, for example) only permit cats who have been declawed (hissssss!).
Many hotels prohibit you from leaving your pet unattended in the room. Some luxury hotels offer petsitting services in the event you must leave Fluffy alone for any reason.
Cleaning Fees and Pet Deposits: Many hotels impose a cleaning fee and/or a deposit that may or may not be refundable. These fees can be astronomical (I’ve seen $350+ non-refundable fees). Sometimes this is based on length of stay; sometimes it’s a per-night charge. One hotel charges a $500 infestation fee if they subsequently need to flea bomb the room. Is it any wonder people are tempted to sneak in their pets?
Here are some tips on avoiding rude surprises:
- Make sure you clarify the terms of the fees and deposits before you check in.
- If the fee is refundable, be sure you understand whether it’s a hold against your credit card that’s released when you check out, or if it’s charged to your card and refunded at a later date.
- If you’re subject to a refundable cleaning/damage deposit, inspect the room carefully as soon as you check in and report any existing damage to ensure you won’t be charged for it later. When checking out, have the manager inspect the room and sign off on it in your presence.
HOW TO FIND PET-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATIONS
Some chains, like Motel 6 and Red Roof Inn and La Quinta Inns & Suites* are truly pet-friendly and allow small pets with no additional fees or deposit required.
 As part of their ongoing commitment to pet-friendliness, Motel 6 has recently partnered with the American Kennel Club (AKC®) and Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) to offer AKC and CFA registered dog and cat owners a 10% discount on their room rates at any Motel 6 or Studio 6 location across the U.S. and Canada. For a complete list of Motel 6 locations across the country and to view the full Motel 6 Pet Policy, visit www.motel6.com.
The following chains have some pet friendly properties. Click a link to view the pet policies for specific hotels on the tripswithpets.com website:
LUXURY ACCOMMODATIONS
If you’re planning a 5-star vacation,  check out LuxuryPaw.com. PAW purrvides the only curated collection of luxury, (4-star or higher rated) pet-friendly hotels available online.
Many luxury hotels offer pet-friendly services, including a “pet amenity” upon check-in, a pet concierge and petsitting/walking services. Some take it a step further. W Hotels, for example, pampers pets with luxurious custom pet beds and other amenities, such as floor mats, food bowls, ID tags, and more.
Some do not charge extra for pets while others charge significant premiums,  so it pays click around the LuxuryPaw.com site to compare pet policies among the hotels at your destination.
Several luxury chains (Four Seasons and W, for example) accept pets on all properties, although fees and deposits will vary. If you’re a luxury travel aficionado, keep these chains in mind when you travel with your cat.
RESOURCES FOR PET TRAVEL INFO
Several websites provide extensive info on pet-friendly hotels, motels, and B&Bs. These include:
AFTER YOU’VE BOOKED THE ROOM…
 Once you find a hotel, be sure to take precautions to ensure that your cat is secure and comfortable inside:
Do Not Disturb: Immediately upon checking in to your room, hang out the Do Not Disturb sign, and leave it there for the length of your stay. If you’re staying at the same hotel for several days, you can exchange towels with the maids each morning. Leave your cat in her carrier anytime you’re not in the room. If you’re gone for long periods, this will be neither feasible nor comfortable for your cat, so if you foresee doing so, bring along a portable crate or cage for that purpose. Don’t forget, many hotels prohibit leaving your cat unattended in the room.
Wait to Un-Crate: Use a carrier to transport your cat from the car to your room. Bring all of your luggage to the room before you un-crate Fluffy, so she isn’t running around while you’re coming and going. Set up her litter box, and put a garbage bag or newspaper beneath it to catch errant litter.
Check the Boxspring: Many traveling cats will head straight for the bed and hide beneath it. As Kimberly suggested in Wednesday’s post, it’s good to check out the boxspring before you un-crate the cats and make sure they can’t burrow into it.
Feed at Her Own Pace: Put down some dry food and water to see if Fluffy is interested in it. She may need an hour or two to acclimate to her new environment before she’s relaxed enough to eat. (Skeezix immediately needs to patrol the place to ensure it’s safe for us to stay there.) If that’s the case, don’t pop open a can of wet food until she shows interest in eating.
