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.