Ready, Set and Go! Traveling Tips for Cats
...planning for your absence and making sure that you’ve made the best decision for care for your cat will allow you to enjoy your time away with peace of mind.
Most cats prefer a windowsill seat or a place on a comfortable chair (or bed) from which to watch the world go by, but there are times when our cats need to “hit the road”, so to speak. Veterinary visits, moves to a new home and even relocation with their human companions to another country all require cats to leave their tried-and-true surroundings. Making the trip as comfortable and as stress-free as possible (for the cat, as well the human) takes a bit of planning and attention to a few details.
While most cats never seem to have that joy for the open road that dogs do, traveling for most kitties can be done without the trip becoming a noisy, stressful event. It’s true that there is the rare cat who seemingly enjoys car rides; (there are pictures of cats who regularly accompany their long-distance truck driving humans or travel in RV’s with their retired companions) but for most cats, venturing outdoors and getting into a car and/or plane isn’t their favorite activity.
Regardless of whether the trip is a few minutes to the nearest veterinarian or a cross-country relocation, it’s important to have a sturdy, reliable carrier that closes completely with sides and door locked. Soft, lined bags are increasingly popular for cats who travel (and are very helpful for use on an airplane), but even those need zippers that can be closed securely. A soft, thick towel or rug will provide additional comfort for the feline traveler.
Every cat should wear two forms of identification: An implanted microchip (typically placed under the skin of kittens and cats who are acquired from shelters; these can also be implanted by the veterinarian at the time of ovariohysterectomy (spay) or castration (neuter), or as part of an outpatient visit.
Microchips have revolutionized the manner in which lost companion animals can be reunited with their human guardians. Most shelters, veterinary offices and even municipal animal control agencies are able to read these implanted microchips with sensors, identifying the cat or kitten and beginning the process of returning them to their proper homes.
The second form of identification is an identification tag with the cat and family name, address and telephone number that is attached to a “break away” collar. These collars have elastic bands that will allow the collar to break apart, should the kitty get caught on an object. They prevent the heart-breaking situation of a cat hanging his or herself on a fence, post or other similar object. Consider having a cell phone number imprinted on the identification tag, so that you can be contacted even if you are not at home.
For most cat guardians, car travel with a cat almost always involves the kitty engaging in some mournful moaning or calling. Sometimes our cats vomit during car rides or defecate and/or urinate en route. Motion sickness and overall anxiety are the causes for most of these reactions in traveling cats. Some cats can be acclimated to car travel by taking increasingly longer trips. Initially, these ‘training” trips should be fairly short, even starting with a car ride down the driveway and back. However, some cats do benefit from mild tranquilization. As always, using human medications not prescribed by a veterinarian, getting doses in cyberspace, etc., is unsafe and can’t be recommended. Increasingly, veterinarians are able to provide safe medications that help “take the edge off” cats that need to travel. By talking to the veterinarian prior to a trip, it’s often possible to give a test dose of a prescribed medication, so that the effects can be observed and changes made, as necessary. We’ll discuss some of the disadvantages of sedation for traveling cats later in this column.
There are some natural anti-anxiety preparations that also can be used for travel. L-threanine is an amino acid that has calming abilities and is available in a liquid from a large veterinary nutraceutical supplier through veterinarians. I do not recommend alcohol-containing compounds or essential oils, which can be harmful to cats. Typically, these compounds are not helpful if given right before travel and are best administered over several days or weeks, in order to achieve acceptable results.
Cats should not be fed right before travel. In most normal cats, the stomach empties within four hours of feeding and by not feeding them right before travel, stomach upset and vomiting can be avoided. Water should be offered up to the time that the kitty is placed in the carrier.
Longer car trips take a bit more planning. It’s advisable to contact hotels and motels ahead of time and identify yourself as traveling with a companion animal. While most hotels allow cats in rooms at no charge, some chains do have a pet surcharge. Unfortunately, most of these surcharges have resulted from human guardians not being good stewards of their cats and causing damage to hotel facilities. It behooves everyone who travels with a companion animal to be responsible, clean, quiet and respectful of hotel property and other guests.
If you are planning to travel in a car for one or more days with your cat, here is a short list of things to bring along:
(1.) Veterinary records and medications. The records should be more than a list of charges for office visits and procedures. You need to bring proof of vaccinations your kitty has received, as well as doctor’s notes of physical exam findings and laboratory tests/procedures. These records can be extremely helpful if you need to visit a veterinarian while on your trip and can save time that is often involved in getting records from a practice located in another city. Keep any medications that you are giving your cat in a safe, easy-to-remember place. Ideally, your cat’s veterinarian should perform a thorough examination prior to the trip. This is especially advisable if travel will take place over multiple days.
(2.) Familiar foods and water from home. Bring sufficient foods, so that you’re not forced to purchase unfamiliar brands and flavors. Offering familiar foods also reduces stress for the kitty and will help avoid stomach upset. Because water taste and composition varies across the country, filling a few small bottles with water from home also is an excellent idea.
(3.) Cat box filler and disposable cat boxes. Rather than bring a large, plastic cat box on the trip, consider purchasing the very convenient disposable (and biodegradable) cat boxes that are available at most large pet supermarkets. These can be used for one day, discarded, and a new one used the next night.
