Traveling with a Cat

We just got back from a trip to Georgia last week. We took my cat on a 12 hour long car trip. We did the trip in one day! Sounds crazy, but a 2 yr. old, 3yr old and a cat in a hotel room...I think not. ha! I went to the vet before our trip and got my cat some sedatives. I think the vets are used to prescribing them frequently for pet travel. My cat took only half of the pill and she was amazing - no meowing at all (belief me she has in the past). We stopped at a rest stop and let her out while strapped to a cat harness - you can pick one up at the pet store. I also bought a disposable litter pan, which she never used. We packed her food, of course, but she never wanted to eat. We just let her hang out in her soft carrier where she felt safe. It was all very easy. Hope this helps!

My sister made this exact same trip with her cat when she moved here from Florida. Her accommodations were not nearly as nice...just a small cat crate with some water - she did not want to have to deal with a full liter box while trapped in the front of a u-haul. She did buy a leash and collar meant for cats and she "walked" the cat at rest stops. They picked up food to go and ate in the car or at rest stops, so the cat would not be left in the hot car. My sister said her cat only got noisy when she could see people, so she put a blanket over him and he calmed and was quite most of the trip, she said the last 45 minutes or so he was a bit noisy because he was so tired of the trip. Once he was freed from the crate he was fine.

I have travelled with my cat before...the crate idea is good although I let mine just in the car when she wasn't hungry but I was travelling with kids either, but I did put her on a leash when we would stop it took her a couple of stops to get used to it but she did.

We frequently take our cats back and forth to arkansas (6 hour drive) in crates. They are in the crate the whole time with no food or water (they are too nervous to eat or drink anyway). Also, we dont put litter down either. They both make it fine in the crate with a blanket. No mewing or fussing. It works for us and them. I really wouldnt be too worried. Id be more worried about the 8 month old :)