Travelling cats.

[pistolpete]

My friend who is relocating to the midlands has two cats that obviously will go too. One of them is on heart medication. She’s so worried about the journey. Vet has sold her nutrapet calmer and advised against anything stronger. Anyone got any tips or stories of travelling cats comfortably. I worry she will be distracted also by their wailing! Thanks.

 

[Clodagh]

I drove with a feral from Essex to Devon. Trapped her the night before travelling and loaded her up under 50 chickens (all in carriers, her included). She was also under a towel, although the air vents weren’t covered.
When I stopped she yowled on pulling off but was silent apart from that. She did fart a lot, but tbh over the smell of chook poop it wasn’t that bad. She was clean and dry.
Good luck to your friend, it’ll be fine.

 

[Surbie]

I used to regularly have a friend's cat when they went on holiday. They lived in Northampton so I had to collect her. Blasted thing ruined a seat in my car by weeing furiously on the first journey. It soaked through everything in the cat carrier, so now I would recommend putting the carrier on an old towel and in a heavy duty plastic bag. She was happier travelling in the dark, so we covered the carrier with another old towel, but one from home so it smelled familiar. She yowled otherwise.

Another friend's cat travels on a lead in the car with them, to and from the Netherlands with zero issues, so I guess they are all different!

 

[TheMule]

I find they travel best in a crate- if they can get their hands on a small dog crate, make it nice and cozy with a duvet and then cover it with a blanket to make it feel safe

 

[Sussexbythesea]

I used to take my old girls back and forth to my mums fairly regularly. I found they travelled best intogether as they comforted each other even though they were not best buddies normally. I’d also recommend a plastic sheet with towels under and behind the carrier. I’d also use old towels inside so you can chuck out if they get heavily soiled instead of an expensive cat bed. Finally cover the carrier to keep dark but leave a gap for air and an opportunity to look out if they want to.

 

[fiwen30]

I’ve travelled 3 cats from the midlands to the ferry for about 2 hours, and then an 8 hour overnight crossing, ranging from age 2-10.

They went in very large, individual carriers - solid plastic, not collapsible, with wire doors. Big enough so they could stand up, stretch, and turn around in, and they were all large moggies (up to about 5.5-6kg). I had them bedded on newspaper and towels in the carriers, and then each carrier had a towel or blanket covering it on the outside (air vents left clear, but doors covered), to keep the inside as dark as possible.

I’ll not pretend it was an enjoyable experience for anyone involved, or for the cats, but we all managed.

2 of them stopped crying about 20 minutes into the car trip, the 3rd and most stubborn one stopped about 45 minutes in. We had 1 brief stop halfway through the car trip to offer wet food and water in the carriers, in the car. All 3 were very subdued on the ferry crossing.

All stayed dry and clean through the journey, and came out the other side quite shaken and disturbed by the new environment. I wouldn’t move in with them till a week later, but from then on they were very settled and happy. The younger ones bounced back faster than the eldest, but that was mostly down to personality.

I’m sure your friend’s cat will be just fine. I’d say the very most important thing is just keeping them safe and secure. Invest in a good crate or carrier, which is larger than she might think the cat needs, which is rigid rather than collapsible, no flimsy hinges or closing mechanisms. Do not be tempted to open the carrier, or take the cat out, to comfort it - it’s not worth the risk, as a scared cat will just run.

We’ve used Nutracalm capsules sprinkled over wet food for our own nervous cat, and have seen improvement in her behaviour, so that’s worth a try. You can also get feliway(?) sprays which are meant to have a calming effect too, and using a light spray in a blanket or bedding which already has the cat’s scent on will be comforting in the carrier for the journey. She might try getting the carrier soon, and leaving it around for the cat to investigate.

Edit to add: also make sure the carrier is properly secured in the vehicle, either with a seatbelt or in a fixed crate in the boot, for safety.

 

[pistolpete]

Thanks everyone. Will pass tips on.

 

[asmp]

I took our last cat to Germany and back. I had a very large plastic crate (might have been a dog one). It was a while ago but I’m sure I put a small litter tray in it. On the return journey we missed the ferry due to an RTA and the cat had to sleep in the car overnight. He survived but the miowing did do my head in a bit!

 

[Archangel]

I've moved cats lots of times including ferals and apart from the opera singing they settle quite quickly. Puppy pads are very useful to mop up accidents.

 

[julesjoy]

I recently travelled 3 cats from Essex to Dorset. Just had them in normal cat carriers, albeit large ones. The yowling tended to start when anyone in the car spoke, if all was quiet they were too.

 

[pistolpete]

Update! Cats travelled well. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[julesjoy]

Hurrah! Thanks for updating.