What’s the Best Way to Travel by Car with My Cat? By Solo Insurance®
August 8th is International Cat Day so for all you cat lovers out there, this one’s for you.
I traveled with a cat once. My nephew (who was age 3 at the time) convinced me that a nice, beautiful “barn kitty” needed a home and she wanted to go home with me. Mind you, I lived 10 hours and a couple states away. Long story short, Kitty Toots rode home in the car with my mom and me curled up under my mom’s passenger seat the whole time. That was almost three decades ago. It wasn’t planned nor were there any stories to tell about it (thankfully). Looking back, it could’ve gone a whole bunch of ways bad but I’m grateful it didn’t and that she didn’t have to go back to her barn. Kitty Toots (aptly named) lived a good life in the city. She’d greet me when I came home from work and tell me about her day. She was a nice kitty.
Not all cat travel stories end the same way. Most cats don’t seem to naturally love the car, being trapped in a moving box careening down the highway at speeds unheard of in the cat world. They could freak out, run around, crawl underneath your feet, get sick, or express themselves (yikes). In other words, car travel can be high on their stress and anxiety scales causing undesirable results for them and their humans.
As with any animal, it’s a great idea to build up to car travel in super short successful doses. Ideally, pets are crate trained first. Crates are to be their safe havens, not a punishment. They’re a place to go to get away from the crazy world. Feed your pet in the crate to help this along. Now to the car. (If not crate trained apply these baby steps to crates first). Any stress you’re feeling will go to your cat so make it enjoyable for both of you! So here are some steps:
1. Yay, here’s a car…let’s get in together and have a snack. It’s not moving, the door isn’t closed. It’s not so bad. Do this a few times till it becomes an ok place.
2. Next, add to step one by closing the door so in there together, then have the snack. Again do a few times. If the car is in a garage, add to this when comfy with car door closing, the opening of the garage door.
3. Now that your feline is secure with all of the above, start the engine; if all is well drive a super short distance (like down a driveway and back) and end on a happy note. Always end on a happy note.
4. Once 1-3 accomplished, you can add duration (recommendation: do not make first big trip to the vet).
It is possible to travel safely with a cat or any pet. The key is to first help them feel secure and safe in the moving environment. Building up to that level takes a bit of effort and time on your part but in the long run, it is worth it! If your dear one hates it anyway, there are medications and/or herbal remedies that can help.
So happy International Cat Day and may all your travels be fun and safe!
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