I'm moving in a few months 1500 miles away. We are going to be driving. I'm not sure exactly what to do with my cats while traveling that far. I'm not worried so much about either one in the car.. they are 5 and 6 years old and both very calm. But what about food and water during the drive so we don't have to stop as often? Also, neither has ever used anything except a litter box and I'm thinking that cats aren't as easy as dogs... where they would just go when you let them out of the car at a rest stop.
north790044872006-09-10T11:34:47Z
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I'm retired and I travel with my pets extensively. I travel with 2 dogs, a cat and 4 finches. One of the dogs sits on my lap (smaller than my purse), the other sleeps onn the floorboard of the passenger side. My cat is in a travel kennel designed for a small to medium sized dog. The birds are in a travel cage and shielded from sunlight with a light cotton terry towel.
First and foremost - have vaccination records of all your animals. If any are on medications, have the medications in the original containers in the same place you keep all the animal records. I have a small cloth bag that I keep tucked between the driver's seat and the console where I keep medications (including heartworm preventives, vaccination records, health certificates). Keep a collar or harness on your pets with ID tags and current rabies tag. For both dogs and cats (even if in a travel kennel), keep a long leash attached to the collar with the other end attached to the carrier or kennel. Accidents happen. I can't tell you how many times someone opened the car door and out ran their pet, frightened by lightening, a horn honking or trying to investigate the sound of another animal outside the vehicle. I worked in a resort and heard about it time and time again. Be ready and prepared for it.
Also, there is the possibility that your car could be involved in an accident. If the people are injured and have to be transported to a medical facility, it is so much easier for strangers to handle your pets if they are in travel kennels or already leashed. It saves a lot of time, heartache and aggravation.
When you stop for a meal or at a rest area, park in the shade with the windows (all of them) open about an inch to allow cross ventilation. Have an extra key to the car door and leave the car running with the air conditioner on if the outside temperature is above 60 (sixty) degrees. Even with the air conditioner on, leave all the windows open an inch. Better still, take turns going inside so that at least one person is in the car with the pets.
Outside temperature is below 60 (sixty) degrees? Still park in the shade and leave all the windows open an inch. Your animals need fresh air, cross-ventilation - even if you just have two cats in a carrier or kennel. That car will still get uncomfortably hot if parked in direct sunlight and left with the windows closed for as little as 10 minutes.
As soon as you return to your car, check your pets. Make sure they are not panting or panicked. All rest stops should be time spent with your pets. Let them out of the crate, let them roam around the car. Offer them treats. Do this when the car is in park and not moving. 1500 miles is a really long distance to stay in a crate if a car ride is something new to them.
Lodging. Most Howard Johnsons allow pets. In fact, most motels allow pets. Check this out along your route and make plans to stay where your pets are welcome. Once you get settled inside the room, let the cats out to roam around. Set up the little box and let them know where it is. They'll love you for thinking of them.
Don't invite an accident! If anyone needs to leave the room, make sure your cats are back in the crate or kennel before someone opens the motel room door - especially if the door opens to the outside. Let them back out of the cage when the person has returned to the room and the door is again closed and locked.
If you are going to stay in any motel for more than one night, make sure your cats are secured in their crates in the room when you leave the room for meals or sightseeing. That will keep them from escaping in an unfamiliar area when the housekeeper comes in to clean your room. Don't rely on a "Do Not Disturb" sign. Those can fall off the door or be blown off with even a gentle breeze. Safety first - always.
Don't get a crate or kennel or carrier just before the trip and put your cats in it just as you are getting ready to leave. Let your cats discover it. Leave it with the cage door standing open in the living room or bedroom or any room that your cats frequent. Put a dish of food in the cage to lure them into it. Let them discover it and see that it's not a bad place at all. This will reduce the amount of stress your cats might endure on departure day.
Think of them as infants your are traveling with - always. Only then will the experience be pleasant, trouble-free and enjoyable for all.
I have moved a lot with both my cats. Once to Alaska from California(2,500 miles), from Alaska to Arizona (2,800 miles), and then from California to Pennsylvania (2,300 miles).
If you are stopping every night then you do not have to worry about food, water, or bathroom needs while in the car. Even if you try to give them food/water along the way they probably won't eat or drink. As for bathroom...the same...they probably won't want to stop and use it until you are settled into a motel/hotel room for the night.
I would just keep the driving down to 8 hours a day, and keep the cats in a pet carrier. Once you get to a motel fill a small litter box with a small amount of litter, and put out food and water. They will hide at first, but will come out while you guys are sleeping and do all they need to do.
In the morning just dump the litter, put the cats back in the carrier, and pack up the cat box and food an start you next day drive. Another tip is to eat breakfast near the motel/hotel you are staying in so you don't have to pack up the kitties until after breakfast.
Good luck with the move, and thanks for being one of the few responsible people that actually take their pets with them when they move far away instead of dropping them at a shelter.
One thing depends on the type of auto you are traveling in. If there is enough room use two deep containers 1 for dry food 1 for shallow water. Keep the water fresh. You can place these in one side of the rear floorboard, preferably where the passenger can watch the bowls. Pet stores sell disposable litter pans that are small you could buy several of these and place one at a time in the other rear floor board. Keep a garbage bag handy for when they do the stinky. Or stop once per day put a litter pan outside for the stinky and dispose. Just remember have a leash and collar on your cat and a good grip before you open the doors. No matter how car calm they are this is going to be a long trip. LOL
The best thing to do is to take away food and water 8-10 hours before you pack up the cats and leave. I would give them a little bit of soft canned food on the drive - that way they are getting the food and water in one sitting. They are probably going to be a bit too nervous and out of sorts to drink water while driving, but after being in the car for 5-6 hours, they'll probably take a few bites of food. If you're driving straight through, they'll be okay with minimal food and water. Just make sure you feed them and give them water as soon as you arrive!
There are also portable litterboxes you can buy. I would take them into the restroom at a rest stop and see if they'll use the litterbox in there.
Make sure your cat will be welcome everywhere you plan to stop. Many hotels and motels allow pets, so do your homework first, and find out the rules, before planning your itinerary. You don't want to expose your cat to any more risks than necessary, so make sure his shots are current before travelling. It would be also be a good time to ask your veterinarian if she recommends a mild tranquilizer if your cat is particularly nervous about travelling. Be sure to bring a health certificate and proof of vaccination with you -- you may need both when travelling through some states. A 500 mile or more trip is not the occasion to test your cat's travelability. Accustom her to her carrier by letting her sleep in it, then take her on increasingly longer local drives well in advance of your trip. Make travel a fun occasion, with plenty of rewards, and your cat will soon be a seasoned veteran at travel. Invest in a good harness with securely attached ID tags. Include your name, address, phone number, as well as contact info for your vet. Leave your itinerary with your veterinarian in case they should receive a call that your cat has been found. Tattooing and microchipping are a plus. With his harness and a leash, you can take your cat out to stretch his legs on rest stops.