Okay, my son got a job 750 miles away and we will be bringing him his furniture and cat. I've never traveled with a cat before. I've always owned dogs. I've borrowed a pet carrier but that's too small for it to be over night in a motel room, etc. I do have a good sized dog cage that I can take along but it will have to be in the trailer because it won't fit in the vehicle we're driving. Do I put the litter box in the cage and put the cat inside when we stop? I'm at a loss..... and this cat doesn't really know me at all. My sister-in-law was keeping the cat for my son until we could take it to him. I really want to get the cat and my son back together so I'm going to do this but any suggestions would certainly be helpful. You all always give me good advice when I'm asking about a quilt...... so I figure some cat lover/quilter will help me out with this problem.

check with your vet and get some ideas from him or her.

Egads. Has the cat ever traveled? Mine goes beserk when I put her in her carrier once a year to see the vet.

Earplugs. Get some earplugs.

I agree check with the vet!

You travel in the car with the cat in the carrier. You stop & let the cat relieve itself in the greens at travel stops. Use a leash. In the motel, put familiar bed, food/water bowls, litter box in the bathroom, with the cat loose in the bathroom.

I suggest a drive of 30 min to "test" the cat. If it never calms down, get a tranquilizer from the vet. (Valium or whatever.)

I hear they can give the cat a tranquilizer for the trip. Most cats do not like to travel. Even a trip to the vet is an adventure. Cries all the way. Mine do better if they can hide in the dark somewhere. that carrier is prob perfect for when the car is moving. Cats are usually very adaptive. If she is used to using the litter box, she will use it most anywhere. It's getting a cat to pee on demand. Not sure that is even possible, but I have seen my cats hold it for a very long time. Good luck. You ARE a good mom!!!

My daughter traveled across the country with her two cats. She had a metal dog kennel that fit in her back seat. She put the litter box in the bottom and hung hammocks for the cats to lay on. She then let them run around the hotel at night. She said they did not really use the litter box during the day and did not eat alot on the trip but did just fine.

I've only traveled with a kitten and they'll just curl up on my lap or around my neck. The one time I did have to travel with a cat she had just had babies and we only moved about a mile or so away, so I put Ms Kitty in with her babies and brought her over here..
Talk to your vet and see what they suggest.

I like the leash idea.... I'm afraid the cat will run away. I have a small leash for my dog when he was a puppy. I think calling the vet is a great idea... don't know why I didn't think of that. My son says she's a good rider so I'm hoping I won't have 12 hours of cat crying.... don't know if I can handle that.

I say check with the vet to get some happy pills for the cat. When my daughter moved and finally took her cat it did not like the carrier at all; she let it out and we laughed as we were following her, as it crawled into the back window and spent the entire trip there watching the cars pass by.

Good luck! Hope all goes well!

I just did a cat carrier when we drove from northern california to southern 16hour trip about 600+ miles. If you have a carrier big enough to put a small litter box in that would be better, otherwise the cat will just pee on itself like mine did on the trip, I wouldn't recommend them being outside a box because they tend to freak out with trips. You might even get a mild sedative from your vet to calm your cat for the trip

The last time I picked up my granddaughter and took her to her Dad's house she brought her cat. We put the cat in the carrier and seatbelted the carrier down. After we were out on the highway and not making any more turns or stops we let her out.

This is her sitting under my chin watching traffic.

I don't think I would let a cat that doesn't know me outside on a trip like that - harness or no. I would do as suggested by others:
check with the vet, use the crate in the car and use the larger crate and litter pan in the hotel room. For a 750 mile trip you are really only talking about one night. I would split the travel evenly so neither day is excessively long for him. And happy pills couldn't hurt, either.

If you do decide to use a harness, here's a handy link, and plan to give him an opportunity to get used to the harness before you start the trip.
http://www.petproductadvisor.com/buy...150/page1.aspx

What a great picture Scissor Queen. Mycats all seem to do better in the car out of the carrier. We usually put a small litter box on the floor behind the passenger seat. We'd get them in the car using a carrier but let them out after we were on our way. they would find a spot and stay there the whole trip.

This is illegal (and unsafe) in my state.

I've traveled with my cat, quite easily. She rides in her pet carrier, that I've padded with a soft towel. When I got to the motel, I brought her into the room, brought in the litter box and let her out. She knew immediately where the box was, and used it. Most motel rooms these days (I think) have the underside of the bed blocked off so she couldn't get underneath and impossible to retrieve. I'm lucky, in that she's quite content and doesn't meow the entire way. That'll depend on how content your son's kitty is.

