Transporting your cat on a long trip in the car

[trailmix 77]

Seeing another post here today on transporting dogs made me think of this again.

We are going to be driving from Calgary to Nebraska, approximately 36 hours. (We will probably only travel 8-9 hours per day) and taking our cat with us.

Have any of you transported your cat from Canada to the U.S.? Any advice? Any problems with hotel accomodation or can you recommend a cat friendly chain? Also I have read that cats don't require any vaccinations in particular, they just need to look good.

[misa 2]

You're correct that cats do not need vaccinations or a health certificate when crossing the border by car, but if you can get a certificate from your vet, it's always good to have. Also print this out in case you run into an officer who insists on vaccinations:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/animal.htm

Read my POE experience (in my signature) for my experience with my 3 cats and 1 dog. CBP didn't bother to really look at them or ask me anything about them but I had ALL their vet records with me in the car for easy access.

As far as pet-friendly chains... um... we ended up sneaking all the animals into a Quality Inn & Suites room. We didn't bother to ask about their policies as it was late and we were tired. I've recently seen a flurry of ads for http://www.motel6.com/ here in the U.S. stressing that they are "pet friendly" so you may want to see their locations.

Depending on the health and age of your cat and how well he/she travels, you may wish to consider sedatives. Risks are low with sedatives if your cat is healthy. I gave my cats mild sedatives (provided by the vet) during the travel as they were not able to come out of their carrier until we were in the hotel room.

My cats are all fed on schedule so I know when they need to use the litterbox and when they don't so it fit in nicely with the hours we were actually in the car and the hotel (and then home).

Kathryn here travelled with 6 cats... there's a post kicking around here where she gave some awesome tips.

ETA: We drove over 2 days about 8 hours each day. Also, there's a limit on how much cat food you can bring with you at the border, so take that into consideration when you're packing up the car. I don't know what the limit is but CBP didn't confiscate any of what I brought.

Edited August 12, 2007 by misa

[misa 2]

I just re-read my post and I meant to say that my cats were given sedatives because they're kind of nuts when travelling. They still complained for a while in the car but they didn't try and break out of the carriers because they were on sedatives.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I didn't travel across the border,but a 15 hr car drive from DC to Florida!! Went to our vet and got a sedative prescribed, as she doesn't travel well!! Worked like a charm!! She was very calm, and even lovey, lol!! Wife took her out of the cage (which had cat litter and water) and she just sat on my wifes lap, all drugged up,lol We only had to give her like 1/4 of the pill!!

[L_n_O 3]

ya.. you don't want to stress your pet out..

[Tinker 0]

We're going to have at least 2 days driving, the cat is going to have to be in the back of the truck (covered). I have a cat carrier that I use to take him to the vet. We'll be making alot of stops, for the dog....um and me. The cat will come out too. Do I need to buy a bigger carrier?

[misa 2]

I think your cat would probably appreciate a carrier where he can stretch out and turn around comfortably in but not so large that he'll get jostled around a lot while in there. So maybe consider going one size up.

Also for anyone travelling with cats or dogs, stock up on bottled water for the car. Sometimes there are stretches of road where the next rest stop and gas station isn't for hours.

I brought blankets, paper towel, bowls, food, treats and water with us in the car.

[trailmix 77]

I think your cat would probably appreciate a carrier where he can stretch out and turn around comfortably in but not so large that he'll get jostled around a lot while in there. So maybe consider going one size up.

Also for anyone travelling with cats or dogs, stock up on bottled water for the car. Sometimes there are stretches of road where the next rest stop and gas station isn't for hours.

I brought blankets, paper towel, bowls, food, treats and water with us in the car.

Well i'm glad I asked as this is all really good info! I plan on getting a 'largish' carrier, but as you mention misa, not so large she will get jostled.

I was kind of on the fence about the sedatives, but I think I will go ahead and get them and try the idea of only giving her a 1/4 and she how she likes them.

I'm hoping she won't hate it too much. I took her in the car to a store nearby once, she didn't freak out or anything but she wasn't particularly impressed by it either.

Thanks for all your great comments!

Edited August 12, 2007 by trailmix

[Tinker 0]

I take the cat and the dog out at least once a week together, the dog sticks her head out of the window and the cat is under her standing at the window looking out (best friends).....alot of double takes when I stop.

I don't think I'm bringing the car with me. The ownership would have to be changed at the last minute and I don't think they'll let me take it through without it being in my name for the past year *shrug*

He'll be coming to get me in the pickup. He'll let the dog in the cab with us but not the cat. I'm thinking it might even be better if they were in the back together, the cat would feel better and the dog will have somewhere to lay down, besides on me.

