Posted on 09/10/2018 8:23:41 PM PDT by CatOwner
Thanks for this info.
Great job.
Are your cats liberal?
If so, please leave them in CA....we have enough libs moving from CA to TX, already.
If they’re conservative.....give them Dramamine and put them in a larger (dog) crate w/small litter box tied down to crate. Empty (box) as needed. Maybe put a tarp under the crate, just to be safe.
What part of Texas?
Drugs.
I have done 4 such moves since 2005. Most recently this Feb (FL to Las Vegas). Had 4 cats each time. PM me.
Great Movie
We did this a few years ago - just turned them loose in the car and let them find their space. After about an hour they settled down and went to sleep. The only problem is when you stop . . .
My experience is that after a half hour of banshee like wailing, they exhaust themselves and sink into a dull stupor until it’s over.
Missed a couple key points.
I keep beach towels on lap and car seats. Also a roll of paper towels and big ziplock bags handy to clean up accidents. They do poop occasionally when they first get going.
I have never had one escape. They just know not to get out unless I prompt them. Especially the two indoor younger ones. The older one is just too lazy to get out!
It’s all about getting them used to the ride.
Toonces! Look out!!!
We moved from Colorado with 2 dogs , a cat , and an iguana , to Texas . Consult your local vet for meds .
Yep...a bit of kitty twilight dust should do it!
So sweet and so CAT like behavior!!! lol. I had something similar happen and I just shook my head and as you said they stayed back there—one in the nice cuddley cat carrier and the other in the cat box cat carrier. Too each his own I guess. Never a dull moment unless they’re sleeping of course.
As noted above, you can get drugs to knock them out. Sort of. It’s more like a Benedryl low.
The difficulty, I think, will be distance. You can’t sedate them for Cali to Texas. So when are you stopping? Is there enough time to hydrate but not have them pee themselves while sedated?
I drove a lot with my cats between south FL and Atlanta when they were alive. My only horrific day was when a hurricane was coming towards FL.
We decided late to leave and go to ATL I didn’t have time to let the cats pee while denying water. The boy pissed himself. It was awful. We stopped and cleaned the carrier, but the truck still smelled like a skunk fart for the entire trip. Eh still gross to contemplate 14 years later
That reminded me of a cat I had that loved to stand on the seat with her front paws on the counsel looking out the font window....LOLOL.....she was like a kid watching everything go by. If a long trip she’s stretch out in the back window doing likewise.
I strapped-in one of those two-hole cat condos in the back seat and put the cat box on the floor. Leo would spend part time in the top watching the world go by and the rest of the day sleeping in the bottom.
I carried her around in a wicker picnic basket so she could breathe and see out a little.
I just had to be sure that she wouldn't escape when I opened the car door. She was on a leash to be safe.
Seven years ago we moved from WA to TX and brought three housecats in our Suburban in pet carriers. We traveled about 10 hrs/day and let them run free in hotel rooms. It was awful! They literally cried the entire trip. One of them lost its voice from crying so much. When we finally got to TX I was ready to turn all three of them into the Humane Society! Lol. Honestly it was a challenge but we survived it and have some great memories from the trip.
Earplugs for the owners?
Get a large-dog kennel and outfit it with small litter box, water and dry food dishes, cardboard-box “house,” open on side, with comfy bed inside, large enough (or so) for all cats. Throw a large dark sheet or packing cloth over most of the kennel so they feel extra safe and cozy.
Line the bottom of kennel with those large-dog pee-pee pads for easy, daily clean up.
Hard to describe what I’m trying to say. Wish I could draw a picture for you.
The risk of accidentally losing a frighened, bolting cat out the car door is too great. The large, outfitted kennel is essential. Having their own secure place in your car will relieve stress. Yours and theirs!
Calming meds from the vet are a good idea, too, if needed.
Cats and dogs on their first car ride
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7W4v-jcars
See 1 and 4 and 10 photos.
https://www.boredpanda.com/funny-dramatic-cats/
Cat Rests on Car Dashboard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nr2cy5pt2E
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