Moving with pets -long distance (safe, sleeping, throw, meowing)
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Crates are an absolute must. I wouldn't consider moving with a cat without one, they are way too fast if they try to escape. A friend of mine lost her cat that way. We drove from Houston to NC with 3 cats and then a few years later NC to Miami with 2. We never had an open door or window unless the cat was secure in the crate. We would stop periodically to let them use the litter tray but I was shut in the car with them and then put them straight back in the crate. The first day there was quite a bit of yowling! Not a peep the second day. They were fine.
You asked about how to keep them calm - mine are usually a nightmare in the car (a lot of meowing and whining). I have started using Feliway spray in the pet carrier now and it seems to help a little.
Crates (absolutely essential), Feliway spray and Rescue Remedy (you can put a drop or two of it in their water; it is alcohol-based and cats don't like the taste). If they are not used to going in the car, you can try some short practice runs with them first.
You asked about how to keep them calm - mine are usually a nightmare in the car (a lot of meowing and whining). I have started using Feliway spray in the pet carrier now and it seems to help a little.
Feliway doesn't calm my cat at all. I've sprayed it in her carrier every time we travel and she still yowls. Each trip has been only a few miles. Soon we will be moving several hours away and I am wondering how she is going to handle that. What size pet carrier do you use. I am wondering if that makes a difference.
Feliway doesn't calm my cat at all. I've sprayed it in her carrier every time we travel and she still yowls. Each trip has been only a few miles. Soon we will be moving several hours away and I am wondering how she is going to handle that. What size pet carrier do you use. I am wondering if that makes a difference.
Hmm mine is just a medium sized pet carrier that I bought from my vet. Not sure if the size matters...
I wonder if your cat will eventually calm down after a bit of travelling. The first few miles seem to be the most nerve-wrecking but she might get used to it after a while. Have you spoken to your vet? Maybe s/he can prescribe anti-anxiety medication for travelling?
We moved our two from Boston to Atlanta. By the time we reached Pennsylvania they were sleeping.
Crates - a must - and bigger than you would use to take them to the vet. And strong. It's a cost of moving. Spend money to make them safe and comfortable like they're the most valuable thing you're transporting (because they are).
This thread is a bit old, and the OP's "soon" may have come and gone. But for new readers of this thread, I'm echoing the same advice: crates are a must, and letting cats out while a vehicle is in motion is a no-no. Even letting them out when at a rest stop should only be done with extreme caution.
Every cat is different. Some are go-with-the-flow and manage to cope in any size crate. Some do fine without Feliway or other relaxers while others need something to take the edge off.
Some may prefer being able to see out of their crates while others want to hide in a cave. I'm curious if the difference can be attributed to whether a cat is a tree-dweller or bush-dweller? Might the former want to see what's going on and the latter perhaps want a towel thrown over the crate so that the world rushing by is invisible?
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