This article brings you the best tips that make traveling with cats in car long distance a success. Of all the joyful works that could break your monotonous lifestyle, going on trips and cuddling your pet cat make your inner peace very well. However, there is a natural dilemma between the two hobbies.
So, what is that dilemma? Cat lovers worry that they cannot travel like others since nobody is there to look after their cats when they are away for a tour. On the other hand, trip lovers worry that they have no time to have a cat since they are always out of the home. Well, this article cures that dilemma as it discusses the things to do before and while traveling with cats in car long distance.
Going on a long distance with cats is undoubtedly a next-level experience. When you go on a solo trip, or when tripping with your friends, that brings you the common trip vibes such as view, adventure, climate, etc. But when you carry your cat with you, that fellowship adds an irreplaceable color to your trip.
Therefore, this one plus one is a three than a two. Anyway, you have a big responsibility for the party. Because you are responsible for your pet cat who knows nothing about this alien experience! Accordingly, you should properly know all the relevant facts before you start a long distance with cats.
Why Should You Travel With Your Kitten By Car?
Traveling with cats in a car long distance makes cats practice for many situations. Also, it helps cat owners to train their cats. The best results would come if you could do this when your cat is a small kitty. Many cat lovers bother in training their cats to stay tame inside a carrier. Imagine it needs some medication, and you need to carry it inside a carrier which it has never done before! But if you have carried it in a carrier frequency for trip purposes, your cat will not be wild here.
Long-distance travel with cats is also useful for cat lovers who frequently change their residences. If your cat is too bounded to where you currently live and becomes nervous after you have changed it, that would be a headache for you. But cats that go on trips with their owners are quite unlikely to be much nervous at such times.
Importance Of Properly Preparing For The Trip
As I said before, you have a big responsibility here. This is due to the common set of problems that are likely to appear when you are traveling with cats in car long distance. The common facts to concern include choosing the right carrier and making your kitty used to it before the trip starts, as you have to travel for a long with it. Plus, you should decide the route wisely: in essence supermarkets are easily accessible, and veterinaries are easily reachable if an unfortunate happens.
Importantly you should decide what to carry with you as you are driving long distances with a cat. Other than all these facts, you should make sure that your cat is 100% ready and up to date for a trip. Now let’s discuss these facts deeply to plan your trip and prepare for it well.
Planning And Preparation
A road trip with your feline companion may be an exhilarating adventure, but it takes proper planning and preparation. Use this guide on long-distance automobile travel with cats to guarantee a safe and stress-free journey for both you and your feline companion.
Choose A Suitable Carrier For Your Cat
When deciding on a carrier to travel a long distance, at first the size matters! Your cat should be able to sit comfortably, also stand, and turn around once in a while. Hence, it needs to be spacious. The next important thing is not to do carrier pooling. You are going on a long journey; therefore, two cats cannot share a small territory for that long. Be mindful not to pick a side snap one as they are noisy when latching and unlatching.
Your cat is anyway alien to this experience and if it feels endangered inside the carrier that is not good for it. Sliding locks are recommended in this scenario. Even, though it is easy for you to latch and unlatch, was hard for the cat inside. Hence, it is unlikely they will escape away on the way.
Make Sure That Your Cat Is Up To Date With All The Vaccines
Cat vaccines are a precaution, not a treatment. Hence, if you are preparing your cats for a trip, make sure that they are vaccinated before you leave. The rationale behind vaccinating the cats is to help them to boost their immunity. As you will be driving long distances with a cat, and you cannot predict what would the atmosphere be like, the best is to make your cat ready for anything immunity-wise. Vaccination is the correct and only way of doing it.
Keep Your Kitty Microchipped!
Not only your cat, but you too are alien for tomorrow’s destination. Hence, in case you lose your cat as a result of a misfortune, you should be clear about how you could be able to find it back. Unlike your hometown where you know every area, you cannot simply wander here and there and find it back.
