We know that most cats find travelling stressful. They feel safe in a familiar environment and are not used to the different smells, noises and sensations of travelling in a vehicle.
Even the sight of the pet carrier being taken out can stress some cats because they associate it with a sign of an upcoming trip. It is best to only take your cat on trips if absolutely necessary, but some journeys, like going to the vet or moving to a new place, may be unavoidable.
To make your journey as stress free as possible you will need:
• To purchase a comfortable and suitable sized carrier for your cat/kitten.
• Get them use to said carrier leaving it out and not hidden away just for vet visits – felines like familiar environments so by doing this it will become a safe place to be.
• Use pet remedy spray and wipes on bedding, blankets and the carrier to help reduce stress.
• Pet remedy in the car too – spray and allow around 5-10 minutes for it dry before putting your friend in the car.
• Get them used to being in the carrier in the car turned off, then turned on, then a short journey and so on.
• Make sure your feline friend is secured with a seatbelt in case of an accident and if they prefer to hide cover them with a blanket.
• Limit food a few hours before to avoid any mishaps unless otherwise advised by your vet.
• NEVER LEAVE UNATTENDED IN THE CAR ESPECIALLY IN HOT WEATHER.
• No more than 4 hours per day travelling and regular breaks every 2 hours to check up on your feline friend.
• If travelling far and are able to stop and allow your cat/kitten to settle in a room this would help them massively.
• Take pet remedy spray/wipes with you and plenty of water and change of bedding if needed.