Make Time for Playtime:If you’re able to pry her out from under the bed, set aside some time to play with your cat. This will help expend pent-up energy and relax her. If she’s leash trained and there’s a quiet area nearby, take her for a walk. Make sure that you don’t take her in areas that the hotel has designated as off-limits for pets.
Don’t Forget to Log In: If your cat is a Catster or has a blog, be sure to set up your laptop so that she can devote some time to her online activities. Maintaining normal routines helps reduce travel stress.
Leave a Good Impression:Even if you’ve paid a cleaning deposit, clean up your cat’s messes before you leave. Leaving the hotel management with a good impression of its feline guests ensures that cat-friendly accommodations will continue to be available and affordable for everyone in the future.
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* According to a La Quinta Inns spokesperson, “99%” of their properties are pet-friendly.
For more information on traveling with your cat, check out Catster’s Forum on Cats & Travel.
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06/04/09
On Tuesday, we discussed preparations for a trip with your cat(s). If you’ve decided that bringing your cat along on your trip is a good idea, you’ll need to bring along a mind-boggling array of gear to ensure that your trip will be as comfortable and stress-free as possible — for both you and your cat.
It sounds like a lot of crap to bring along, but you can save space with multi-purpose gear — for example, cat carriers that double as beds and car seats.
I’ve broken down the list into Essential and Optional items.
Carrier
Even if you let your cat roam free within the car while you’re on the road, never go on a road trip without a carrier. If you get to a stop where you’ll be getting out (even if it’s just stopping for gas), put your cat in the carrier before you open the car door, and you will need to transport the cat in the carrier from the car to your hotel room. Carrying Fluffy in your arms because it’s just a couple of yards is not an option. Fluffy has been sitting in the car for eight hours plotting her escape. Don’t give her the opportunity to execute her plan.
Blankies
Bring at least one spare blanket in case one is soiled. Don’t wash the blankets immediately before you leave; make sure they have at least a couple of days’ worth of Fluffy’s smell on it — familiar smells are comforting.
Cat Bed
Your cat’s own cat bed will provide a sense of security for your cat in your hotel room — if you can pry her out from under your bed to use it. Don’t wash the bedding immediately before departure, but make sure there is at least a few night’s worth of her smell on the bedding so that it’s familiar to her.
Toys
Your cat will need exercise after hours of being cooped up in the carrier or car. Wand toys are grate because you can motivate your cat to run and chase them and they don’t take up much room.
Litter, Litter Box and Liners
As Kim mentioned yesterday, portable litter boxes are handy. We use a covered litter box to mediate the stink, and spread out a garbage bag below it just in case.
 Cleanup
I bring:
- A squirt bottle of Nature’s Miracle
- Nature’s Miracle wipes
- A roll of paper towels
- Ziplock bags
- Garbage bags.
If it’s a short trip, I also keep a wet terry utility towel in a ziplock baggie (it has more tooth than the wipes in case I need to scrub the carpet).
Water & Water Bowl
Reader Sandra Ellis recommends bringing jugs of the cats’ own water or buying bottled water for the trip to avoid gastric upset.
Ice cubes are a handy way to provide water in the carrier or car. Keep a thermos with ice cubes, and drop a couple in the water bowl as needed. They provide water as they melt, but not enough to produce spillage.
Portable pet water bowls are handy.
Food & Food Bowl
You should always have at least a couple of days’ supply of food with you. But if your cat is on a special or prescription diet, or if you’re traveling to remote areas, bring enough food for the entire trip, plus a couple days’ extra. Resist the urge to share your Big Mac with Fluffy unless you relish cleaning McPuke at 60 mph.
And, because your cat is likely to experience at least a little stress during the trip and might not be eating as she should, consider packing some “treat” foods like Gerber’s turkey or chicken baby food (the 100% meat variety) or a couple of cans of tuna (with your vet’s permission). These wet foods also provide hydration if your cat isn’t drinking enough water.
We bring small disposable paper plates for food.
Feliway
A few spritzes of Feliway on your cat’s bedding will calm her while she in the car, and may discourage her from singing.
How does it work? There are pheromones that make the cat feel calm and secure within his environment. These are facial pheromones. You’ve probably seen a cat rub her face on objects around the house – or even you. Feliway mimics these natural face pheromones. Sprayed in the cat’s environment, it creates a comforting, reassuring feeling in the cat that has a calming effect.
