Summer Road Trips: Important Tips for Taking Your Cat on the Road from an Expert Who Travels Hundreds of Miles a Month
It's the season! It was road trip season. Memorial Day is the official start of the summer road trip season. Why not make it the year you take your cat on the road? We consulted with one of our top traveling cats and her human for the best advice on traveling with your cat in the car.
Indiana Cat is a frequent traveler. At 15 months old, she's been to eight states and Canada. Not only do her humans, Tasha and Matt, love to travel, but because of their jobs, they commute between Minnesota and Indiana every six weeks, and Indiana Cat travels along with them. With thousands of miles on the road with her team, Indiana has become the foremost expert in answering all of our questions about traveling with cats in cars.
What's the number one tip for traveling with a cat in a car?
Always keep your cat on a harness and leash in the car. Putting a harness and leash on your cat will help her stay calm. The harness works similarly to a Thunder Shirt. The harness provides good security and peace of mind if the cat becomes frightened or an unexpected situation occurs.
Indiana is free to hang out in the car, although she prefers to sleep in the station wagon most of the time. She is comfortable in the car and never tries to get out.
How do I manage my car's trash cans on long trips?
Use a portable litter box placed in a slightly larger cardboard box. When the cat uses the box for odor control, scoop up the feces immediately.
Tasha has a portable litter box that she purchased online for less than $10. When she got it, she let Indiana get used to it in the house first. Because it has low sides, she placed it in a slightly larger cardboard box with higher sides to keep trash from getting everywhere. She trimmed the front of the front low so Indiana could get in and out easily. PRO TIP: Tasha found the bulk cardboard box for the chicken nuggets to be the perfect size - just ask your local McDonald's!
Should I give my cat water and food on long drives?
Most cats are willing to give up food and drink for 8 to 9 hours of driving a day. They will sleep most of the day. However, be alert to environmental conditions and the cat's individual needs. Offering water is always a good idea.
During a full day of driving, Tasha will bring Indiana a treat 2-3 times. Even though Indiana doesn't like to eat or drink on the road, they will offer her food and water when they stop to eat.
Do you stop to take your cat on long drives?
When traveling with your cat in the car, try to minimize the number of stops to reduce the stress on your cat.
Tasha shared that they tried to drive all the way to their destination to prevent too many stops and to prevent putting too much stress on Indiana. This has improved over time. As she gets older, she can make 2-3 stops on road trips.
How to get started: traveling with a cat in a car
The key to starting car travel with your cat is to get your cat used to their travel bag/box. Suffice it to say, if you plan on letting your cat in on the secret, you'll also need to get your cat comfortable wearing a harness and leash.
Start with a nice travel bag or crate for your cat. Tasha has a travel bag designed specifically for Indiana. She initially put Indiana toys and blankets in and around it to familiarize her with it. She started sleeping in the travel bag and got used to it.
Start leash and harness training early! Tasha in Indiana started leash training when she was three months old. But don't worry: It's never too late to teach an old cat new tricks.
When did you let Indiana start roaming free in the car?
Initially, Indiana rode in Tasha's arms most of the time. Being a kitten, they didn't want her crammed into the nooks and crannies of the car. When she got bigger and fatter, they let her sit alone in the back. Now she likes to sleep in her travel bag or on the floor behind my chair.
Note: Cats seem to want to step on the gas under your feet. This is a huge no-no and must always be prevented and avoided.
Does Indiana have her favorite playlist?
Classical music is her favorite. Turn on the air conditioning and she is one happy cat. She also really enjoys the Joe Rogan experience, as she is a cat with quite refined tastes.
Advice on cat travel supplies and gear?
Cat Daddy.
Indiana and Cat Daddy Matt shopping. Most importantly: snacks and toys.
Tasha has a baby bag just for Indiana. It has everything she might need such as medication, wipes, snacks, toys, food, water, necessary bowls, towels, and more. She also brought her a cat scratching board so she'll have something to scratch on in the hotel room or wherever they'll be staying in case she scratches something else.
Be sure to bring important documents such as rabies certificates and medical records (many of which can be in digital format). Always make sure your cat is microchipped (with up-to-date contact information). As a final safety measure, Indiana has a tag with contact information for her father and Tasha.
In your travels, have you ever been to a cat cafe? What cat-flavored spots are on your wish list?
Tasha is happy to hear that their home state of Indiana has a lot of cat cafes now. . She's been to many cat cafes, including Cat Town in Oakland, CA, Cafe Meow in Minneapolis, a cat cafe in Orlando, and Nine Lives Cat Cafe in Indianapolis. What do cat ladies do for their birthdays? Go to two cat cafes in Quebec!
Tasha and Matt also visited the Cat Boat in Amsterdam, Hemingway's home in Key West, the King's Cat House, and Montmartre Cemetery in Paris. One of Tasha's favorite places to visit is Cat Island in Japan.
