Tips for traveling with your cat.

Traveling with Your Cat

If you have a cat, you will more than likely have to take him or her in a vehicle at some point. Since many cats do not like to travel, this could be a stressful trip for both you and the cat. You can make the experience easier for both you and the cat by following these tips.

First, your cat must be confined to a carrier of some sort. You may be tempted to let the cat roam in your car instead of listening to the yowling at being imprisoned, but you are actually doing the cat a favor. A loose animal could get under your feet or distract you, causing an accident. If the cat gets scared, he or she may use your car as a litter box. And if you were to have a wreck, the cat could become airborne and hurt you or be killed when slamming up against your car's interior or landing outside of the car.

Some people use boxes to transport cats. While this option is cheaper than purchasing a plastic cat carrier, the cat will not have much protection in case of an accident, and body fluids could soak through the box into your car.

Be sure to keep a roll of paper towels in your vehicle in case the cat does eliminate in the crate. Preferably, put the crate on a washable surface such as a rubber car mat in case some urine leaks from the crate. It is easy to hurriedly pick up a crate at a slight angle which could cause urine or vomit to pour out the crate holes onto your car interior.

If your cat yowls or meows constantly when riding, try to choose a vet near your home so that you both don't have to endure a long car ride.

For airplane trips, decide whether you want the cat to ride with you or in the cargo hold. When booking the ticket, ask for the airline's policy on animals as some will force you to use the cargo hold. Remember that if your cat is a yowler, you will not endear yourself to other passengers if they have to listen to your pet during the entire trip. But, there have been some cases of animals not being treated properly in cargo holds and getting injured or dying.

If you do use the cargo hold, make sure that your pet has water available. You might be able to put a small litter box in the crate with your cat for long trips. Ask the airline what you are allowed to put in the crate.

You may also consider asking your vet for a sedative if your cat does not travel well. Unfortunately, these do not work for all cats, and in some cats, will actually cause their behavior to be worse.

By following the tips above, traveling with your cat will be as pleasant of an experience as possible.

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Traveling with Your Cat

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