Treats
I always give the cats treats as soon as I put them in the carrier, which helps them associate the carrier with yummy treats.
 Scratcher
We bring along a disposable corrugated cardboard scratcher, but take whatever works best for your cat. You don’t want her ripping apart the hotel room so that you lose your security deposit.
Pet Meds
If your cat is on medication, bring a sufficient supply for the time you’ll be away, plus a little extra, just in case you get stranded somewhere and are delayed returning home. Bring a cooler if the meds need to be refrigerated.
If your cat is subject to motion sickness, you can confer with your vet about medications that will help eliminate the nausea. But before you do that, seriously consider leaving Fluffy at home. If that’s not possible (for example, if you’re moving across country), your vet can prescribe meds that will help. NEVER give your cat over-the-counter motion sickness medications that are designed for human size and physiology.
If you absolutely have to take your cat along and she’s not a good traveler, your vet can prescribe a sedative, but use with care, and monitor your cat frequently for side effects. Never exceed the recommended dosage, even if it doesn’t seem to be having any effect on her.
Your Cat’s Health Certificate and Vaccination Records
These are often required if you’re crossing state lines (check for specific requirements before you hit the road), but it’s a good idea to have the records with you even if you’re not. If your cat bites someone on your trip, you don’t want to have to leave her behind in a rabies quarantine. (If your cat is not vaccinated against rabies, you should discuss with your vet whether you should vaccinate her before your trip. Your vet can help you determine if your itinerary warrants it.)
Photo
Keep a large, clear, recent photo of your cat(s) with the medical records. If the worse happens and she escapes, you’ll have a photo to show around.
Before you leave on your trip, make sure you have uploaded clear, recent photos to your cat’s microchip and tag websites  (if you’ve subscribed to a pet recovery services like HomeAgain and Together Tag), so you can instantly mobilize a search effort in the event your cat goes missing.
Cat First Aid Kit
If you don’t already have one, here’s a good excuse to buy one. If you don’t want to pay a premium for a commercial kit, you can DIY at home. Click here for instructions on putting together your own cat first aid kit.
The following are not mandatory, but could make the trip easier on you and your cat:
Harness/Leash
Don’t try to harness-train your cat while you’re on vacation; it’s a blueprint for disaster. But if she’s already harness-trained, bring the harness along (make absolutely sure it’s not one from which your cat can wriggle out). This will give you the option of short walks at rest stops (make sure there are no dogs around to spook your cat).
Car Seat
If your cat doesn’t suffer from motion sickness, she might enjoy looking out the window. Skeezix LOVES looking out the windows. The car seat not only offers better visibility, but it’s safer, too: you can buckle her into the seat so that she won’t go flying if there’s an accident, and she won’t be able to disturb the driver. As with children’s car seats, DO NOT use it in the front seat due to the danger posed by airbags when they deploy.
Three-in-One Carrier/Car Seat/Cat Bed Option
Products are available that do triple duty as carrier, car seat and cat bed. If you plan to travel a lot with your cat, consider this convenient option.
 Three-in-One Carrier/Backpack/Rolling Luggage Option
I GO2 makes convenient pet backpacks (pictured at right) that function as carriers and also pop out wheels and handles so that you can pull it like wheeled luggage. In your car, it straps into the seat belt system to safely transport your cat.
Stroller
If you have a compact, collapsible stroller, this is handy to have along. After hours of driving it will give you a chance to stretch your legs, and Fluffy an opportunity for some fresh air. If your cat likes sleeping in it, it can be brought along in lieu of a cat bed. It will provide a proven safe sanctuary for your cat wherever you’re staying. If you typically stroll every day, strolling on vacation will provide Fluffy with a bit of her normal routine, reducing stress.
 12volt-to-AC inverter for the cigaretter lighter
Skeezix has a heated cat cup that we are able to power up in the car using an AC inverter which converts the cigarette lighter into an AC outlet. If you’re car camping, bring along your blender, and you can have margaritas at your destination … a welcome reward after a day in a car with a caterwauling cat.
Lint Roller
Many cats shed a lot more hair when stressed (as when traveling). If your itinerary is strictly casual, no problem. But if you need to arrive at a destination without a cloud of cat hair swirling about you, pack a lint roller.
