Guide to Packing when Traveling with Cats

If you own cats, sooner or later you're going to move or go on vacation with your cats. Here's the information you need to plan a journey for them that you'll all enjoy...

Carrier ~
Even if you plan to let your cat roam freely inside the vehicle for most of the trip, you need to have the carrier along. There are going to be times when, for convenience or safety, you really need to contain them. If you have car trouble, or need to pull over somewhere for bad weather, you'll be able to get the cat moved from the car to wherever without any fighting.

Both in the vehicle, and at your destination, your cat with appreciate having a space the he or she recognizes as smelling like home. Take the carrier into the house at least a week or two prior to your trip, and leave it out (with the door open) in a place where the cat can get used to it. Then, once you're on the road, your cat will have already accepted it and not resist being in there whenever necessary.

Anti-puke pills ~
Ask your veterinarian about medications to help your cat not get car-sick. Some cats travel without any problems, but these are very handy to have if you discover, en route, that your cat is susceptible to motion sickness. If you do need to use these, be sure to start with the minimum dose. This is not a case of 'more is better'! The drug has a sedative effect that is very disconcerting, so use the least amount you can.

Kibble ~
Make sure that you bring their regular brand of food from home. You might have trouble finding the exact brand and flavor at your destination, and it will be extra-stressful for them to have to change to something else in the middle of a trip to somewhere unfamiliar. Be sure to pack it in something you can seal, so that your cat doesn't get to it and eat it all in one sitting.

Water ~
If your cat normally drinks tap water, take some of it with you. The water where you're going, and at stops along the way, will taste and smell different than your home water. You're cat may very well refuse to drink it. You don't want your cat to become dehydrated, so pack plenty of familiar water from home for your trip.

Dishes ~
If your cat has a regular food or water bowl at home, try to bring it with you. Again, it's about making sure that your cat doesn't refuse to consume something just because it's served in an unfamiliar way. If the normal dishes are to bulky to carry, offer food and water in something else for the last week or two at home before your trip. Something small and sealable (such as an empty Cool Whip container) works really well for this.

Lovey ~
Does your cat have a 'lovey' object? A special blankie, or even a stuffed animal that he or she usually curls up with? Make sure that you pack that important piece of home. Your cat will feel more at ease in the new place if he or she has this familiar item along.

Veterinarian's contact information ~
Make a list of your cat's veterinarian's name and office contact information and keep it with you when you travel with your pet. Some areas may demand that you show proof of vaccinations, so it's a good idea to have a copy of your cat's recent shot records. Remember to ask your veterinarian for a referral to someone in the area you're going to, in case your cat needs medical help away from home, and write down that information too.

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