Therefore, before driving a long distance with a cat, make sure it is microchipped. Also, always keep remember, just because your cat is microchipped, it doesn’t mean that you should not pay attention at your level best. Attention is the best security here.
Know About The Accommodations Along Your Route
Like how humans do, animals need to be comfy on their way for a trip. You will never decide to drive a car long distance at a stretch but will prefer a few breaks on your way. Some accommodation centers do not allow pets to be brought inside. Saying so, you can never keep your itty inside the car while you are getting yourself relaxed. Therefore, when traveling with cats in car long distance, research the accommodations and make sure they allow pets to be bought in!
Food And Water To Pack
Be mindful to carry your cat’s favorite food! The environment and the experience would be totally alien. Therefore, it is more likely that it would refuse food, in case it finds it uncomfortable. At such times, if you have its favorite snacks, you will find it far easier to feed it. With experience, you might know by now, the food item which you could be easily made fed with. Just recall the days it was uneasy for some reason, and the food item it had without bothering you. Now pack some of them. Simple as that.
Now begins the party. Imagine you have left your home and now traveling with cats over car long distance you were planning. When driving long distances with a cat, you should concern about the below.
Keep Your Cat Secure Inside Its Carrier.
Rule number one is keeping the door locked always! Imagine you met a highway driving a long distance with a cat, and your cat got escaped from the carrier. Needless to explain the bother you will face there. Hence, keep the carrier locked. If you keep a comfy towel inside, spraying a good catnip oil nothing wrong with keeping it locked inside for a long. As I recall you at the very beginning of this article, a spacious size is a must.
Take Breaks
You might think that since your cat is familiar with your car as it has traveled in it for the vet or somewhere else, it would be okay to move towards the destination at a stretch, but certainly, it is not! Traveling with cats in car long distance is always a different subject because of the distance. Hence getting some breaks would be mandatory. Park your car in a safe place, get it to your hand, and cuddle to make it feel normal.
Keep The Car Cool And Ventilated
You know cats are domestic animals. The temperature which is normal for a human is also normal for them. But if the vehicle is too hot as the AC is not functioning or the shutters are broken, you might tolerate it, but your cat won’t. Because it is clueless about your plans and car things! Hence, a well-ventilated car is key for long-distance travel with cats.
Offer Food And Water Correctly
A too much-filled tummy has the risk of vomiting, especially since you are traveling. Therefore, better to feed it with a small, simple, and easily digestible cat snack. You might already know that cats could survive without food for a long, a simple food would be okay. Saying so never keep its tummy empty.
Offering water while traveling with cats in car long distance is something you should regularly do. At every break, you find, make it possible to give it some water. It helps cats to stay strong during long-distance travel with cats.
After driving a long distance with a cat, now you have arrived at the destination. Here is what you shall pay attention to when you ate there.
Make Sure The Destination You Picked Is Pet Friendly
If the destination you picked is surrounded by concrete walls and artificial, there is a high possibility of your cat feeling imprisoned inside. Try to get a room near the garden. Your cat is a stranger to this area hence the relaxing look of the area affects its mental peace.
Give It Some Time To Adjust To The Environment
Just after arriving at your destination, never start the trip activities you were planning to do. The temperature, weather, climate all these things may differ with your hometown hence just be with your cat by passing some time until it is caught up with them all.
Conclusion
Traveling with cats in car long distance is something you must experience! Nothing wrong with getting addicted to it, but make sure you are doing it correctly. Essentially you have your work not while driving long distances with a cat, but preparing your cat and other things for it. Make sure the carrier would be spacious and comfy as your cat must stay in it for a long time.
If your cat is vaccinated and up to date, you can’t say it is not ready for a long trip unless it is not down with any other sickness. Better to keep it microchipped in case a misfortune happens. Food and water should be in sufficient quantities, and the accommodation spot compulsorily should be pet friendly.
Good luck with your trip. Have a safe and wonderful journey with your cat!