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When planning to travel with cats, there are some basic steps that can help make your trip a success when followed. Here are a few pet friendly tips and techniques to help create the most enjoyable travel trip for you and your cat.
Before you set out on your journey, you'll want to familiarize your cat with the cat carrier you will be using to transport them. Days or even weeks before you plan to travel, your cat carrier should be left open and placed in an area of your home where your cat generally sleeps or plays. It is recommended that you feed all meals in the carrier as well as place treats inside in order for your cat to associate positive feelings with the carrier. Bedding and/or blankets placed inside can also achieve similar results.
Another thing to consider before travelling is whether or not your cat will need to be sedated. A short trip may not require this level of precaution, however, a longer trip will inevitably increase stress levels. If you have travelled with your pet on long trips before and experienced high levels of stress, you will want to strongly consider using a sedative. Talk to your veterinarian about the best option for your cat and be sure to research the pros and cons of using tranquilizers while travelling.
Once you are ready to set out, you will want to be sure the cat carrier is positioned properly and adequately secured. If placing the carrier on a seat, using the seat belt is the best way to secure a carrier. If the carrier will be situated in the rear of the vehicle or on the floor, it should be placed in such a way that the movements of the vehicle will not shift, shake, or displace the carrier in any way. The carrier should also be placed where it will be easy to access when stopping to rest or in case of an emergency. Never bury your pet's carrier below luggage or boxes. Placing a blanket over the carrier will also significantly reduce your cat's stress levels.
When and how much to feed and water your cat while travelling are also important to consider. How long your travel time is will affect your cat's feeding schedule. If you are travelling for a period longer than 5 hours, you will want to allow your cat access to food and water inside the carrier. Otherwise, it is safe to restrict your cat's food and water intake to just before you leave and when you arrive.
In regards to bathroom breaks, you will need to pay attention to your cat's needs when travelling. Frequently the stress of travel can upset your cat's digestive processes, causing them to either not need to relieve themselves at all or very little, or cause some inconvenient diarrhea. Either way, taking necessary steps can help. Be sure to bring along a bag of clean litter and a litter pan regardless. Even if your cat is showing no desire to use the bathroom, a break every 2-3 hours is recommended. If your cat has diarrhea, replacing their bedding with newspaper and a small amount of litter can help control an unpredicted mess.
In conclusion, travelling with your cat can be a positive and successful experience when the right measures are taken. Being sure to make your cat as comfortable and safe as possible is the main priority and with a few helpful steps both you and your cat can travel at ease.
If you are a pet owner or considering becoming one, we have lots of more valuable information from our online pet directory, even if you are not travelling in our area, you can get some great free tips and hints and ideas and even products, destinations and pet-friendly parks, beaches and services from our blog and newsletter, that can help you with your pet needs, wherever you are travelling. Sign up now, we are currently giving lots of great bonuses. http://www.PetFriendly.com.au
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