6 Travel Tips for Cat Owners

Long trips provide an exciting opportunity to travel and sightsee. Bringing your cat companion with you could also make the journey more enjoyable, especially if it is a vacation after a busy schedule or tiresome work. However, long trips can make your cat uncomfortable, which can ruin your time together during the vacation.

However, you can use several tricks to make the trip easier for both you and your cat. Discover six travel tips for cat owners planning a long trip with their feline companions.

1. Bring a Travel Carrier

A travel carrier can help you manage your cat on long-distance trips by providing a safe and comfortable space for the cat to travel in. This can also help to keep the cat calm and relaxed during the journey if they familiarize themselves with the carrier.

Make sure your cat becomes used to their travel carrier before you leave. Leave it out in the open for them to explore and get comfortable with it. Put their favorite toys and blanket inside to make it feel like home.

2. Get Your Cat Used to Car Rides

Many households have purchased cat towers and mini-houses to provide their pets with spacious and adequate places to play and rest. However, these cats might avoid these artifacts, as they are new experiences. Similar circumstances apply to cats in cars during long trips. An unfamiliar environment will often increase their anxiety and uneasiness.

Take your cat on short car rides around the block a few weeks before your trip. These trips will acclimate them to the moving vehicle, which will help your cat accustom themselves to the car and reduce stress.

3. Stop for Breaks

A long trip might make you stiff or ache from sitting in one position for a long time. You can stop your vehicle for a quick break whenever you feel such discomfort. A similar situation could also affect your cat. Therefore, stop for regular breaks so your cat can use the litter box and stretch their legs.

4. Keep Your Cat Occupied During the Trip

Your cat might need some form of entertainment to keep them calm. Carry your cat's favorite toys to keep them busy and let them play. These items will provide a sufficient distraction to let them momentarily forget about the trip.

5. Carry Their Identification Tag

Cats like to roam around, which can result in a panicked state if you lose sight of your cat during your short break. Ensure your cat wears a collar with an identification (ID) tag in case they get lost while you are on the trip.

6. Update Their Vaccinations

Moving from one location to another will introduce different environments that can affect your cat. Such environments include contact with microorganisms for which your cat has not developed immunity.

Therefore, vaccinate your cat before any long trip, primarily if this vacation or journey will feature significant environmental changes. A vaccination update will protect against communicable diseases and help reduce the risk of spreading diseases to other cats if your cat encounters them while on vacation.

Cats prefer comfort and space, unlike other pets that could easily ignore any invasion of space from their owner. These spatial requirements can make cats more challenging to travel with as companions. But following these tips can make it easier for the cat and the owner to enjoy the trip.

Visit or contact South San Diego Veterinary Hospital if you require a veterinary checkup or vaccination for your cat before your trip. We will help with anything you need and hope you and your cat have a great time!