I like the leash idea.... I'm afraid the cat will run away. I have a small leash for my dog when he was a puppy. I think calling the vet is a great idea... don't know why I didn't think of that. My son says she's a good rider so I'm hoping I won't have 12 hours of cat crying.... don't know if I can handle that.
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NOT A COLLAR!!! Cats can get out of them easily, especially when frightened, even by a passing car. Use a snug harness...but even better, keep him caged the whole time he's in the car.
Go for drugs if the vet approves, it'll probably take a visit to the vet to get him to either prescribe or sell them to you directly.

Good luck...

I moved my cat from TX to MN about 1500 miles....
Our Vet gave us some sedative in case we needed it but it wasn't necessary.
Zipster had limited experience in the car.... we got a travel crate ( really just big enough for him to stand in) We sat the crate in the house for several weeks with the door open and a cat well loved towel that had our scent on it....and a cat harness... He wasn't thrilled in the beginning but he settled down ok with in about 30 min.... we just talked to him. We stopped every hour or 2 and took him out on the harness... at first we had to drag him to make him stretch his legs and tried to get him to drink some water. By the 3rd stop he was walking pretty well on the leash. We rented a hotel that accepted cats... we carried him in via the crate.. we had a "portable" cat box to set up in the hotel room.... we allowed Zipster to roam the hotel room, eat and use his box as was his normal routine at home. He was ready to get back in his crate in the morning....After every break Zipster was ready to get back in his crate....

OK I travel with my cat to our second home 140 miles away every two wks back and forth...The first couple of trips were torture with her Meows and clawing at the cage door.
She also hyberventalated if she saw moving objects thru the side of the cage...I had to blow in her face to snap her out of it...
Here's what I did and now she loves traveling...
First I had a small cage and she hated it so I got the next size...noise from cars and trucks and wind upset them so keep windows closed...
Cover the cage with a towel or blanket on the sides so she can only see out the front. Put a nice warm blanket or towel or small pillow in the cages for her/him to sit/sleep on.
Don't use a dog least they will get out of it. You need a cat body harness and leash you can get at the pet store. But at rest stops I'd just put her in the bigger cage with the litter and let her go but again make sure you have the harnass leash on her to transfer her from one cage to the other. You might lose control of her without it if she gets nervous and starts struggling.
Don't feed her where her litter is...they won't eat near where they go. So when she's finished and back in the small cage put her food in that and feed her before you start your trip again..don't forget water at the same time. Remove dishes because it will just spill when moving.
You'll probably have allot of meowing till she adapts and hope it doesn't cont the whole 750 miles but just be patient and talk to her/him.
In the motel I'd let her stay in the larger cage because if she doesn't know you and you let her loose your going to have a hell of a time trying to catch her, though in the Bthrm not much she can hide under but don't let her out into the rm...she'll get under those beds and you'll wish you didn't let her loose.
My vet won't give meds...for traveling...but can't hurt to ck.
Good Luck...

My daughter has been traveling five hours to and from her dad's house in the city for years. She uses a small litter box on the floor in the backseat (lined with a litter tray liner) with about three cups of litter in the tray. Her cat just lays on her bags, coat, pillow or whatever is handy while they are traveling. We've even taken her camping with us for up to two weeks at a time in the 5th wheel. Now that she's getting older (16) she tends to get motion sickness so we have to make sure her food and water were removed from her in the evening before her trip starts. So far so good. We also "dry lot" cattle before taking them to the livestock auction. It helps keep the trailer and the cattle a lot cleaner. Works the same for a cat.

I moved from Texas to Iowa bringing my 2 cats with me. I put the litter box on the floor in the back seat and fed them and gave them a drink each time we stopped. They both were large cats and loved to lay in the back window in the sun and sleep. They handled the trip very well.

I tried putting a leash on my cat.

It did not like the idea. At all.

I would be worried about the cat getting out and running away if left loose at any point.

If she's not used to a leash, it may freak her out. I'd be working on that ahead of time, if I were you. I love cats, but they are unpredictable at times.

When we moved from Indiana to Virginia, we moved with our old girl Boxer Sadie and two cats - Boomer and Kassi. Still have Boomer - the old fart.

Anyway, we had the dog crate set up in the back of the Trailblazer. Neither one had EVERY traveled. In the crate we had a litter box, a hammock and a travel bowl of water. I also completely covered the crate with a blanket so that the noise, lights and confusion are lessened. The first couple of hours were not great but then they settled down. (Wish I would have thought about the vet and drugs. But you should ONLY do it with the vet's advise. Just about everything over the counter is toxic to cats.)

