shellycheval
The Living Force
Since a lot of members have mentioned plans to relocate in the near future, I thought I’d post a few suggestions on traveling with cats. Having made several cross-country moves involving thousands of miles a trip, and having been on the road up to a month at a time with cats, this is what I have learned:
Keep your cat in a carrier. One that is large enough for the cat to stand upright, and sleep in its normal curled and stretched out positions.
Keep your cat in the carrier at all times when you are on the road.
Do not let them out until you are locked in a hotel room for the night, or have reached your destination.
Do not leave them loose in a hotel room without being present—put them back in the carriers while you go out to eat.
Line the carrier with A LOT of paper towels, a third to a half of a roll. When/if the cat goes, you can reach in and remove the soiled paper and have some left for the rest of the trip—or add more. Make sure you are stopped, and all the doors are locked and the windows rolled up. You may need a second person to reach in and hold the cat while you remove the paper.
Those small pet water bottles that attach to the side of the carrier are great—accustom your cat to licking the water bottle before you travel. Otherwise, offer water a couple of time while you are stopped and the car is secure, and then remove it so it doesn’t spill.
Do the same with food and/or provide grain-free dried cat food in a heavy low small dish, so the cat can nibble at will. It is import that cats eat daily. Unlike dogs who can go a couple or more days without any negative effects, cats can quickly contract “fatty liver disease” and other health problems if they go more than a day or so without eating.
When you reach your new home, keep the cats locked up in their carriers or confined to a bathroom, with a large clear sign on the door DO NOT OPEN, while the in and out moving activity is going on. If you are moving to a large home with multiple room- mates, it is best to keep your cats confined to your room only for several days until they settle down and begin to feel safe in their new location.
Again, be cautious about allowing too much freedom too soon with cats—they do not react to new places like dogs will, just hanging out with you; they will often take the first opportunity to escape and never return.
Many cats are lost from travel and moving—don’t feel sorry for them being locked up and missing the scenery! They usually feel safer in the carriers once they have left their homes.
Safe Journeys everyone,
shellycheval
Keep your cat in a carrier. One that is large enough for the cat to stand upright, and sleep in its normal curled and stretched out positions.
Keep your cat in the carrier at all times when you are on the road.
Do not let them out until you are locked in a hotel room for the night, or have reached your destination.
Do not leave them loose in a hotel room without being present—put them back in the carriers while you go out to eat.
Line the carrier with A LOT of paper towels, a third to a half of a roll. When/if the cat goes, you can reach in and remove the soiled paper and have some left for the rest of the trip—or add more. Make sure you are stopped, and all the doors are locked and the windows rolled up. You may need a second person to reach in and hold the cat while you remove the paper.
Those small pet water bottles that attach to the side of the carrier are great—accustom your cat to licking the water bottle before you travel. Otherwise, offer water a couple of time while you are stopped and the car is secure, and then remove it so it doesn’t spill.
Do the same with food and/or provide grain-free dried cat food in a heavy low small dish, so the cat can nibble at will. It is import that cats eat daily. Unlike dogs who can go a couple or more days without any negative effects, cats can quickly contract “fatty liver disease” and other health problems if they go more than a day or so without eating.
When you reach your new home, keep the cats locked up in their carriers or confined to a bathroom, with a large clear sign on the door DO NOT OPEN, while the in and out moving activity is going on. If you are moving to a large home with multiple room- mates, it is best to keep your cats confined to your room only for several days until they settle down and begin to feel safe in their new location.
Again, be cautious about allowing too much freedom too soon with cats—they do not react to new places like dogs will, just hanging out with you; they will often take the first opportunity to escape and never return.
Many cats are lost from travel and moving—don’t feel sorry for them being locked up and missing the scenery! They usually feel safer in the carriers once they have left their homes.
Safe Journeys everyone,
shellycheval
