Traveling with cats is not very difficult if you know how to go about it. Sometimes your trip may be as long as 20 hours and at other times just a few minutes but taking a cat along involves certain precautionary measures and relevant information if you want you and your cat both to have a comfortable trip.
You can move your cat either by road or by air. If you are moving to another country, then, it is imperative that you get your cat completely examined by a vet and have a health certificate issued before the planned trip or you might have to go through trouble. While air-travel is quick, road-travel can be long and you need to be properly equipped with everything that might be needed.
Since the only way you can take your cat is in a carrier, you need to make your cat accustomed to it. Cats generally associate the carrier with trips to the veterinary or the groomer and so are not comfortable with it. To dissolve this apprehension you can put the carrier, with its door open, in the room where the kitty’s around. To attract the kitty you can make comfortable bedding or leave small treats in it. Your cat will follow instinct and examine it. However, if it is still hesitant, then put the cat inside the carrier and take it out after a little while. This will make your cat overcome the fear of the carrier. Never force your cat to get into the carrier!! Put the carrier with the door open on one side and lightly persuade the cat forwards, eventually making it enter the carrier. Close the door immediately and then release your cat after a few minutes.
It is always advised to keep your cat in a carrier as a precautionary measure against possible road accidents or escape. To keep it composed throughout the journey, in case of a small one, cover the carrier with a dark cloth considering the weather is not very hot. However, on longer routes, you can follow the instructions given below to get the necessary help.
* Do stop at intervals to give yourself and your cat little breaks. Open the door of the carrier to let the cat out and roam around for a while. Make sure all the windows and doors of the car are closed! Put the litter box near the carrier so your cat can use it if she wants to. However, do not fret if your cat doesn’t use it immediately. Also, don’t let it go under the seat because it will be hard for you to get her out of there.
* Your trips must be planned well in advance and they should not be scheduled to be more than 7 to 8 hours of continuous driving. Most cats can wait to relieve themselves for that period of time. And don’t give any kind of food to your cat during the journey if it is susceptible to motion sickness.
* If you’re going on a vacation and taking your cat along, make sure you have checked with your hotel beforehand if they are pet-friendly or not. Information on such things is available on the internet as well as guide books.
* Always keep your cat tagged so that in case of loss you are able to find it back easily. Also include your personal number along with other information provided on the tag so whoever finds it, knows where to contact. You can also get a microchip put into your cat so it can be easily traced.
* In case your cat has a severe case of motion sickness and you really want to take your cat along, go to your cat’s veterinarian and ask him about it. He will give you certain medicines that will help in controlling your cat’s nausea while in the car. You can also give your cat a light tranquilizer but it must strictly be used as advised by the vet!
* To make your cat comfortable with car travelling, you can also take your cat out in the carrier and give it short rides around the block, bringing it back home safely. This will help alleviate the apprehension of your cat.
You can always give us your feedback on your own experiences of travelling with cats. In case you want to add anything here for the benefit of our readers, feel free to drop a comment. The more we interact and share our thoughts, the better experience it will be for everyone.
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