Posted on 09/10/2018 8:23:41 PM PDT by CatOwner
We're a couple months away (fingers crossed) from selling our house and moving from California to Texas. What we're trying to determine is the best way to move our three indoor-only cats. It should be noted that a 10 minute drive to the vet is a challenge. Not sure how we're going to handle a 1,700+ mile move.
Mitt Romney would put them on the roof of the car.
See your vet for some good kitty drugs. Earplugs might be nice too...
THere’s a drug you can get from your vet that makes them woozy for travel. I used it one time when I took my cat from my home in Illinois on a one-hour flight to the family farm in Pennsylvania. Sebastian slept the whole time under the seat in front of me.
vet can provide something to mellow them for travel.
I have never done this but there are some homeopathic “calming” agents that might work. Or proper sedatives.
Check with your vet. I wish you all the best!
Y'all are gonna love Texas
I helped my brother move from Phoenix to Weatherford Texas and we had a cat and a dog. Cat was in a carrier and the dog just hung out but when driving the cat could come out and he mostly sat on my lap as I drove. 2-3 days driving is about what you are looking at (about 1800 miles) so there is that. The alternative is to ship them there in crates but you will need pickup on the other end to take care of them till you get there.
Private mail me and we can discuss further, me I would take em with me and if possible let them hang out. Depends on the vehicles etc
Probably Lorazepam from the vet...anti-anxiety drug. We used to take cats on planes to Canada...I covered their carriers with cloth, mostly to keep people who freak out at cats from seeing them, but I think it also helped the cats.
Drugs for the cats.
Let me be the first, congrats on leaving Commufornia and heading to the great Midwest. Be prepared, people look you in the eye, will say “hello” and hold the door open for you. Enjoy!
Suspended animation.
Look it up.
When we load up the cats to take ‘em to the vet, my wife has an OTC spray that she picked up at PetSmart that acts as a calming agent. She sprays it on their blankets.
Obviously, it’s not gonna work for the whole trip but maybe every day or so you could spray their carrier with it. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the name of the product. Sorry!
We moved four indoor cats from Virginia to Arizona in a Chevy Venture. We used a dog cage designed for two Akidas. I turned the vertical separator into a horizontal shelf with their litter box underneath. We traveled a route that kept nighttime temperatures above freezing. Cage them before the movers come to pack.
We did this just about three years ago, moved from Bakersfield California to East Tennessee about 2300 miles. We had three indoor only silver Persians and one inside/outside Formerly stray cat. And a Yorkie.
I think my husband figured out the best scenario ever for moving kitties. We got a cab over camper and he drove the truck and I drove a car. The kid he’s got to stay in the cabin over the whole time, no concerns about sticking them in carriers or moving them in and out of hotel rooms. They had a litter box, food and water always available. They got to sleep on the queen bed in the cab over and watched the miles go by.
There was only one hitch, and that was when the heater quit working in the cab over. We moved in January. Luckily hubby is handy and got it working. But we were fixin to put them in their carriers and bring them into the hotel for the night if it didn’t. (Notice the east Tennessee lingo :-)
We had bought a used lance just for the trip. We kept it, thinking we might want to go camping eventually. Or if we decide to go sightseeing and don’t find a good pet sitter. The cats didn’t seem stressed at all and our worries about them were minimal. They didn’t even try to escape when we opened the door, although we were careful just in case. But we have Persians, and they are pretty mellow and low-key. But even the tuxcedo cat seemed happy where he was.
Maybe you could put them in those containers people use to move animals.
But of course first make those comfortable for them by putting in small blankets, rags and some food they like.
And keep talking to them, explaining that this is just temporary.
Animals understand a lot more than many people realize.
I have had both cats and dogs, never had any trouble. Just treat them as if they understood what you are telling them, because they do. And keep them comfortable.
Good luck. I hope it will all work out.
Try this link. We’ve used this service
this service in the past. Pets arrived
safe and sound.
Get an RV a few days early... Let them get used to it as they are indoor cats. Then just drive they shouldn’t realize they aren’t in a home. Then just let them get acclimated to the home in Texas. Try Whataburger.
hmmmmm. lots of cat druggers on FR.
just explain to them that they’re getting the holy hell out of the people’s republic of californicate. they’ll instantly cooperate.
Suspended Animation
I moved from Los Angeles back to KC with 2 cats. In the back seat I put the litter box facing a single door small dog crate so they could sleep in one and poop in the other and not get out to roam in the car. No problem, I thought, great idea, right? Their own little condo. Well......my female cat immediately plopped herself in the litter box hissing at her brother who stayed in the cage with the blankets, toys, water and treats. But, they stayed in the back and all was fine. Good luck!
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