Anyone ever drive across country with their cats?

I just went through a move a month ago from Indiana to Texas. We were on the road for 4 days and it went fairly smooth after I was given a few hints to help. I put my cat in it's carrier because driving that far with a cat under you is going to cause an accident. My cat hates car rides so I had my vet recommend an antihistamine to give him to help him relax. It didn't knock him out or anything but after a couple of hours he quit crying. I gave him a pill every morning after that with no problem. I kept a litter box in the car but he usually didn't use it until wee got to the hotel at night. He didn't really want to eat or drink much but you have to make sure they don't get dehydrated. I would stop every few hours for a drink or potty break I would take my cat out of the car to stretch his legs. I put him in a harness on a leash. he wouldn't walk much but it did give him a chance to get out and stretch and to feel the air on him. At the end of the night in the hotel room, he got out, ate,and got his exercise then the next day we started all over again. I also included his favorite blankie to take into the hotel room at night so that he had something of his to make him more comfortable. His favorite toy was in his carrier too but to be honest, even though his medication didn't knock him out, he slept most of the way. I hope that this helps. Good luck on your trip.

Individual cats are very different, so it is hard to say what is right for yours. Take a short practice trip with them first -- if they don't just associate car trips with he vet, they may actually enjoy the experience and won't need to be kept in a cage while driving. I go on many long trips with my cats, and they are fine in the car, one even enjoys looking at the view, another always claims my lap. I keep a litter box in the back of my SUV that they use. But my friends cat is high strung, and afraid of travel (only going to vets), so needs to be kept in a cage with a towel to soak up urine. In anycase, let them wonder your hotel room when you stop for the night -- keeping them in the cage the whole time is sure to make a dirty & very unhappy cat. Again - take a practice shorter trip first, see what they like or don't (i.e. harness/leash or not).

We moved from Chicago to New Orleans (and back again) with 2 cats in the car. We kept them in separate carriers while driving. Whenever we stopped, wegave them food & water and filled a small pan with litter and let them out inside the car. But they were too freaked out to eat or use the litter box. Just make sure whenever you stop to eat/go to the bathroom, you do the same for your cats. I wouldn't recommend putting them on a leash or anything, in case they escaped or got into something at a rest stop. They're going to be pretty freaked out, so keeping them in the car is probably the safest thing.

We traveled with our 2 cats before. We let them run free with a litter box on the floor in the back (make sure they know where it is). the only problems were that sometimes they want to go under the seat or on my shoulder (not so safe when driving). You also have to be super careful when getting in or getting out of the car. You could put them in the carrier before you exit the car. For the most part, they sat on a blanket or in our laps.

Did this with my cat when I moved from Louisiana to Iowa. If you have a minivan, get a small dog cage (big enough for a small litterbox to fit in) and keep the cats in there for the trip. With mine I had the litterbox on the floor in the back seat and let my cat roam the car. It was all good until she decided to "explore" the underside of the dash. Cats and wiring don't mix and trying to pull a cat out from under the dash while driving is dangerous!

My friend put her cats in crates and drove about 6-7 hours each day. She'd stay at Motel 6 where they allow pets. When she'd stop, she'd set up a litter box in the bathroom for the cats and settle in. Next day, crate em up and move on. It takes a bit longer but it can be done.

my sister has traveled all over with her cat she is 10 years old my sister was in college and moved around alot doing internships. she has traveled with her cat from illinois to georgia to florida all over and she does just fine

i suggest that you do keep them in cages but take them out once in a while to scratch they legs and go potty and get fresh drinks....