hi all,
not sure if this question is really *health* related, so feel free to move it if it's not.
i'm about to move from the midwest to southern california, and i'm wondering what the least stressful way way of getting my cat there is. i'm planning to pack up my car and drive down there over 3 days. any suggestions on whether it's better for the cat to come with me in the car (if so, how would things like food and litter box be handled?), or should i put her up somewhere and fly her at a later time (if so, how is taking a cat on a plane handled?)?
thanks in advance!
-doris
moving kitty across the country
Here is a site which might be of help: http://www.flypets.com/
My daughter and I once had a young cat travel by air, but it was only from New Orleans LA to Austin TX, and daughter was on the flight too, so picked up her cat along with other baggage at the destination.
My personal experience is with taking cats along in the car, and this is what I would always do if it was a reasonable choice.
1.) Have cat checked by vet and all shots etc. up to date. Cat should wear its tags on a safe collar if at all possible, but still the documentation papers should be kept in the car where they ar readily available. Some motels require such proof, and there is always the chance of accidents. The only collar I could buy last summer was a snap-off, which it did, repeatedly
so I had clipped it to the carrier door for our trip: after the accident, Animal Control kept Q in the carrier (he was in it over 24 hours all told, poor baby, but was just fine) and called my New Orleans vet anyway so things worked out all right. Now I take a length of elastic cord and secure the break-away buckle: the collar will still loosen if it snags on something, but will stay on the cat (Q is strictly an indoor cat, but he wears collar with tags at all times, just as the dog does.)
2) If your cat meows a lot while riding, talk to vet about tranquilizers or whatever. Put some butter or oleo on top the cat's front paws from time to time - this can keep kitty occupied and relieve stress.
3) At overnight stops, try to get a ground floor room with closeby parking. Holiday Inns have a good record for being pet friendly, but no doubt many other chains do also. Have a small - preferrably new - litter box with a handle. And of course you will have convenient portions of food packed for the trip.
4) BUT, MOST IMPORTANT: N*E*V*E*R let the cat out of its carrier in the car unless it's a matter of life or death! Not at a rest stop or gas station or the driveway of your Aunt Minnie who lives just off the Interstate! Not to feed or water or comfort... Reread about Q's adventure: he was just fine after more than 24 hours, whereas he almost certainly would have been lost for good or and/or killed if the carrier had ever been opened.
Hope this helps.
Dot B
My daughter and I once had a young cat travel by air, but it was only from New Orleans LA to Austin TX, and daughter was on the flight too, so picked up her cat along with other baggage at the destination.
My personal experience is with taking cats along in the car, and this is what I would always do if it was a reasonable choice.
1.) Have cat checked by vet and all shots etc. up to date. Cat should wear its tags on a safe collar if at all possible, but still the documentation papers should be kept in the car where they ar readily available. Some motels require such proof, and there is always the chance of accidents. The only collar I could buy last summer was a snap-off, which it did, repeatedly
so I had clipped it to the carrier door for our trip: after the accident, Animal Control kept Q in the carrier (he was in it over 24 hours all told, poor baby, but was just fine) and called my New Orleans vet anyway so things worked out all right. Now I take a length of elastic cord and secure the break-away buckle: the collar will still loosen if it snags on something, but will stay on the cat (Q is strictly an indoor cat, but he wears collar with tags at all times, just as the dog does.)2) If your cat meows a lot while riding, talk to vet about tranquilizers or whatever. Put some butter or oleo on top the cat's front paws from time to time - this can keep kitty occupied and relieve stress.
3) At overnight stops, try to get a ground floor room with closeby parking. Holiday Inns have a good record for being pet friendly, but no doubt many other chains do also. Have a small - preferrably new - litter box with a handle. And of course you will have convenient portions of food packed for the trip.
4) BUT, MOST IMPORTANT: N*E*V*E*R let the cat out of its carrier in the car unless it's a matter of life or death! Not at a rest stop or gas station or the driveway of your Aunt Minnie who lives just off the Interstate! Not to feed or water or comfort... Reread about Q's adventure: he was just fine after more than 24 hours, whereas he almost certainly would have been lost for good or and/or killed if the carrier had ever been opened.