When we got to the hotel for the overnight, I caught them in the dog crate (with the doors of the car closed) and put them in their go-to-the-vet carrier. Once we were settled in the hotel we let them out of the carrier and gave them free rein of the room. Actually, it was a suite at Country Inn and they had hightailed it for bedroom. The bathroom was off the bedroom, so we put the litter box and stuff under the bathroom counter. When DH had to walk Sadie in the middle of the night, he just closed the bedroom door. They both came out during the night for loving. In the morning, they went back in their carrier. They were the first thing taken to the car. Once they were securely in the crate (with litter box, etc.) we loaded Sadie and everything else in the car.

Having moved three other times since, every time it has basically been the same. I do give them run of the hotel rooms, because that they really need that closeness and loving from me to able to tolerate the crate time.

BTW, my cats are totally indoor cats, so I purchased harnesses for both of them (safe to use in the crate - not collars), had tags made with our cell phone numbers and my mom's phone number, and they wore them from two days prior to the trip, the trip and about a week later, in case they decided to attempt an escape.

HTH and your trip is good. Let us know.

Get to know Kitty as soon as possible. Pick her up, hold her, spend some time w her, so she'll trust you.

Don't use just a collar and leash, you need a harness style
restraining system. A cat can squirm out of anything. Concider putting a tag on the harness just like a dog tag, with name and number of your vet. Never take the harness off for the few days you are traveling. crate it when driving. let it out in the motel room so it can use the litter but always crate it before opening the outside door. Remember it is only for a few days and you will have your nerves tested. The more restraints you can keep on the cat the more relaxed you can be.

It may be a good idea to talk to some people who travel to cat shows and find out how they do it. Good luck and happy reunion for the cat and your son. Let us know how it goes!

jrhboxers has very good advice!

I have been wondering this as well-- we will soon be moving 3000 miles with the cat, and the dog -- who don't get along. It should be an adventure. I'm glad you asked this though - I hadn't thought about talking to the vet about sedatives.

I use the canvas carrier with the opening in the top. Much easier to get the cat in and out. It's very roomy and my outside cats don't mind it at all when having to go to the vets. In the old plastic carrier they would howl all the way there, but not in the canvas one. I put an old bath towel in the carrier in case there is an accident and then just toss it. The cat will last all day and not go to the bathroom until you get to the hotel and put out a box with litter. I doubt he will eat much while traveling. I drove from CA to AR many times with various cats and never had a problem. Be sure and strap the carrier in a seat belt. Keep the cat in the carrier until safely in a closed bathroom. Cats will bolt in a heartbeat in a strange place.

Many good suggestions here --
Traveling with a cat is different for everyone. Since this cat doesn't "know" you, it will be a challenge for all of you.

Cats will run faster than you ever think possible so I would never let them out of the carrier...sorry others will disagree. If you are in the front and they are under the back seat or under one of the front seats, you cannot reach them without opening a door and then the cat is outta there. If the cat "knew" you and trusted you completely then it would be your choice to let them roam.

Generally a vet will give you a sedative for the cat to ease it's discomfort. Be aware though it may still meow just out of instinct. Ours did NOT like having the radio on...I think the high pitch was too much for them in the car.

Most cats sleep all day so to be in the carrier is not a problem. Still have a harness on them. HAVE the leash ATTACHED at all times and hooked to the outside of the carrier. Should the carrier come open or they slip away while putting them in it...they will be tied to the carrier.

Take some "old" litter with you to use. It will smell like them already and won't seem so strange. BE sure to use their normal litter box if possible.

Don't put food in the carrier...again they generally sleep all day. Feed them at night and a little bit in the morning to avoid them getting carsick. A couple days of light food will not hurt them by any means.

Think about having "treats" for them to nibble on.

Take a few bottles of the water they are used to drinking with you. Strange water can also give them a tummy ache. Be sure to give the bottles to your son to use also for a few days.

Keeping their vision limited may also help with them being happy.

Think about getting it micro-chipped as a gift to your son if it isn't already...as a "just in case".

Always err on the side of extreme caution. It would not be a good experience if something happened to it.

One successful case of flying with a cat under the airline seat in a small cage: don't feed your cat for a day before, and have some kitty snacks with you, feed only a snack. Be where you can reach and pet the cat, or let her sniff your hand through the cage, etc. to calm her.

