Posted on 09/10/2018 8:23:41 PM PDT by CatOwner
Disclaimer: Not a cat fan, except for Taz. But he was a beastie.
Buy a hungry 6’ python?
Much easier to transport. Just need a pillowcase and warm spot.
Sorry for the double...sent from
cel phone.
Sorry for the double...sent from
cel phone.
Your vet is probably the best source of information.
From personal experience some time ago, make sure you have collars on them and a leash when they get out of the car. (Fortunately I did but cats can get frisky when transported.)
I did an 850-mile move with my cat. She whined like a baby for most of an hour and a half, then fell asleep, and it was smooth sailing thereafter. Just strap them in secure.
You really need advice for this?
We escaped from California to Texas earlier this year with two smallish dogs. We had gotten airport kennels intending to fly them, but didn’t because the summer heat got too high for pets to be in a cargo hold of a plane. We used the kennels in the car, one for each dog with water and food bowls inside. Lots of stops at rest stops for them to run and do their business, and at motels that allowed pets.
I presently have three great cats. We travel regularly between homes in Cincinnati Ohio and Naples Florida. (And also to Gothenburg Sweden.)
I drive the cats. Wife and kid sometimes tag along, but usually fly back and forth.
We make the trip back and forth 3-5 times a year. 1150 miles each way.
When I tried to keep them in carriers the whole way, they would go crazy. They would poop all over and get it on themselves, they would scream, chew on the carriers, etc. it was awful.
Now, I just let them roam around loose in the car. I keep a litter box on rear seat floorboards and offer water and snacks at every stop.
They do great now. They just find their own spots in the car and sleep. One cries for a while but will calm down. Another likes getting to passenger floor in a cardboard box. Third goes to rear of station wagon and looks out the back.
I got them used to it by leaving them in garage with car doors open and a litter box in its spot along with snacks and toys. Also many short drives got them used to it.
I had gotten Valium from vet previously but never needed it.
Word of warning - if they sit in your lap while you are driving be careful.
Cats do not love a ride in the car the way dogs do. If your cat decides to hide in your lap while you drive - make sure you have a nice absorbent bath towel. Poor kitties get stressed and lose control of some bodily functions. No problem if you are on a short drive. Big problem if you’re going to be driving for hours in warm weather.
Blow dart laced with Xanax...
A crate for each cat.
Officially, a travel crate if possible. Better for cats anyway than plain metal grates.
If you have months, keep driving them places in the meantime. Put something they like in the crate, whether it’s their pillow or some other favorite thing. If you have plenty of time, start adjusting them to crates if you haven’t already, in the house. Make it pleasant and soothing. Use occasional treats to praise them.
DON’T go fawning or feeling sorry for them while doing any of this...they will see that as praise for fear, not helping them past it. Ignoring helps a lot. Make them feel it’s just another day.
You want to get one or more carriers. You don’t want the cats to have any chance of bolting from the car at a rest stop. Some motels won’t accept cats, so you’ll have to make reservations ahead. Carry a travelling litter box and scoop it regularly. You may have to let them out of the carriers to use the box, but make sure you lock them back up before opening the car doors at a stop.
Cats shouldn’t be loose inside a moving car, period. A claw in the wrong place at the wrong time can be a recipe for a fatal accident. A cat should always be transported in a safe, secure carrier that is strapped down and can’t slide around inside the vehicle.
They need to fly. Driving is just cruel. Make sure that the cats don’t go outside right away. They’ll just start walking and you’ll never see them again.
I agree. Cats should not be loose in the car. They do not enjoy riding in the car. They will feel better and will be safer in a carrier.
We thought the same with our dog. We’re both right here - his big sleeping pad in the back seat - all he does is sleep on it at home anyway.
Well, after two hours of traveling and one stop he figured out this wasn’t a normal drive in the car. We ended up giving him some pills from the vet. Helped a little but he was still stressed and wouldn’t sleep. But - he survived. When we got back home I think he slept for 10 hours straight!
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