(Have you ever had your cat climb into a hole in the wall and end up exploring the inside of your parents’ basement ceiling?) Look out for hiding spots that might be really difficult to coax your cat out of. Check the surroundings to make sure that there are no escape routes.Minimizing Your Cat’s Stress At Your Destinationĭon’t let the cat out of the bag (carrier)! (At least, not until everything is prepared!) Your feline vet can help you make the best plans for this. Gabapentin After Your Trip: If your kitty remains anxious at your destination (unfamiliar surroundings, other animals, or perhaps it’s just taking some time for her stress to wear off), consider giving gabapentin for a few days after the trip as well.Minimizing your kitty’s stress during trip preparations can help keep her anxiety to a minimum during the trip. Cats often experience an anxiety build-up triggered by trip preparations like getting out the suitcase. Gabapentin Before Your Trip: If your kitty’s anxiety comes in the Extra Large size, you may want to start giving gabapentin several days before the trip.You’ll find more information about gabapentin (and its use prior to vet visits) here. For longer trips, doses can be repeated up to every 8 hours. Gabapentin During Your Trip: Gabapentin is administered orally, most easily as a powder that is mixed into a small amount of food 1-2 hours before leaving home.Plus, even if the cat is laying there like a lump, she could still be panicking internally. This can be risky if your cat has any underlying disease, especially heart disease. Some tranquilizers lower heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Heavy sedation is not the safest way to go. The most common side effect is mild drowsiness, which can be a benefit when traveling.ĭrugs To Avoid: The more “old school” medications used for pet travel are tranquilizers. It’s one of the safest medications out there.
Manage Anxiety With Gabapentin: Gabapentin is a wonderful anti-anxiety medication for cats and dogs. Most cats will benefit from anxiety-relieving medications for car travel with cats, flights, or even just a drive to the vet. Medications That Can Help Ease Your Cat’s Stress We don’t recommend taking your cat for a leashed walk at a rest stop (far too many cats go missing this way!), but if you do, be sure your cat’s harness is very secure, and be careful of any dogs present, especially if they are off-leash. However, if your cat is already comfortable with a harness and leash, this is an extra method of security during pit stops. Take A Walk? A trip is NOT the occasion to first try out a cat harness.
Prevent your cat from hiding under a seat or other dangerous spot.Be careful: cats can move quickly if startled! Keep the car doors closed and locked until your kitty is back in the carrier.Always park your car and lock your doors before letting your cat out of the carrier.Kitty Potty Breaks: On long trips, your cat might appreciate a potty break. If you must leave the car and you are not alone, take turns leaving so the air conditioning or heating isn’t shut off.
This is especially important in the summer when the inside temperature of your car can get to dangerously high levels within minutes! Plan on drive-through meals, or bring your own food. Never leave your cats unattended in a car. If your cat is accident-prone, consider lining her carrier with a potty training pad, and bring extras to replace if soiled.Ĭar Travel With Cats: Handling Rest Stops Our scent can be comforting to our cats but for the comfort of the human passengers, try to avoid too much BO! Alternatively, you can use a towel or small blanket that has been in your cat’s usual sleeping spot. Obtain unwashed, just-used clothing from your cat’s favorite person. It’s best if the carrier smells like home, rather than the attic or garage. If leaving her carrier out long-term is not an option, consider bringing it out at least a few days ahead of time. Entice her to go in by placing treats inside regularly. Leave your cat’s carrier out all the time, with some comfy bedding in it and the door open. Your cat’s travel stress can be minimized if she is trained in advance to see her carrier as a “safety zone,” rather than “that horrible jail used only for stressful situations.”
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