MetaChat - Travelling with cat! Help?

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23 December 2011

Travelling with cat! Help? →[More:]So tomorrow I'm planning to drive for 90 minutes (to my folks' house) with my cat, which is more than I've ever travelled with a cat, and further than he's travelled, as far as I know.

I've bought some Feliway, and have been stockpiling newspapers (because he tends to have "accidents" even when driving to the vet's a mile away). I think he'll be fine when we get there, with lots of nice food and familiar people, but it's the journey I'm worried about.

Some of you are in the US, which is a really big country - any tips for a small-country dweller for travelling with feline?

post by: altolinguistic at: 17:33 | 10 comments

Will he be in a carrier?

posted by Senyar 23 December | 17:40

That's the plan - would be worried about a free-roaming cat in the car. Husband will be driving, I'll be with cat.

posted by altolinguistic 23 December | 17:45

I find that catnip gets Lucy stoned. Give him a new catnip toy to play with (if you have one) before you leave, and he'll be pretty zonked out if he's rubbed it all over his face.

posted by Senyar 23 December | 18:06

I'd put a towel (one you don't care about) in the carrier with him. And bring a couple more "just in case". He'll probably yowl for a bit then settle down.

When you get to your destination, shut him up in the bedroom you'll be using with his litter box, food and water. Let him calm down, have some alone time and he should be fine.

90 minutes is really nothing. I travelled for four days with three cats in the back of a Geo Storm (SoCal to Texas).

On preview: a catnip toy is a good idea.

posted by deborah 23 December | 18:09

I've found that NOT talking to them or giving them attention will allow them to calm more quickly (if they're going to.) And, sometimes putting a towel loosely over the carrier is nice so they feel more like they are safely tucked in a cave.

If kitty tends to be a sir-barfs-a-lot, maybe considering not giving smelly food prior to the trip in case of that type problem....

posted by mightshould 23 December | 18:22

We have a cat who will have "accidents" if she goes anywhere, but she made it to the vet with minimal discomfort for once.
90 minutes is not that long.
If you are really concerned with barfing or pooping, restrict the diet a bit.
My dear Phil had an accident on a flight that was horrible and unusual. Watch out for something like that, strange stool, unusual distress, but 90 minutes shouldn't be too taxing. Be calm. Don't worry too much.

posted by ethylene 23 December | 18:48

I got nothing to offer. Sookie traveled better than I hoped. I like Senyar's catnip idea.

posted by Ardiril 23 December | 19:57

Oh, right, barfing. Don't feed him the night before and you'll limit the barfing part.

posted by deborah 23 December | 20:52

Catnip is way good if kitty is not too young.

posted by arse_hat 24 December | 00:52

Thanks, everyone. He's not a barf-monster usually... Catnip is a good idea - he's just destroyed one toy to get at its innards, but I think we have another somewhere.

You're right, 90 minutes isn't a long journey - this is a tiny country, and it's good to get some perspective.

posted by altolinguistic 24 December | 04:32

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