Cat Travel Tips

Most cats do not easily take to traveling. They are usually happier remaining at home and having a pet sitter, friend, or neighbor look in daily and supply fresh water and food.

Another alternative to your cat traveling with you is to board your cat out. Unfortunately many cats find boarding at a kennel rather stressful.

If you can't find a reliable sitter and your cat doesn't take to boarding out, there may be times that your cat will have to travel with you for a vacation or business trip.

Traveling with a cat can be troublesome, or it can be a relatively stress free experience for both you and your kitty with the right preparation.

Whatever kind of journey you make with your cat, car or air travel, you will need a cat carrier. Do not wait until you are actually making the trip to suddenly attempt to place your cat in the carrier. Prepare kitty by leaving the carrier out, with the flap open, weeks ahead of your trip. Encourage your cat to explore the inside of the carrier by placing a favorite toy, or a treat inside.

Give your pet plenty of praise if she wanders in of her own accord. By the time of your tour you want your cat to be relaxed, and have good feelings inside the carrier.

Do not use a cardboard cat carrier. These are designed for very short trips only, such as to the vet, and do not have adequate ventilation for a long journey.

For a long journey by car ask your veterinarian about pet travel sickness medication. Ensure good ventilation in your car, and if the weather is exceptionally hot place an ice pack inside the cat carrier.

Acclimatize your cat to car travel by taking a number of short trips with your pet in advance of the big one. Do not be tempted to allow your feline to ride in a moving automobile outside a carrier, or crate, no matter how relaxed the animal seems about the trip. What would you do if kitty decided to jump down under the brake pedal?

Do not feed a traveling cat closer than three hours before departing. Preceding that, ensure the cat has plenty of food and water available, but don't worry if kitty doesn't eat or drink much. Take water and food for your cat and if you make frequent short stops, offer your cat a drink.

You will want to take along paper towels, perhaps a supply of newspaper and a plastic garbage bag in case you need to clean the carrier.

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Never leave your pet alone in the car even for a short while. Even on a mild day heat can build up to substantially more than the outside air temperature. Leaving car windows open does not help much. Heat stroke can be deadly and can happen amazingly quickly in a parked car.

Take breaks along the journey to allow your cat some exercise. Use a harness, more secure than a collar and leash. Your traveling cat should have its ID tag clearly stating your address and cell phone number if you have one.

Air travel for cats, and other pets, involves statutory rules laid down by the International Air Transport Association. On top of this airlines will have their own regulations. Contact the airline directly to be sure of their requirements for your cat to travel with you. Do not depend on information from your travel agent.

These cat travel tips will help make the planning of your cat's air trip as trouble free as possible.

Book your trip as soon as possible. Many airlines severely restrict the number of pets carried in the cabin per flight. Additionally some airlines operate a pet embargo when temperatures are likely to rise above a certain figure at any point on the itinerary.

Your airline may allow your cats to travel with you in the cabin. An approved carrier must be used, usually a soft sided one. The space available is rather limited, so cabin travel may not suit large cats. The carrier may have to be stowed under the seat during takeoff and landing. Your cat must remain inside the carrier at all times on board the airplane.

There must be enough room in the cat carrier for kitty to be capable of turning around and to lie down comfortably.

Book an appointment with your veterinarian for your cat's flight appraisal and to get any necessary vaccinations. You will need to get a health certificate within 10 days of the departure date.

If at all possible book a direct (non stop) flight. This will take away the risk of your kitty being left behind on change over. Again, if possible, fly outside peak periods, choose early morning or at night, the less busy the airport the less stress for your cat.

If your cat is to travel as cargo, you will need a well constructed and ventilated travel crate that meets specifications laid down by the airline. It will probably be necessary for your pet's name, address, destination and phone number of owner to be displayed on the crate. Also the crate may need to be marked This Way Up and Live Animal, and display feeding instructions.

Your cat should be offered a light meal and water no closer than two hours before the trip.

A free booklet is available from the Air Transport Association that has many cat travel tips. Send a stamped addressed envelope to Air Transport Association 1301 Pennsylvania Boulevard, NW, Suite 1100, Washington DC, 20004.

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