Traveling with a cat can feel like preparing for a NASA mission. You’ve got your bags packed, snacks ready, and somehow you still need to fit in the litter box.
If you’re anything like me, the thought of taking your furry friend on an adventure might sound daunting. But fear not!
With a little planning and some handy tips, you can make traveling with your cat a smooth experience that doesn’t involve tears (yours or theirs).
Preparing for the Journey
By the way, before you even think about hitting the road, it’s essential to prepare your kitty for what’s ahead.
First things first: get them used to their carrier. If your cat sees that carrier as a portable torture device, trust me; they’ll know something is up as soon as you pull it out. Leave it open at home with treats and toys inside so they associate it with positive experiences.
Speaking of positive experiences, consider taking short practice trips around the block before embarking on longer journeys.
This helps acclimate them to car rides without overwhelming their senses all at once. Let’s see—if they start yowling like they’re auditioning for a horror movie during these test runs? You might want to rethink how much time you spend in traffic!
And don’t forget about vet visits! Ensure your cat is up-to-date on vaccinations and has proper identification—like microchips or collars with tags—just in case they decide to explore outside their comfort zone during pit stops.
Packing Essentials
Now that we’ve tackled preparation, let’s continue with the packing checklist because no one wants to leave behind Fluffy’s blanket and even worse, a litter box!
So don’t forget to start with food and water bowls, ample kibble for the trip, and some extras and let’s not forget any medications if your cat takes them.
To be truthful though? Litter should never be an option! Make sure to add some litter from home with a small litter box.
This will help calm down any cat who gets a little nervous about doing business while traveling or sleeping at new places.
Also make sure to carry some cleanup items just in case of any unfortunate accidents because tbh, cats really know how to pick their moments!
Also, yes, don’t forget about comfort items such as blankets or toys which smell like the house as they really are a good source of comfort in new places.
Safety First
But since we have come this far in this travel saga, security has to always come first! When traveling by car, ensure that your pet cat is always put in a carrier with seat belts or straps made for pet carriers; this minimizes their movement in the event of sudden braking (and also stops cats from becoming airborne).
But on the other hand, permitting them to roam in the vehicle while driving is not an option, as this is extremely risky and could create unnecessary distractions while driving.
Flying and driving are two different ways of traveling from one place to another. Pet owners need to ensure their pets are adhering to the rules set by the company as different companies have different rules.
The requirements of every airline are different so after checking them out the time saved in regret later in future is precious.
Mr. Whiskers, your pet, is always furious after being left alone in the car. Even if the time duration was very short, you could have gone through an agonizing time. I am sure everyone needs air conditioning in their cars as high temperatures are unbearable, especially for cats.
Traveling to new places can be exciting for many, whether it’s meeting friends, family, or staying in a hotel, but something that anyone and everyone can agree on is that we all love our space.
So, to avoid all the discomfort, it is best to set up your belongings in advance so that you get the feeling of home and not that of an alien.
Let’s see…. As soon as they come in, let them be settled in their area: Make sure to put their bed around things they would recognize (a blanket from their place would do wonders) together with food/water stations nearby too!
Cats love routines; if they have to make a change, they appreciate if there is some normalcy left in order to help ease the adjustment even if it’s for a short while!
How curious? Be particularly careful of the plants or any pathways that can lead outside as the new cute kittens may explore the area alone and get lost of which we have seen enough in Where did my Cat go?
Most importantly, and this is most important, please remember to leave them alone for some time after reaching their nth point until they decide to go out of the marker set for them so that they do not have to deal with too many changes at once.
Suggested Resources:
Traveling Safely With Cats
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/traveling-safely-cats
Tips For Traveling With Pets
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/tips-traveling-pets
How To Travel With A Cat
https://www.petmd.com/cat/centers/behavior/how-travel-cat