As always, my quilting buddies have come through..... these ideas are great. I think I'll put one of my son's shirts in the cage to be a familiar smell. I will let you all know how it goes...... Thanks again.

i traveled with my cat from dallas to atlanta and back again. i put a harrnas on the cat and a leash on that. buckled the leash with a seat belt. let the cat roam free in the car, slept on me most of the time. put a small shallow pan on one side the the back seat floor and food and water on the other side. he laid around my neck alot and slept in the other seat the rest of the time. we had so much fun. he loved to ride. sure do miss him. he was my best friend.

My cats have always ben travelers, a small litterbox on the floor in the backseat. a nonspill water dish, and there favorite blanket or towel one cat wanted my old sweat shirt on the back seat and they are happy. I do not lock them away in the car, Otis likes to sit on my shoulder and watch the traffic, Had a gray tabbie (gone but not forgotten) that loved to ride on the dashboard, got some strange looks but Archie was everyones friend. Our bank's drive up window started keeping kitty treats on hand for him, got to the point he would talk to me untill I went through the drive through. LOL

All great tips. I've used the harness with excellent results, and have your son put it on the cat before he leaves. Sometimes a cat will fight the harness, sometimes they'll just freeze and not move. Hope you're freezes! Be wary of a break-away harness, if the cat panics and runs, the harness can come off. Get a really good one, not some cheapie. I'd never let it out of a crate anywhere but in the hotel room, because the cat doesn't know you well it might run. Good luck.

Just be careful with a leash, if the cat is not used to it, he will have sort of fit and roll over trying to remove it. Also cats slide out of leashes very easily. Just try it and see the reaction, that will give you a good idea on how the cat will stand the leash. I would not let my cat out by the road even on a leash. It's better to keep him in a cage with a litter. Once in the hotel room, you can let it run loose.
Also get a collar with it's id in case it gets lost.

We recently moved from Idaho to NC. I had our 2 adult cats in my car, and they're both different passengers. I kept them both in a very large carrier with mesh screening for the first hour, then opened the screening on one side. One was out and about and the other very content to stay put. Litter box available in the car (I showed them where it was), food/water available, although they didn't use either. Took them into the hotels in the carrier, got the litter box/food/water set up and let them roam the room. They were fine. Same routine every day.

There is a spray you can buy at pet supply stores with kitty pheromones. Very lightly scented to humans, but calms the anxiety in cats. Seemed to work somewhat, and with no
drugs! Not as effective as valium, but safer!

I travel with my cat to Florida each winter. She hates the trip. I use a large dog carrier and keep it in the back seat. I put a dish pan (Used only for this) of kitty litter in the cage with her and a small dish of food and another of water. I put a small bathroom mat on the floor of the carrier and I keep a harnass on her at all times. When I get to a motel and I'm in for the night, I let her out. I got some pills from the vet to help her relax, but they don't really work, so I talk to her a lot and tell her verything is fine. My voice seems to sooth her. It is a very painful 3 day trip for both of us, but the warm weather is worth it. Hope this helps.

A few tips - first, create a travel packet for the cat - a copy of the shot records, use the receipt from the vet, it will have all of that. Microchipped? Make sure the chip company has all of your current contact date. Include chip number in your packet. Have good ID photos of your cat, and a photo of you with the cat. Nothing better to prove that the particular animal belongs to you. Put all of that documentation together in a zip lock bag for the cat's GO Kit (I think of it as a diaper bag for the pets). Have a collar with your travel contact info on it, your cell phone number or your destination number. Put a harness on the cat. Probably won't like it, but oh well, better safe than lost. With that harness you can leash. So now the prep is done. For carrier, a small firm sided litter box will do. Firm, not an aluminum sides fall over when stepped on. I like cake pans, Dollar Tree type. Litter, be sure to use usual brand, cats are fussy, and as little as one cup will do in the travel situation, two cups max, avoids kick out. Take small plastic bags for emptying litter at rest stops. At rest stop, if checking on cat, the litter and water, keep car door closed until cat is secured with leash, or the cat is safely tucked away iin crate - they are quick. Food unnecessary for day trip, always have water. Bedding recommended, either the cat's usual nap pad or even a t-shirt of yours with your scent on it (so that means unwashed). Is comforting for the cat. Strongly recommend a misting pheromone products for cats. They work to reduce anxiety, found at most pet stores, fairly low cost, natural product, and does not involve getting the cat to ingest anything. Feliway is one brand.

I have spent hundreds of days as a volunteer with animals affected by disasters and these are basic guidelines. PM me for more. You can have a safe and successful trip with your cat.

Very carefully. I always ended up getting injured trying to get my cat in the carrier for a trip to the vet. Once in there, she cried the entire time. Wish I had better tips.