 Pet Sunscreen
If your pet will be exposed to sun — especially if she is unaccustomed to it — bring pet sunblock with you and apply to her ears and nosebridge.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT use sunblock designed for humans, which often contains additives that are poisonous to pets when ingested. UVet manufacturers sunscreens that are safe for all pets.
Cats that are most at risk are those with light skin, light-colored or thin fur, or pink noses. Got a white or pink-nosed cat? Get some pet sunscreen.
Earplugs, Meow-canceling earphones and an iPod
NOT FOR THE DRIVER. But passengers might benefit from some peace and quiet, especially if Fluffy has decided to serenade you with Barry Manilow’s greatest hits. You can buy the world’s best earplugs here. Stick in the earplugs, put on the earphones, and jack up the iPod volume (if your ears start bleeding, the volume might be too high).
For more information on traveling with your cat, check out Catster’s Forum on Cats & Travel.
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06/03/09
 Today, as part of our series on traveling with your cat, I’m interviewing Kimberly, better known as “Rosie and Cheeto’s Mom.”
Rosie and Cheeto are road trip veterans, having logged over 5000 miles crisscrossing the United States. I caught up with Kim to find out more about her experiences and get her tips on traveling with cats.
Karen: How far have you traveled with your cats?
Kim: Rosie and Cheeto have journeyed all across the United States. They’ve navigated trips from Miami-to-Michigan-to-San Francisco and most recently, the trip from San Francisco to Chicago. All in all Rosie and Cheeto have traveled more than 5,000 miles in the car.
Karen: Have they always been good about traveling in the car?
Kim: The cats aren’t too keen on road trips – especially Rosie.
 Karen: How do you deal with it?
Kim: The first 20 minutes are typically spent screaming.
Karen: Does screaming at the cats help?
Kim: Oh no no no it’s not me who’s screaming, it’s Rosie and Cheeto. I usually turn on music and pretend that they are singing with me. They prefer the open road (highway) to city driving because there is less stop and go.
I don’t let them out of their PTU (Prisoner Transportation Units) unless I am traveling with another person. When I let them out of their carriers, Cheeto hides underneath the passenger’s seat with his booty sticking out.  Rosie, on the other hand, needs to be touching me all times. I refer to her as my fifth appendage.
Karen: Do you reserve hotels beforehand?
Kim: During road trips I prefer not to reserve hotel rooms in advance.
Karen: How do you find pet-friendly accommodations?
Kim: I typically just go up and ask if they are pet-friendly.
A couple of inexpensive motels that are pet-friendly include: Red Roof Inn (no extra fee), Motel 6 (no extra fee) Best Western and Candlewood Suites.
Karen: Do you ever just sneak the cats in even if pets are prohibited?
Kim: I confess, on occasion I have snuck them into the hotel with me (wink).
Karen: When Rosie and Cheeto stay at hotels with you, do they have a hard time adjusting to the new surroundings?
Kim: Rosie and Cheeto are always excited to get out of the car after a long day of driving. After using the litter box they typically hide underneath the bed or behind a chair.
 Before I let them out of their cages I always do an inspection of the hotel room. I also make it a point to look at the box spring of the bed to make sure there isn’t an opening where they can sneak in. I learned early on that Cheeto likes to hide in the box spring and will do everything he can to avoid getting back into his carrier.
It’s also very important to put the “do not disturb” sign on the door. The last thing you want is a maid opening the door for the cats to run out of the room.
Karen: How did you prep your parents for the drive from San Francisco to Michigan? Did they know what they were getting into?
Kim: Fortunately my mom drove to San Francisco with me so she knew what to expect. I made sure my parent’s car was equipped with a disposable litter box, food, water, blankets and paper towels (just in case).
Karen: Do you have a litter box set up in the car? Do the cats let you know when they’ve got “to go”?
Kim: Yes, I make sure the cats have a litter box in the car. You can purchase disposable litter boxes at most pet stores. The cats don’t really let you know when they have to go, but you sure can smell it once they do! Knock on wood they have yet to have a litter box mishap in the car.
 Karen: Can you drive as long as you like with the cats in the car, or do they have a limit to have far they’re willing to go in a day?
Kim: They aren’t too picky about the amount of driving we do, but I try not to overwhelm them. To make it easy on them, and me, I try to get at least seven hours of rest in a hotel room.
Karen: Were you able to enjoy the trip and see the sights, or were you limited in what you could do with two cats in tow?