(4.) Pheromone spray. This “feel good” spray mimics the facial marking chemical that cats use to rub on their favorite people and household objects. This spray can be purchased from veterinarians, as well as on-line, and can make travel much less of an anxiety-producing activity for cats.
Once in the hotel room, it’s advisable to keep the kitty confined to a closed bathroom with food, water and the cat box. This confinement often makes travel less overwhelming and also ensures that the human won’t be frantically searching under beds, behind dressers and in closets for a “lost” feline. Offer a small amount of food and water when you arrive and feed the kitty again just before bedtime. Oftentimes cats will eat less while traveling than they normally do, but your kitty should eat something each day he or she travels.
While en route, do not allow the cat to leave the carrier and wander around the car. Cats have a penchant for crawling under the accelerator and brake pedals and can leap onto the dashboard, with possibly disastrous consequences. Adjust the car temperature so that the kitty appears comfortable. Stressed (as well as overheated) cats will often pant. Use common sense and do not allow cats to sit in closed cars—especially in hot weather, even with the windows opened—for any length of time.
Airline travel has more restrictions than does car travel and generally requires even more advance planning. If you are planning to travel by plane with your cat, make your cat’s reservation as soon as possible. Some airlines will not accommodate companion animals at all and others have a limit on the number of companion animals (typically limited to small dogs and cats) that can be in the cabin. Charges for traveling with your cat will vary, depending upon the airline.
Most veterinarians do not recommend that cats travel in the cargo hold of a plane. Temperature regulation of this section is often not standardized. Cats travel best in an airline-approved carrier (generally a short rigid carrier, or one of the soft bags) that is placed under the seat. Most cats adjust well to travel by plane and are able to sleep, or rest quietly during the trip. Sedatives should be avoided in companion animals who must travel in the cargo hold, as they can interfere with the ability to regulate important body functions, such as blood pressure.
If you plan to travel by plane with your cat, you will need a health certificate signed by a veterinarian accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) who has examined your kitty no sooner than 10 days before travel. The certificate will include the date, type of manufacturer of the last rabies vaccine administered and will state that there is no evidence of infectious disease. The traveler needs to carry a copy of the health certificate at all times, as airline and airport personnel will ask to see the document. Cats traveling without health certificates can be barred from aircraft.
International travel of cats requires additional regulations and documentation. Most foreign countries require not only proof of rabies vaccinations, but also acceptable rabies titers, which must be drawn at specific times in the pre-travel period. Quarantine periods (which vary in length) once at the foreign destination can be required as well. If international travel is in your kitty’s future, working with the embassy staff of the destination country (most have an officer who is experienced in travel requirements for cats and dogs) located and closely reviewing the requirements with your veterinarian will ensure that your kitty arrives safely and promptly with you with no snags en route.
But what if you have decided to travel and leave the kitty at home? Pet sitters are generally preferred to out-of-home boarding kennels, as most cats do best remaining in their familiar surroundings. Since pet sitters can book up well in advance of peak vacation and travel periods, it’s advisable to contact these individuals and companies well before the need arises. You should interview several pet sitters (ask for recommendations from your veterinarian; oftentimes veterinary technicians and assistants will be happy to pet sit for the cats of clients) and observe how each sitter interacts with your cat before arranging for in-home care. Generally these services also give the home a “lived in” look while you are away and will often bring in the mail, open and close drapes, and make sure lamp timers are working.
For most cats who do not need to be medicated, a daily visit from the pet sitter can work well. However, some cats enjoy twice-daily visits from the pet sitter and twice-daily visits generally allow the cats to receive fresh feedings of canned food. Your chosen pet sitter will typically require information on the kitty’s health, the name and phone number of the veterinarian and will often ask for a credit card number that can be used in the event that the cat is in need of emergency medical treatment. It is not reasonable for the cat guardian to expect the pet sitter to pay for these expenses out of his or her pocket and await reimbursement.
If the cat must be boarded, visit the exact location where your kitty will be kept. Some boarding facilities and veterinarians offer “kitty condos” that provide perches and room for exercise, others use large cages that can be made comfy and quiet. As you tour the facility, ask yourself these questions: Is the cat boarding area quiet and free of barking dogs? Are the cats seemingly comfortable and at ease, or are they huddled in the backs of the cages? Is there a strong odor of urine or feces and/or an overwhelming odor of bleach or other cleaner? Are the cat boxes clean of waste? Is there evidence that cat boarding is an important part of the facility’s offered services and does the staff generally seem to love cats? Is there 24-hour care and if not, what are the staff hours (especially on weekends)? How are illnesses handled in boarding cats and what are the policies regarding emergency care?
Most boarding facilities require vaccines be up-to-date on entering cats. Remember that the vaccinations for upper respiratory tract illnesses only lessen clinical signs and often times the stress of boarding can trigger an episode of upper respiratory tract disease in a stressed cat.
In some cases, a trusted adult neighbor can be relied upon to care for your cat in your absence. However, your neighbor should be able and willing to visit your cat at least once daily, monitor and clean out the cat box, observe your kitty for signs of illness and be able to take your cat, if sick or injured, to a veterinarian for prompt treatment. If at all possible, the neighbor you choose should be a “cat person” too.
Whether you choose to travel with your kitty, or keep him or her at home while you are out of town, planning for your absence and making sure that you’ve made the best decision for care for your cat will allow you to enjoy your time away with peace of mind.
