How To Travel With A Cat

Introduction

Traveling with a cat doesn’t have to be stressful. If you prepare your furry friend for a trip properly, she’ll adjust nicely and become the kind of sidekick who knows the routine just as well as you do.

Practice in short bursts before setting out on your trip.

If you’re new to traveling with a cat, start practicing in short bursts before setting out on your trip. Do so in the car, at home, and at the vet’s office—anywhere that’s familiar to both you and your cat. It’s important not to make this practice session too long or stressful; it should only last about fifteen minutes at most. Cat owners should also practice feeling confident about handling their travel gear—the carrier and its accessories—before setting off for an extended journey.

Call your vet to make sure your cat is healthy enough to travel.

The first step in preparing your cat for travel is to call your vet and make sure she’s healthy enough to travel. She should be up to date on her vaccinations, and you’ll want to make sure she doesn’t have any diseases like feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which can be transmitted through cats’ saliva when they bite each other. Ask your vet if there are any other specific health issues that you should know about before taking her on a long trip. If you’re planning an international trip, it’s especially important to consult with a veterinarian about what medical precautions might be necessary or advisable for your cat.

You should also ask the veterinarian if it would be okay for her to enter another country without having all of her shots updated due to time constraints or cost reasons. Since some countries require that all cats entering their borders have proof of vaccination against rabies, this could cause problems if any shots were missed during the process of getting updated records from previous veterinarians who may not hold onto their records for very long (or at all).

The best places to situate the cat carrier are either in the back seat or in the front passenger’s lap, provided the airbag has been disabled.

The back seat is safer if it is an option, as this is where you would be sitting if you were driving a car without an airbag. The main risk with putting your cat in the front seat when you’re driving is that they might be struck by your arm or legs while trying to get out of harm’s way during an accident, so it’s best avoided. If this isn’t possible, make sure that if there isn’t enough room between your leg and theirs for them to escape safely if needed—and definitely don’t put them at head height!—then use a harness or muzzle so that they won’t hurt themselves trying to break free from their carrier when things get bumpy on rough roads or during hard braking (you should also never leave anything unsecured). You’ll want something sturdy but flexible enough not to restrict their movements too much; I recommend using something like this one from Pet Safe because it comes with attachments for attaching tags and leashes too!

If possible though (and unless there are multiple cats traveling together), keep both passengers calm by keeping everyone together inside their respective areas: one in front with mommies/daddies behind him(or herself)

Use a calming collar and/or spray.

The Ssscat Training Cat Spray is a calming collar and/or spray. It’s great for helping your cat get used to traveling, and can also be used to prevent your cat from scratching furniture or other inappropriate items in the car. If you’re going on a road trip, this can help with anxiety as well!

Put some familiar items in the carrier with your cat.

If you have a cat carrier, bring it with you. If not, ask the hotel if they have one that can be used for your pet.

If using a cat carrier isn’t an option, consider bringing along a blanket or toy that smells like home for your cat so it feels more at ease in its temporary home.

Put some food and water in the carrier with your cat so that when you need to leave them there for long periods of time (such as when eating dinner), they won’t go hungry or thirsty.

Play calming music for your cat.

If your cat is stressed (or if you are), try playing calming music for them. Some cats enjoy having music played to them, while others may find it irritating. The key is finding the right music for both of you—and there are plenty of options out there!

Try some classical and easy listening sounds like Beethoven or the Eagles. If those don’t work, try some nature sounds like waves crashing on shorelines or birds chirping in trees. If all else fails, try an audio book read by someone with a soothing voice like James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman; they’re sure to help relax both of you in no time flat!

Pet her gently during the car ride, and speak gently and reassuringly to her.

If your cat is a seasoned traveler, she may enjoy the car ride or even sleep through it. If she’s not used to riding in cars and hasn’t been trained to stay where her carrier is placed, you will want to make sure that the carrier is secured in place with a seatbelt and that its location is safe for her.

Take frequent breaks from driving so that you and your pet can stretch your legs, use the restroom and eat something.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that your cat will need breaks from driving every 2 hours. Your pet should be allowed to stretch her legs and use the restroom. It’s also good to have some food on hand so that you can give her something to eat while you take a break from driving.

During your stops, it’s important that she gets some fresh air and sunshine, as well as an opportunity for exercise if possible — even if it’s just for 5 minutes at a time!

Do not feed your cat at least two hours before departure, but always be sure she has water available for her journey.

Do not feed your cat at least two hours before departure, but always be sure she has water available for her journey.
Don’t feed her too close to departure time. Food can cause mild bloating in some cats, which can make them uncomfortable during long flights.

Bring a separate bag with all of her traveling necessities so you don’t have to dig around in totes or suitcases when it’s time for a pit stop. Takeaway: Your cat will eventually get used to being on the road if you prepare properly and go slowly with her at first.

Before you embark on your road trip, you’ll want to give your cat’s traveling necessities a test run. This is something that can be done at home and will help familiarize her with the process of travel before it’s time for the real trip. Pack up all of her needs and place them in a separate bag so you don’t have to dig around in totes or suitcases when it comes time for a pit stop. Your feline will eventually get used to being on the road if you take things slowly and prepare appropriately beforehand, but she still needs some time (and patience) getting used to this new experience!

Conclusion

The first time we took our cats on a road trip, it was a bit scary and overwhelming. But once we had done it a few times, they became much more relaxed in the car. And each time after that they would be excited to see us loading up the car with all their stuff, because they knew it meant another fun adventure! We hope these tips will help make your travels with your cat as safe and stress-free as possible for both of you!