I found this....

CATNIP (Nepeta cataria)

Catnip is a gentle carminative and antispasmodic for easing flatulence and stomach upsets. It will also act as a mild sedative to help calm the nerves and promote restful sleep in most cats. Due to a constituent called nepeta lactone, cats become intoxicated when they sniff this plant. However, the effect of the herb when ingested is relaxing in a different way--- calming to the stomach and relaxing to the nerves, but without feline-erotic visions of candy-coated mice.

Edited August 12, 2007 by Tinker

[Tinker 0]

there is also something called Rescue remedy, you can buy that at nutritions stores, I use that for the dog when there are storms or fireworks..smells like whiskey to me

LIZ do NOT hurt me on that one. Someone at the humane society recommended that!

Edited August 12, 2007 by Tinker

[misa 2]

I think that if they're safe in the cab together it might help. You might also want to do a dry run and go for a longer drive with both of them. I'm pretty paranoid driving with animals though so my dog is never loose in the back seat. There are harnesses available to hook onto seatbelts. I dont' have one but I hold onto his collar in case there is a sharp stop. Will your fiance let your cat in the cab in a carrier? Might help him (your cat) if he can see your dog.

You could try catnip... depends on how your cat reacts! Some get neurotic and some chill out after a few minutes. And some don't react to it at all and ignore it. I actually grow catnip in our garden and the leaves are HUGE!

As for sedatives, definitely talk to your vet about the upsides and downsides. Was worth it for us because 2 of them would have broken their teeth on the carrier bars by trying to chew their way out if they had not been sedated.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I am concerned reading that the cat will be in a carrier in the back of a truck. Is it an enclosed truck? Is it air conditioned? If you are travelling anywhere south your cat will definitely be at very serious risk of heat stroke and death if it is in the back of a truck or an unairconditioned vehicle. Because of the concerns we had about the cats and the weather (we moved early May and we had to have the air conditioner on by the time we reached Kentucky) we ended up renting a van just so we could have the cats in with us where it was air conditioned. Please, please, please rethink having the cat in the back of the truck even if it means travelling with the cat carrier sitting on your lap the whole time. You don't want to fool around with the temperatures that we have here in the south - they are deadly! Commercial carriers and rentals will not allow you to carry animals in the back. In addition to the heat concerns, you also have the risk of something shifting and falling over on the carrier or knocking the carrier about. For a trip of that distance, the animals -both of them - need to be in the cab with you.

[misa 2]

there is also something called Rescue remedy, you can buy that at nutritions stores, I use that for the dog when there are storms or fireworks..smells like whiskey to me

LIZ do NOT hurt me on that one. Someone at the humane society recommended that!

Flower essences! That can help too (I didn't use them during the move/drive but have in the past). See this link for other flower essences that may be helpful.

http://rainbowcrystal.com/bach/floweran.html

[misa 2]

I am concerned reading that the cat will be in a carrier in the back of a truck. Is it an enclosed truck? Is it air conditioned? If you are travelling anywhere south your cat will definitely be at very serious risk of heat stroke and death if it is in the back of a truck or an unairconditioned vehicle. Because of the concerns we had about the cats and the weather (we moved early May and we had to have the air conditioner on by the time we reached Kentucky) we ended up renting a van just so we could have the cats in with us where it was air conditioned. Please, please, please rethink having the cat in the back of the truck even if it means travelling with the cat carrier sitting on your lap the whole time. You don't want to fool around with the temperatures that we have here in the south - they are deadly! Commercial carriers and rentals will not allow you to carry animals in the back. In addition to the heat concerns, you also have the risk of something shifting and falling over on the carrier or knocking the carrier about. For a trip of that distance, the animals -both of them - need to be in the cab with you.

I missed this part Kathryn! For some reason when I was reading Tinker's post, I assumed it was the back of a truck as in an SUV or something (i.e., inside the vehicle).

Ditto what you said!

We travelled in a (rented) SUV with heat and air-conditioning (we needed heat for the first day and a/c for the second day).

[Teacher 0]

I would definitely get a leash and harness for stopping points if you plan on taking them out of the carrier. A lot of people lose pets on car trips. Most rest areas have pet areas, too. Sometimes like to walk around. If you want them to use the bathroom outside then give them a good 20 to 30 minutes to explore the area first.

Remember never to leave them in a car alone even for five minutes. Temperatures get high very quickly in the summer and your pet can die within a few minutes.