Travelling Cats

[johnnymk]

I have a 14 year old cat. It was given to me several years ago by a friend. I have had to take it to the vet 4 times. Each time I put it in an enclosed carrier and put it on the seat next to me while travelling a few miles. And each time, he wasn't too happy with the experience. I think he relates being in the carrier now with having to put up with the nonsense at the vet.
I would like to take a trip two hours from my house and take the cat with me. I know he will freak out during that long trip. Anybody have any solutions on how to calm the Kitty or prepare him for the trip?

[Markel]

I think I have heard of vets giving some kind of drug to help calm an animal during travel -- kitty valium?

[Markel]

I guess great minds agree. :)

[fakesurfers]

Originally posted by Markel
I think I have heard of vets giving some kind of drug to help calm an animal during travel -- kitty valium?

You mean.. catnip?? :laugh:

[Jenny]

You will have to be REALLY careful about kitty valium, though, with a 14-year-old cat... The older the cat, the harder it is for them to come out of a drugged state. (My dad is a vet and we have 2 cats. ;) This is a subject we've talked about several times. lol) Neither of our cats travel well at all. For long trips, we have to have them medicated, because even in 10 minute car rides to the vets or even when we moved about 10 blocks from our old apartment last January, they throw up and everything. Pretty bad.

Anyway, just talk to the vet. They can give you advice. :)

[attgig]

forget the carier....get those cages they have for doggies in the back of SUV's...:)
let them romp free in the back....

[Grimm]

You might want to try taking your cat for rides that don't end up in a major trauma. Just take them on little drives on occation.

[pennypinch]

Dig it, Grimm.

I've a cat that might just travel well. My ex-girlfriend would often driver her back to Minny from california, and for the most part, she just shut down: no peeing, no eating, just a poo-load of sleeping..which, in retrospect, is what she sort of does anyway, except with eating and pooing in very large quantities.

But the operative thing might be to try and just take it for little drives that end up at, say, a park or something.

[Twilight]

Leave the cat carrier in the house, open, with treats in it. That way the cat won't freak when it has to go in it. Also, short trips around the block in the car are good - that way they don't associate being in the car with going to the vet. My cats all prefer riding in the car with their harness and leash on - they try to kill me if i attept to put them in a carrier. You should also try taking the cat into the car and sitting in the car in your driveway, not driving.

[cruelpupet]

Originally posted by johnnymk
I have a 14 year old cat. It was given to me several years ago by a friend. I have had to take it to the vet 4 times. Each time I put it in an enclosed carrier and put it on the seat next to me while travelling a few miles. And each time, he wasn't too happy with the experience. I think he relates being in the carrier now with having to put up with the nonsense at the vet.
I would like to take a trip two hours from my house and take the cat with me. I know he will freak out during that long trip. Anybody have any solutions on how to calm the Kitty or prepare him for the trip?


Snap its neck, and it will just lay there....then go out and get a dog

[welfareloser]

Originally posted by attgig
forget the carier....get those cages they have for doggies in the back of SUV's...:)
let them romp free in the back....


oooo... i don't thinks cats "romp" very well when they're good n pissed... bye-bye upholstery... :heh:

[johnnymk]

cruelpupet...Why don't we just snap your neck, put you in a cage and treat you like a dog? By the way , what's a pupet? Is this another term for puke it?

[cruelpupet]

im not gonna explain my screen name again.... and actually i would like my neck snapped!

[oblongmelon]

whenever we had to take our cat to the vet she would whine and cry Loudly the moment we put her carrier in the car...the vet told us to cover the opening with a blanket so she couldn't see out..for some reason that actually worked and she settled down right away.. Also, if you can have someone carry the cat instead of a carrier-covering their eyes with a soft thin blanket works the same way..I thought it was a pretty cheezy solution to the problem but it was better than hearing her cry.

[johnnymk]

Sorry, cruel..you hit a nerve and I just wanted to lash out. I know that alot of people don't like cats. But once you meet one like mine who is sensitive and loyal, it's a life altering experience.
Sounds dramatic, I know, but I really adore my cat.