Travel with your cats

You don't have to own a dog to know that dogs love to go for car rides. Just driving around town and you are bound to see a dog or two, leaning out of a car window, with a look of ecstasy on his face.
      Cats, on the other hand, don't make the best travel companions. In fact, traveling with a cat can be downright frustrating. Fortunately, you can acclimate a cat to automobile travel if necessary. Just like anything you introduce to your pet, short exercises building in duration is the key.
      Well before the scheduled trip, get Tabby used to her carrier. Place the carrier in a favored spot containing some of her favorite treats. Eventually practice locking Tabby into the carrier for short periods of time, increasing the duration each time if she is comfortable.
      Make sure the carrier has plenty of room. She must be able to stand in the carrier and turn around comfortably. Consider space for a bed, food and water bowls, and a small litter box too. For automobile travel, two carriers might be in order, one for lounging and one for the litter box.
      After Tabby has become comfortable with the carrier, begin exercises involving the car. Take her to the car in the carrier and place her in the car. On another occasion, take her to the car and start the engine and then turn it off. Then progress to starting the car and leaving it run for a minute or two. Eventually, if your cat is comfortable, take the car for a ride around the block. Each time you take the cat out in the car give them a treat afterwards, like a little bit of canned food. Your cat will probably never be as excited to ride in the car as your dog, but acclimating her to being in the car can help immensely.
      While you are training the cat to ride in the car, there are other tasks that must be attended to before you go on the road. It is a good idea to get a clean bill of health from your veterinarian. All your cat's shots should be current and you might want to speak with your veterinarian about a sedative for Tabby, just in case. Your cat should have a harness, with tags with your cell phone number. It is also a good idea to have your cat micro-chipped. Keep your cat's current vaccination records with you when traveling. Always have a leash handy, even though you are going to keep the cat in a carrier. If a situation arises where you need to hold the cat, the harness and leash are added protection against her escaping your grasp.
      It is also a good idea to plan which hotels you will be staying at while in route. Find out their policy about cats. Some hotels and motels are good about accommodating pet owners, while other are not.
      Never allow your cat to roam inside the car. Frighten cats can cause serious accidents when they get in the way of the cars pedals. If you opt to use two carriers, pull over at a rest stop and transfer the cat then. You may find that Tabby needs a bathroom break right about the time you do.
      Does all this seem like too much work? Remember, kennels, such as Tenaker Pet Care, board cats for people when they vacation. You will know Tabby is well cared for while you are off touring the Badlands in your new Winnebago. Some things are better left to the professionals.

Aurora Location 895 Laredo Street Aurora, CO 80011 303-694-2002 Email Tenaker                         ABKA Accredited Boarding Kennel