Kim: Unfortunately, I’ve found that traveling with cats limits what you can and cannot do on road trips. Although some may disagree, I don’t like to leave my cats alone in the car for any period of time.
Karen: Ever let them drive?
Kim: No, I’ve seen what happened with Toonces. I will however let them snoopervise from the passenger’s seat.
Karen: Any travel tips you’d like to share?
Kim: Be careful when traveling with cats not to let them interfere with the driver for any reason. They can cause havoc if cats get below the driver’s seat.
When traveling alone I prefer to keep the cats inside their carriers. They typically scream and yell for the first 20 minutes but eventually calm down.
Road trips are not the time to test out new harnesses or walking devices. I tried out a harness with Rosie in a restaurant parking lot and forgot there was a breakaway safety collar. Fortunately she ran directly to my dad, but it could have been a HUGE disaster!
Karen: I’m glad it turned out alright! I’ve read horror stories of cats getting loose at rest stops, and the families (unbelievably) continuing the trip without them.
Thanks for the tips, Kim, and give Rosie and Cheeto some headbonks from me and Skeezix!
For more information on traveling with your cat, check out Catster’s Forum on Cats & Travel.
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06/02/09
If you’ve read Peter Gethers’s trilogy of books on his travels with his Scottish Fold, Norman, you’ve probably harbored the fantasy of traveling the world with your cat. But unlike Norman, most cats aren’t wild about road trips and are best left at home. If you think your cat is ready for travel, you shouldn’t just jump in the car and hit the road; advance preparation will be key to your trip’s success. Here are just a few of the things you should do before you vacation with your cat:
Determine if you really should take your cat with you.
Here are a couple of questions to ask yourself before you go:
 Is your cat a good traveler?
We all hate to leave our cats behind, but truly, most cats prefer it that way. Some cats are great travelers; others are definitely not. Unlike dogs, who are happiest with their people, cats are happiest in the place that they call home. If you’ve never traveled with your cat to anywhere besides the vet, I recommend a short test run before leaving on a two-week road trip. Take her along on a weekend getaway. This will provide both of you with a taste of what feline travel will be like. If she yowls herself hoarse screaming in her loudest “Call PETA I’m being tortured” voice on a short trip, you really should vacation without her. You’ll both be happier.
Will you be sightseeing and traveling in warm climates?
 If you’ll be sightseeing, you may need to leave Fluffy in the car, aka the “death oven” while you do so. Even in fairly mild climates, the temperature inside a car can soar to fatal extremes in a short period of time, cooking your cat while you see the sights. Cracking open the windows offers little relief. So if you want to sightsee, leave Fluffy at home.
Even if you’re not stopping for sightseeing, you’ll probably need to stop for lunch. Drive-through is fine, but if you typically stop to have a sit-down lunch in a restaurant or diner when you’re on the road, Fluffy will probably not be able to accompany you inside, and will need to stay in the car. If it’s warm outside, this could pose a problem. So consider all of your vacation activities before you include Fluffy in your plans.
Where are you planning to stay?
Hotel rooms provide a fairly quiet sanctuary for cats (leave the do-not-disturb sign on the door so Fluffy won’t escape), but if you’re planning to stay with relatives, evaluate how secure and pleasant the environment will be for your cats. Will you be staying with family that includes a lot of young, raucous kids? If you are and Fluffy’s not used to kids, this could be extremely stressful for her, and might provide her with opportunities and incentive to escape. Are there pets in the household where you’ll be staying? This could also introduce stress and result in nasty altercations.  Even if the family dog is the sweetest dog ever, if your cat isn’t used to dogs, she could be freaked out by the encounter. Do her a favor and leave her at home.
If you’re planning to stay at a campground or park, find out what the pet restrictions are beforehand. For example, pets are allowed in Yosemite, but they are prohibited in the lodges and cannot be left unattended. So you wouldn’t be able to leave Fluffy in the car or RV while you have lunch at the Ahwahnee or tackle the Half Dome hike. This is another instance where it’s better to leave your cat at home.
Research and Book Accommodations in Advance
If you’ll be staying in hotels or motels along your route, you should be aware that pet policies vary, as do the costs of bunking with your cat in a hotel. Sometimes, there’s simply a surcharge added. Sometimes, it’s a cleaning fee which may or may not be refundable, and may be a one-time charge or a nightly charge.