Hope this helps.
Dot B
Re: moving kitty across the country
Hi Doris,
I am doing the SAME think this weekend. Taking one dog and one cat cross country from Wisconsin to Arizona. I am more worried about my kitty. He travels well at short distances, but this is a doozy!
My plans are to leave him in his large carrier in the back seat, have sedation on hand if necessary, keep his same food and litter on hand so as not to introduce any unneccesary changes, find pet friendly hotels (Best Westerns are also pet-friendly I have heard) and hope for the best!
Let us know what you decide and GOOD LUCK!
Julie B
I am doing the SAME think this weekend. Taking one dog and one cat cross country from Wisconsin to Arizona. I am more worried about my kitty. He travels well at short distances, but this is a doozy!
My plans are to leave him in his large carrier in the back seat, have sedation on hand if necessary, keep his same food and litter on hand so as not to introduce any unneccesary changes, find pet friendly hotels (Best Westerns are also pet-friendly I have heard) and hope for the best!
Let us know what you decide and GOOD LUCK!
Julie B
Re: moving kitty across the country
Flying would be faster, but you need to check with your airline regulations for acceptable pet carriers/size. NEVER opt for your pet to be in cargo, never.
If you must resort to driiving with the pets, keep them in carriers at all times, preferrably out of the sun (carriers can overheat in the sun) and preferrably good size carriers that will allow movement inside. Keep a shallow litterbox available, platic containers with fresh water and food and cleanup cloths (like wet-ones or baby wipes, unscented) in your car for potential accidents (vomiting, elimination that can't be controlled)
Keep with you a safe kitty harness, and when you stop for whatever the reason, ensure your kitty is in her harness, secure at all times BEFORE you open your car door. Try to keep her away from busy areas (i.e., gas station, convenience store, etc) so as not to frighten or stress her if you walk her to go potty, stretch her legs, etc. (Preferrably, let her stretch her legs INSIDE your car, use litterbox, drink, etc rather than take her outside)
As E's mentioned, keep with you records of your kitty's health certificate, and rabies certificate. If you are stopped by HP for any reason, if you are caught without a certificate or rabies certificate, your kitty could be at risk for quarantine.
Check far ahead of your schedule with pet friendly motels and ensure your reservations are up-to-date. Nothing worse than arriving and finding your reservation was cancelled due to overbooking or that you didn't specifiy you had a pet (be prepared to give a deposit for a pet)
When you do arrive at your destination, as soon as possible, check your local area for a new vet and get aquainted with them right away. Moving, relocating, etc are the number one stress factors that can induce sudden health problems.
If you must resort to driiving with the pets, keep them in carriers at all times, preferrably out of the sun (carriers can overheat in the sun) and preferrably good size carriers that will allow movement inside. Keep a shallow litterbox available, platic containers with fresh water and food and cleanup cloths (like wet-ones or baby wipes, unscented) in your car for potential accidents (vomiting, elimination that can't be controlled)
Keep with you a safe kitty harness, and when you stop for whatever the reason, ensure your kitty is in her harness, secure at all times BEFORE you open your car door. Try to keep her away from busy areas (i.e., gas station, convenience store, etc) so as not to frighten or stress her if you walk her to go potty, stretch her legs, etc. (Preferrably, let her stretch her legs INSIDE your car, use litterbox, drink, etc rather than take her outside)
As E's mentioned, keep with you records of your kitty's health certificate, and rabies certificate. If you are stopped by HP for any reason, if you are caught without a certificate or rabies certificate, your kitty could be at risk for quarantine.
Check far ahead of your schedule with pet friendly motels and ensure your reservations are up-to-date. Nothing worse than arriving and finding your reservation was cancelled due to overbooking or that you didn't specifiy you had a pet (be prepared to give a deposit for a pet)
When you do arrive at your destination, as soon as possible, check your local area for a new vet and get aquainted with them right away. Moving, relocating, etc are the number one stress factors that can induce sudden health problems.
..........Traci