Since cats do not take cat travel easily; traveling with them can be a stressful experience. They are much happier staying at home and having their friend, neighbor, or pet sitter to look after them. First, you need to evaluate your cat’s personality. Then you can decide if they should travel with you. Does he get stressed out in new situations? Does he adapt quickly to new places? Or does he like to travel in the car? You also need to consider where you will stay because some motels and hotels do not allow pets.
However, if you have to think about it a lot and there’s no other choice but to take your cats traveling, you should know the following tips about cat travel.
Think about their needs and some important things before you pack them up and go. Make sure that your cat is wearing his collar ID tags before you leave the house. Make sure as well that you bring along the things that he will need while away from home. You can pack his food, pet carrier, toys, cat beds, a litter box, the scoop and litter, a brush, and a scratching post the night before you leave.
A cat carrier is one of the most important things that you should have. You can prepare your cat for being in the carrier before the trip by leaving the flap or door of the carrier open. Give your cat time to explore the carrier by placing its favorite toy or a treat inside. Praise your cat if he enters the carrier on its own when it’s time to travel. Then you can be sure that he won’t have any problem staying inside.
The next thing you can do for good cat travel is you should stick to your cat’s regular schedule as usual as possible. Your cat will not become stressed or anxious if playtime or dinner time still occurs at the usual times. Give him extra attention because the more your cat feels at home while traveling, the more relaxed he will be.
Before you go, you can consult your vet for any medication that can prevent a difficult situation when you are traveling with your cat by car. It is advised that you should not feed your cat sooner than three hours before going. Also, do not forget to bring food and water for your cat. Remember also to bring garbage and bag paper towels, just in case you need them to clean the carrier.
If you and your cat travel by car, don’t leave your cat or kitten alone in the car for any amount of time, like when you park your car while having lunch at a restaurant. Even with the window cracked open. This is because the interior of a car can heat to deadly temperatures in minutes.
When you and your cat travel by plane, make sure the airline allows your cat to stay with you. Make sure also that the airplane has room for your cat to move around in its carrier. This is if the airline allows pets to stay with you. However, if your cat has to be carried as cargo, the important thing is you will need a crate that is comfortable for your cat and meets the specifications of the airline. You need to put some familiar items in the crate with your cat because this experience may be traumatic for them for the first time.
The above cat travel tips can make your travel experience less stressful for you and your cat. With the proper and enough preparations, you and your cat can have a relatively stress-free experience.