For example, my cat Skeezix and I stayed at a hotel that required a $75 non-refundable cleaning deposit. If you’re staying at a different place every night, and they all require similar deposits, a two-week trip could become prohibitively expensive. Shop around. Some places charge significantly more for cats; I’ve seen others that let cats stay free but charge for dogs.
Since policies and costs are all over the map, you can save a significant amount of money by doing your research… or by leaving Fluffy at home with a catsitter. We’ll discuss accommodations later in this series.
Tag, Chip and Bell
If you’ve been reading The Cat’s Meow for any length of time, you know how many lost pets have been reunited with their owners thanks to proper microchipping and tagging.
 The best tag is one that is part of a complete pet recovery service that provides not only your current contact info, but a link to a website that also provides your pet’s medical info, out-of-area contacts, food restrictions and the like. For example, many people put their cell phone numbers on their pet’s tags — but what happens when you are traveling in remote areas with no cell coverage? If you have a tag like the Together Tag, you can provide multiple contacts to ensure that you’re reunited as quickly as possible with your lost pet.
Microchipping is a back-up for tags, should your cat lose her collar. Before you leave on your trip, make sure that your contact info for your microchip is current. Microchip makers like HomeAgain make it easy; just log in to their website to update your profile.
A good bell provides an aural clue to your cat’s whereabouts when she first goes missing so you can locate her before she becomes hopelessly lost. This is especially helpful if your cat isn’t vocal or is frightened by her surroundings.
Tagging, chipping and belling your cat will reap benefits when you’re back home as well. If money is an issue, check with your local shelters; microchipping is often offered at a deep discount through local shelters and humane societies.
Request Copies of the Cat’s Medical Records
If you plan to cross state lines, you may need to have vaccination records and health certificates with you — check beforehand to see exactly what each state requires. Even if you don’t cross state lines with your cat, proof of her rabies vaccination will come in handy if she bites a stranger (not too far-fetched if your cat is stressed from travel). I bring along a vet binder, with all the cats’ medical records in plastic sleeves within the binder. This comes in handy if your cat needs to be seen by a vet during your trip.
If you don’t have copies of your cat’s vaccination records, request them at least a week before you leave.
Flying with Your Cat? Prepare Ahead.
As part of our series on pet travel, we’ll cover flying with your cat in depth. But there are a few things you’ll need to do before you fly with your cat:
- Throughly research the airline’s pet policy and charges. There is no industry standard, and they vary significantly. If you were (ugh!) planning to have your cat ride in cargo, many airlines will not permit pets in cargo during the summer months, or on legs where the temps reach certain limits.
- Reserve your seat as early as possible if your cat is flying in the cabin. Most airlines limit the number of pets allowed in the cabin on each flight, so reserve your seat — with cat — as early as possible.
- Check in with your vet before you fly. Many airlines require health certificates and vaccination records. Flying is usually not recommended for snub-nosed cats — Persians and Himalayans — because they could experience breathing difficulties, and your vet can advise you what to do. You may want to sedate your cat for the trip, but most vets recommend against it, so a quick conference with your vet can help you determine what’s best for your cat.
- Your cat carrier must meet airline regulations. If the cat is traveling with you in the cabin, there is a size constraint as well. If you have a large cat and a long flight, she might not be comfortable in a small carrier, so figure this out before you book the flight. Keep in mind that the carrier usually counts against your carry-on quota, so pack accordingly.
Buy and Test New Gear in Advance
If you’ve never traveled with your cat, you might need to buy travel gear to make the trip as comfortable as possible for your feline traveler. For example, car booster seats keep pets safely in their seats while allowing them to look at the world going by out the window.
Don’t wait until the day before you leave to buy the new gear, however. Test drive it beforehand to ensure it’s comfortable for your cat, fits your vehicle, and meets your expectations. That way, you’ll have time to exchange it, if necessary, before you hit the road.
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The bottom line is, thorough evaluation and preparation are key to a successful trip with your cat. She may turn out to be a surprisingly good traveler, or she could ruin your vacation. In any event, if you do what’s best for her, it will turn out to be what’s best for you as well.
For more information on traveling with your cat, check out Catster’s Forum on Cats & Travel.
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See related Cat's Meow entries:
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