Kitten freaks out on car rides (kittens, dog, rescue, paws)
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I've read through the other threads on cats and car rides (and had plenty of adult cats who hate car rides), but now find myself in a slightly different situation. I have an 8-week-old kitten who absolutely freaks out in the car. She's usually quiet in the pet carrier at home and at the vet, but once in the car, she goes berserk--flinging herself all around the carrier, ramming her head into the door, waving her paws through the grate, and literally trying to stuff her nose through the holes in the grated door. All while making the most horrible-sounding noises. It's very stressful to witness (first time I had her in the car, I almost turned around after one block). And I'm worried she might injure herself--she doesn't seem to understand that, try as she might, her head just won't fit through the grate.
I've got a 5-hour car trip coming up, and am planning to take her with, since I figure it's still better than leaving her home alone all weekend. Any advice for mellowing her out, or at least making sure she doesn't injure herself?
My first choice would be to leave her home, with a pet sitter coming in twice a day.
Or get a soft sided type carrier, that has a fabric screen rather than a wire grate. But really, it would be better to leave her home and have someone come in twice a day.
My first choice would be to leave her home, with a pet sitter coming in twice a day.
Or get a soft sided type carrier, that has a fabric screen rather than a wire grate. But really, it would be better to leave her home and have someone come in twice a day.
Welcome, and congratulations on your new baby.
Somehow I first read your post as 8 month old kitten. At 8 weeks a kitten is too young to be left alone even with a pet sitter coming in twice a day, but also it really isn't a good idea to travel with her either.
My advice now is, find someone to keep her, in their home, or find someone to stay in your home, for the weekend.
Or, another option is, since you've just adopted a new kitten, if the travel is only for pleasure, cancel your plans and stay home yourself.
I'll look into finding a cat-sitter for her, but that doesn't solve the problem in the long-term. I'm mostly concerned about the head-banging behavior, and whether she might injure herself by ramming her face into the bars on the door of the carrier.
you might try one of the pheramone sprays - something like 'Cat-Ease'. spray the carrier about 10 min before you put her inside. And you might consider Catsmom's suggestion of the soft sided carrier, so the headbanging wouldn't be the same issue. Good luck! I have 2 cats that hyperventilate into freakouts. It's not fun.
I'll look into finding a cat-sitter for her, but that doesn't solve the problem in the long-term. I'm mostly concerned about the head-banging behavior, and whether she might injure herself by ramming her face into the bars on the door of the carrier.
Since she is only 8 weeks old, it's impossible to say if this will be a long term problem. She's barely old enough to be away from her mother, I can't imagine she's had the opportunity of too many car rides yet? But for her own protection, get a soft sided fabric screened carrier.
I don't know if you saw my second post, but I changed my mind about a sitter coming in twice a day for such a young baby.
She should not be left alone at all, for more than a few hours at a time. You really either need someone to stay in your home with her, or she should be placed in the home of someone you trust, if you absolutely have to be away.
A kitten of 8 weeks needs companionship and interaction, a lot of both. It would be very dangerous to leave her alone for long hours for several days, kittens who don't get any attention get into a lot of mischief.
Besides that it would be cruel. Leaving an adult with just a sitter coming in once or twice a day is one thing.
But a baby should never be left alone for more than a few hours, and in between those few alone hours, there should be long stretches of human supervision and interaction.
I, too, don't like the idea of leaving baby kitty home alone, even with a twice-a-day visit. Best to have baby with someone you trust, either at yours or their home. But if you must take such a little kib with you, then:
I second the idea of a soft-sided carrier. We always had a hard one for the old boy cat (now gone) but when we adopted the girl, we got a soft-side and she likes it enough she goes in with no problem. The kitten (now 2) still likes to play in the carrier.
I also second the idea of some felliway - spray or even a few drops in water before the trip.
I, too, don't like the idea of leaving baby kitty home alone, even with a twice-a-day visit. Best to have baby with someone you trust, either at yours or their home. But if you must take such a little kib with you, then:
I second the idea of a soft-sided carrier. We always had a hard one for the old boy cat (now gone) but when we adopted the girl, we got a soft-side and she likes it enough she goes in with no problem. The kitten (now 2) still likes to play in the carrier.
I also second the idea of some felliway - spray or even a few drops in water before the trip.
I just want to clarify something, feliway is not meant to be ingested.
Rescue Remedy is what is used for calming and put in water or just rubbed on the kitten's face, along the gum line and over the ears (external of ears, not in ears).
Feliway can be sprayed in the carrier, but should not be given to cat to swallow, or even put on the cat.
What about just sitting in the car with her and playing? Little bit at a time and a little longer each day until the car is familiar. Also, what about just letting her loose in the car without a carrier or in a soft seat belted dog thingy? If you went through a long busy play period before you got in the car she might get tired out and settle quickly.
Our old guy loved car rides since he was little. He REALLY loved a car ride once we got heated seats in the car.
What about just sitting in the car with her and playing? Little bit at a time and a little longer each day until the car is familiar.
Just don't drive with her loose in the car.
Start with short trips around the block. Then trips to the drive-thru to get chicken. Then open the carrier and treat to some chicken, stuff her back in the carrier for the drive home, then more chicken. Just do longer and longer trips that don't end up at the vet!
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