Traveling with Cats

Travel with cats takes planning and preparation. Whether for travel, transport or vacation, these tips will help make travel with cats comfortable for you and your cat, while preserving your sanity and your cat's health.

Cat Travel Preparations

Planning and preparation are necessary to successfully travel with cats. Consider whether your cat is comfortable when traveling. Some cats, like some people, function better in familiar surroundings. A car-

sick cat can make a trip miserable for everyone. Some ill or physically impaired cats cannot withstand the rigors of travel. If this is the case, discuss options such as using a reliable petsitter or a clean, well-managed boarding facility with your veterinarian.

If you will be staying with friends along the way, be considerate. Find out in advance if your cat is welcome. The same goes for hotels, motels, parks, and campgrounds. Always check whether cats are allowed or kennel facilities are available. If the cat must be left alone in a hotel room, place a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door and inform the maid and the front desk. Consider bringing along a portable kennel for use in hotel rooms or the homes of friends or relatives who are not comfortable with your cat loose when no one is home.

Before undertaking any trip, consult your veterinarian to be sure that all required vaccinations are up-to-date and to receive a health certificate within ten days of travel.

A few general tips apply whether you travel by car or plane.

Be sure your cat is properly identified with a current tag or a microchip.
Grooming (bathing, combing, trimming nails) before a trip.
Having your cat's favorite food, toy(s), and dishes available will make your cat more comfortable.
Have both proof of rabies vaccination and a current health certificate with you when crossing state or international borders.

Air Travel

Air travel is of most concern to people who wish to travel with cats. You can minimize the chances of an unpleasant experience by following a few guidelines.

Make flying friendly for you and your cat. Don't sedate or tranquilize cats traveling by air.

Federal regulations require that cats be at least 8 weeks old and weaned at least 5 days before flying. Generally, a health certificate (which is not more than 10 days old) must be available before cats will be permitted to fly. A valid rabies vaccination certificate will also be required.

Contact the airline well in advance for specific regulations and to secure your cat's reservation. Try to book a nonstop, midweek flight and avoid plane changes if possible. During warm weather periods choose early morning or late evening flights. In colder months, choose midday flights.

Arrive at the airport early, exercise your cat, personally place it in its crate, and pick up the cat promptly upon arrival. Do not take leashed cats on escalators.

Transport crates, available from most airlines or pet supply houses, MUST:

Be large enough to allow the cat to stand (without touching the top of the cage), turn around, and lie down. (I prefer the next larger size than my cat usually requires)
Be strong and free of interior protrusions, with handle or grips.
Have a leakproof bottom that is covered with plenty of absorbent material.
Be purchased in advance so the cat can be acclimated to the crate prior to travel.
Be appropriately and clearly labeled. Include your name, home address, home phone number, and destination contact information, as well as a designation of "Live Animal," with arrows indicating the crate's upright position.
Be ventilated on opposite sides, with exterior rims and knobs so that airflow is not impeded.

Ask your veterinarian for specific feeding instructions. For your cat's comfort, air travel on an almost empty stomach is usually recommended. The age and size of your cat, time and distance of the flight, and your cat's regular dietary routine will be considered when feeding recommendations are made. You may be able to purchase a ticket for your cat to ride in the passenger compartment, but other passengers' allergies may prevent this. Such a policy is usually restricted to small commuter lines and private planes.

Other Modes of Travel

Travel by Car

If your cat is not accustomed to car travel, take it for a few short rides before your trip. Cats should be confined to a cage or crate to allow them to feel secure and to avoid having the cat under your feet while driving.

Pack a cat first-aid kit that includes assorted bandages, antiseptic cream, an antidiarrheal medication that is safe for cats (ask your veterinarian to suggest a product), gauze squares, and the phone numbers of your veterinarian, a national poison control hotline, and a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital. A portable litterbox is a good addition to your travel kit.

Stick to your regular feeding routine and give the main meal at the end of the day or when you reach your destination. Feeding dry food will be more convenient, assuming your cat readily consumes it. Dispose of unused canned food unless it can be refrigerated. Take along a plastic jug of cold water in case other reliable water sources are not available. Give small portions of food and water and plan to stop every two hours for exercise. Remember to include a leash with your cat's traveling supplies.

Cats should not be allowed to ride outside the cab in a truck. Particles of dirt can enter the eyes, ears, and nose, causing injury or infection. Put a cloth or other insulating cover on top of the cat's carrier to keep the temperature down.

If you must leave your cat in a parked car, be sure to lock all doors, park in a shady area, and open windows wide enough to provide ventilation without enabling your cat to jump out or get its head caught. You will want to add a car ventilation fan if you will be gone from the car for more than a few minutes. Be aware of weather conditions. You should not leave your cat in a parked car when the temperature and/or humidity are high or when temperatures are near or below freezing.

Never leave your cat in a hot car during the summer. Your cat could be seriously injured in a matter of minutes and dead soon after that.

By Bus or Train

Most states prohibit animals from riding on buses and similar regulations restrict travel on trains. Exceptions are made for guide and service dogs accompanying blind and disabled persons. Consult your local carriers in advance for information.

Camping With Cats

Travel to idyllic country settings with your cat presents its own challenges. Skunks, raccoons, porcupines, snakes, and other wildlife can bite or otherwise injure your cat. Keep your pet within sight and on a leash. Be considerate of other campers. Be sure to ask your veterinarian about flea, tick and heartworm prevention before you leave. There are large cages available to help your cat feel more comfortable, and help you to feel comfortable while your cat gets some of that fresh air.

Additional Cat Travel & Health Tips

In addition to a standard identification tag (which should be labeled with your name, home address and phone number), your cat's collar should include a travel tag with information on where you are staying while away from home. Should your cat become lost, this will allow you to be contacted locally.

Perform a daily health check on your cat when away from home. In unfamiliar surroundings, your cat's appetite, energy, and disposition may change. Watch for unusual discharges from the nose and eyes, excessive scratching or biting of any body part, unusual lumps, limping, loss of appetite, abnormal elimination, or excessive water consumption. Visit a local veterinarian if you are concerned about any physical or behavioral changes.

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