by Ashley Long, a life-long lover of animals, experienced animal foster parent and FUR volunteer.

Meet Fizz

As I write this post, my cat – a Siamese/Torty mix with entirely too much sass and too little sense – is howling at the door to be let out. If I were to get up and present her with her bright yellow harness, her howling would crank up to eleven, and all seven kitty pounds of her would be launched into the harness’s neck hole. She is that desperate to leave the house.

And leave the house she has! Let me tell you about Fizzgig. Our dear friend, April, found a 4-week-old Fizzgig abandoned in an oceanside ditch in Portugal two years ago. Fizz was the first of our “foster fails.” From the start she decided indoor life would never suit her entirely, so we had to figure out how to travel with this little monster. Since then, she has voyaged no less than 4,000 miles. So, if you’re thinking about traveling with your cat, here’s a bit of what I’ve learned to prepare you, your kitty, and your sanity for the journey ahead.

Cat Safety First – Identification and Microchipping

Perhaps the greatest fear of any pet owner during travel is the idea of your pet getting lost. Last year, I read about a pet owner who got in a car crash while driving through Western North Carolina. Though the pets were secured in a carrier in the back of the car, the carrier broke open during the wreck and the pets escaped. Reading that post spurned me into action, making sure the identifications of our pets were up to date and accessible.

Before you travel, make sure to:

  • Microchip your pet. If your pet is already chipped, check and/or update the information you’ve registered to make sure it’s current.
  • Get a collar or harness with your pet’s ID. Microchips are great, but you need a scanner to know if they exist and what info they contain. Make sure your pet is collared or harnessed with a tag that contains your contact information, in case they’re found after-hours.
  • Pack a cat-specific first aid kit, just in case.

Hitting the Road

North Carolina does not have specific rules about how your pet must be restrained or contained during automobile travel. The rules do say, however, that your pet must not be a distraction.

Now, given the opportunity, Fizz would nest right under the gas and brake pedals. Not the best option for long-term survival (for any of us). But we learned early on that the obvious alternative – keeping her in a carrier – was also problematic. She howled. And howled. And howled. On shorter practice drives to the vet, she’d seemed only mildly annoyed by her confinement. If only we’d taken longer practice runs with her in advance of our drive from Washington Dulles International Airport to Canton! But hey, that gave us plenty of driving and an overnight stay in a roadside motel to learn from our mistakes.

Here’s what we do now. First up, get everyone comfortable. Lots of stores sell fabric pet “benches” that you can put in the back seat of your vehicle. These benches are made to keep both your pet and your car safe. Made of durable material, they are resistant to scratches, liquids, claws, and teeth. You clip the bench into the vehicle’s four headrests and create a kind of pouch for your pets. You can then clip your (harnessed) pet into the pouch to limit their freedom of movement throughout the vehicle. In this fashion, your pet can be both comfortable and secure. (Product pictured is from Chewy. FUR does not endorse any specific product.)

Next up, the litter box. It’s hard to take a cat on a potty break, so it’s best to set up a small litter box in the car. Convenient for you? Not so much. But, by keeping the cat in the car, you reduce the risk of runaway during a pit stop. (And besides, what pet owner has ever successfully convinced a cat to go potty, outdoors, on command?) You can use a regular litter box, a disposable one or one made specifically for travel. Pick whichever will make the travel easiest for you and your kitty. (Product pictured is from Chewy. FUR does not endorse any specific product.)

Cats on bed with suitcase

As for the hotel stays, we found many places would let us stay with our pet for a small additional fee. In addition to the litter box and food, make sure to bring along some toys and other distractions for the cat’s visit in the hotel. If you can keep them distracted with their own things, then maybe they won’t use the hotel bed as a scratching post.

Before you let your cat roam free in the room, look around for potential hiding spots. For example, some hotel beds have barriers under them and some do not. If your travel is on a timetable, you may need to build in time to coax your furball out from under the bed!

Cats getting dry bath

Finally, be prepared for when s#!t happens. Literally. Bring cleaning supplies for both your cat and your car (and, as needed, the hotel). Pet wipes, paper towels and fabric cleaner are all useful things to have on hand. Because if you have to choose between finding room in the car for the wipes and trying to bathe your cat in the hotel bathtub, well, I can tell you right now which option I’d prefer.

Before you check out of your hotel room, look around for any soiled spots so you can clean them. Not only do you not want an unexpected cleaning fee hitting your account, but those are also not the kind of leave-behinds the cleaning staff appreciate.

Medical Considerations

Travelling with pets can be stressful for everyone. In addition to your pet’s regular medications, you may be asking yourself whether a sedative or other anti-anxiety medication is a good option.

Cats at Vet

The first thing to do is bring this question to your vet. They may have recommendations and advice particular to your animal. If the vet prescribes something – and I cannot stress this enough – do a trial run of the medication BEFORE you travel.

Why? Because pets are weirdos, and their reactions to meds will not be the same as yours. In the past, a vet prescribed gabapentin for my cat. She warned me that some small percentage of cats have an inverse reaction to this drug. Turns out, my cat was in that small percentage, and she lost her little kitty mind when we used it on her. I’ve never seen an animal go so monstrously from Jekyll to Hyde. She pretty much made my (now ex) boyfriend cry. For the return trip, we opted for a non-gabapentin medication.*

Special Cat Considerations for Flying

You may be asking yourself if a flight with your cat is an option. Given the choice, I would never fly with any of my pets ever again. (We only did so because we were doing an overseas move and there were no other options.) Whether your pet will be good at air travel will vary hugely from pet to pet, and from airline to airline. I’ve seen dogs and cats on flights that seemed to have a fine time. But I’ve also seen (and been subject to) the opposite experience. So, if your pet is chill enough for air travel, here are some considerations before you book their flight:

  • Is your pet small enough to be in the cabin with you?
  • If yes, will the cabin be more stressful, or less stressful, for your animal than the pet hold (if the airline has one)?
  • Does your flight have any connections? (Connections are an opportunity for you and your pet to be separated. Make sure you have an electronic means to track your pet if it’s not in the cabin with you.)
  • Does the airline have a reputation for good pet care?
  • Has your airline effectively communicated what additional things you need to do (e.g. show up at the airport 3 hours early, have a certain amount of food and water for the pet, have appropriate documentation) to make sure your pet can fly that day?

I won’t take any time here relaying my particular tale of woe, but know that flying with your pet is a whole other level of difficulty. If you want to learn more, there are many online groups that you can join to learn about the experiences of others, and whether air travel is the right option for your pet.

Consider Leaving Fizz at Home

If your cat doesn’t seem made for life on the road, then maybe the easiest thing for you both is to get a pet sitter for your holiday. I prefer pet sitters who will come to your home, as it minimizes the disruption to your pet’s life. But remember that preparation is key. Don’t wait until you’re leaving for your vacation to introduce your pet to the pet sitter. Try out the pet sitter with a couple of shorter stays first so that the pet can get to know them, and so you can make sure the sitter is the right match for you as well.

Talk to the sitter about sending you regular updates (and even photos and videos) while you’re away. Your goal is to keep your cat safe and happy AND minimize your worry while you’re away.

Final Thoughts

If this all sounds like a lot of hassle, that’s because it is! At least, it is for certain pets and pet owners. But by doing the prep work and being ready to adapt to unforeseen travel situations, you and your pet will be adventure ready. Or staycation ready, as the case may be!

* Turns out, that particular cat just wanted to nap in the front passenger seat of the car while we travelled. She was totally happy once the boyfriend was removed that option was made available.