Travelling with a cat by car

Most cats do not enjoy the car, but a calm journey is possible with the right carrier, a secure placement and some practice. Never let a cat roam loose inside a moving vehicle, and never leave one in a parked car. The aim is a safe trip with as little fear as you can manage.

Before you go

Preparation starts well before the day. A cat that sees the carrier only on the way to the vet will fear it. A cat that eats and naps in the carrier at home will cope far better.

1. Choose a suitable cat carrier. It should be sturdy, well ventilated and big enough for the cat to stand, turn and lie down. A hard-sided carrier gives the best protection in a crash. Check that the door latches securely.
2. Make it familiar. Leave the carrier out with a soft blanket inside for days or weeks. Feed treats in it. Close the door for short spells and reward the cat.
3. Practice short trips. Place the carrier in the car, start the engine for a few minutes, then go home and reward. Add a short drive around the block. Build up slowly.
4. Check identification. Make sure your cat's microchip details are current. Put a tag with your mobile number on a breakaway collar if your cat accepts one. A cat that escapes in an unfamiliar place needs to be identifiable.
5. Talk to your vet if the trip is long or your cat gets very anxious. Do not give any human medicine or calming product without veterinary advice. If a travel plan involves a different country or state, ask what paperwork and vaccines the destination needs.
6. Pack a travel kit. Include water and a bowl, a small amount of the usual food, a travel litter tray and litter, waste bags, paper towels, a towel to cover the carrier, a blanket that smells of home and a copy of your vet's contact details. If your cat takes regular medicine for a medical condition, pack it and your vet's instructions.

On the day

1. Feed lightly. Many vets suggest a smaller meal a few hours before travel, since a full stomach on a moving car can lead to nausea. Ask your vet if your cat has a medical condition that needs regular meals.
2. Secure the carrier. Place it on the back seat or in the footwell behind a front seat, and thread a seatbelt through the handle or strap it so it cannot slide or tip. Do not put it in the front passenger seat, where an airbag could injure the cat, or in an open boot where it can be thrown. Carriers should sit flat and level.
3. Cover it partly. A light towel over the sides reduces visual stress, while leaving the front or sides open for air. A product such as a pheromone diffuser spray on the blanket may help some cats. Evidence is mixed.
4. Drive smoothly. Brake gently and take corners slowly. Keep the radio low. Talk calmly if it seems to help.
5. Keep the temperature steady. Cats overheat fast. Use air conditioning in warm weather, and park in shade with a person who stays with the cat when you must stop. Do not use heating that blasts directly onto the carrier.
6. Do not open the carrier in the moving car. A frightened cat can slip under pedals, get behind the dashboard or bolt out of a door. If you need to check on it, stop somewhere safe, close all windows and doors, and open the carrier only if necessary.

Long journeys

• Plan stops. For trips of more than a few hours, stop every few hours at a quiet, safe place. Offer water, and a litter tray with the car fully closed. Do not let the cat out of the carrier outdoors.
• Use a harness only if trained. A well-fitted cat harness with a lead can add a layer of security at stops, but a cat that has never worn one will often panic. Practice at home first.
• Book pet-friendly lodging ahead. When you stop overnight, a quiet room with a closed door lets the cat use a litter tray and settle. Check the room for hiding spaces behind furniture or in gaps, and block them.
• Never leave the cat in a parked car. Temperatures inside can climb to dangerous levels within minutes, even on a mild day and with windows cracked. This can kill a cat.

Signs of stress or illness during travel

Some stress is normal. Many cats yowl, drool, pant lightly or vomit on a car trip. Watch for signs that need more than comfort:

• panting or breathing with an open mouth that does not ease after a few minutes of cool air
• extreme drooling, pale or blue-grey gums, or limpness
• repeated vomiting, or vomiting and diarrhoea together
• hiding and refusing to eat or drink for a day or more after the trip
• signs of dehydration, such as dry gums and weakness

If a cat is struggling to breathe, find the nearest vet at once. Open-mouth breathing in a cat is an emergency. Cool the car and drive straight there.

Common mistakes

• Letting the cat out in the car. It can cause a crash or escape.
• Using a cardboard box or an open basket. These do not protect the cat or hold it in.
• Skipping the practice runs. The first drive should not be the day of a move.
• Travelling with a very full stomach, or none for many hours. Ask your vet for a plan.
• Dosing a stressed cat with something from your own cabinet. Ask your vet first. Many human medicines are dangerous to cats.
• Leaving a litter tray out of reach on a long trip. A cat that holds urine for too long is at risk. A male cat that cannot pass urine needs a vet urgently.
• Ignoring the law. Some places require animals to be restrained in a vehicle. Rules vary, so check where you travel.

When to get help

Contact a vet at once if, during or after travel, your cat:

• breathes with an open mouth or struggles to breathe
• strains to urinate or passes little or no urine, especially a male
• has not eaten for a day or more
• collapses, seizes or cannot stand
• vomits many times

Summary

• Choose a hard-sided carrier and make it familiar well before the trip.
• Belt the carrier in on the back seat or in a footwell, never in the front seat or loose.
• Keep the car cool and never leave a cat alone in it.
• Stop at intervals on long trips, offering water and a litter tray inside the closed car.
• Keep identification current and carry a travel kit.
• Ask your vet before using any calming product or medicine.
• Treat breathing difficulty, collapse and failure to urinate as emergencies.