Your pet is not a soulless baggage, but a living creature with its own characteristics and needs. Cats are conservative and do not like to change their familiar environment too much. But some owners prefer to take their pets with them on vacation, for example, when they do not want to leave them alone or give them up for foster care. The owner is responsible for the life and health of the cat during the trip, and it is they who are obligated to make sure that the trip is safe and comfortable.
Rules for traveling with your cat
With the right preparation, a trip accompanied by a pet can bean interesting adventure. Before you take a cat on vacation,you should prepare.
- Prepare and take a veterinary passport with you. The cat must be vaccinated against rabies.
- If the pet is microchipped, check that the details of the microchip are entered in the veterinary passport. Usually, a sticker with the element data and the date of chipping is pasted into it. All this is certified by the seal of the veterinary clinic.
- When traveling to other countries, study the rules for importing animals. In some cases, a rabies antibody test is required.
- Find out about the requirements of the carrier company if you plan to travel with a cat by train or plane. Prepare a seat in the car if you travel by personal transport.
- Buy a ticket, necessary things, accessories, and, if necessary, medicines.
- During a trip (especially a long one), give the animal the opportunity to warm up. Make sure that strangers do not touch the cat, and even more so do not feed it.
- Arrive at the airport early to have time to settle. Obtain permission to transport a cat in the cabin. Airlines have restrictions on the number of animals on board, so it’s best to book your seats when buying a ticket
- Hang an address tag on your pet’s collar – a token with information about the owners. Attach a plate with duplicate data to the transfer.
Think in advance where youwill live. When choosing a hotel, check if they allow pets.
What to take with you
If you decide to take a cat on vacation, take care of its convenience. Buy a carrier made of durable plastic, taking into account the size of your pet. The most reliable are models with a rigid frame with a removable tray. For greater comfort, lay a soft bedding or a special cover inside the container.
What else can be useful on the road:
- Hamess. So it prevents the cat from accidentally running away, and in order to walk it, for example, during train stops. The cat must get used to the harness so that it does not try to free itself from it during the trip.
- Garbage bags, wet wipes and disposable diapers. With their help, you will quickly clean up after your pet after they go to the toilet.
- Pet air freshener. A useful item to have for long trips. It will help to eliminate the consequences of unforeseen situations.
- Food, water, bowls. When planning long trips, don’t forget cat food. Itis very convenient to take with you dry ready-made rations, pates injars or pouches. Offer your pet drinking water from time to time.
- Veterinary first aid kit. Be sure to bring hydrogen peroxide, a bandage, band-aid, iodine, or other wound treatment. If the pet has any diseases, take the medicines prescribed by the veterinarian.
Traveling by car
Traveling by car is convenient because you can stop atany time and give the animal a rest. This is the bestoption for trips lasting no more than 24 hours.
While the car is moving, the cat must be in the carrier. Makesure that the carrier does not shake while moving. To do this,it is better to fix it in the back seat with a seat beltThe cat should not move freely around the interior of the car.Ina stressful situation, a pet can jump under the pedals, jumpout the window or scratch the driver – the consequences inthis case will be unpredictable.
Don’t leave your cat in the car when you get out of it for a longtime. In the hot season, the car instantly heats up in the sun,which can lead to heat stroke. In winter, transport coolsquickly, which is fraught with hypothermia. If you aretransporting a cat in the summer, place a cooling mat in thecontainer to prevent overheating,
Sometimes cats get sick in vehicles. An open mouth, rapidbreathing indicates motion sickness. In some cases, vornitingis observed. If you don’t know how your cat will react to.moving in a car, ask your veterinarian to find a drug formotion sickness. Then at the right time you will quickly helpyour pet get rid of unpleasant symptoms.
If possible, get your cat accustomed to the car before youstart your trip. Favorite toys or other things with a familiarsmell to the pet can help with this. You can use special sprayswith pheromones.
Nuances of a vacation with a cat
- Don’t feed your cat right before the trip. It is best to do this a few hours before leaving home.
- Teach your cat not to be afraid of noisy sounds that you will encounter on the road. Play recordings for the animal, such as the noise of a train or a car engine.
- Take your cat’s favorite treat with you. This will help them calm down.
- On the train, it is preferable to feed your pet with dry food. Portions for feeding while traveling should be small.
- If the cat is nervous in the carrier, behave calmly – cats feel the mood of the owners. Speak to the cat in a confident tone, repeating its name often.
- When you arrive at the place, do not let your pet out of the carrier immediately. Let the animal get used to it and look around.
How a change of scenery can affect a cat
Not all cats like frequent moving from place to place. Since cats are mostly homebodies, many of them do not like to leave their usual habitat too much. The reaction of a cat to travel depends on its nature and type of nervous system. But you should understand that any trip for a cat is stressful. It is not uncommon for cats to meow loudly, become aggressive, or become lethargic. Prolonged exposure to a stressful situation can adversely affect the health of a four-legged friend. Monitor the condition of your fluffy pet, if it is uncomfortable for them to move, you should stop traveling in the future.
Unless absolutely necessary, it is better not to transport the cat for long distances. Sometimes it’s better to find someone who can take care of the cat while you’re away.
Cats are very emotional animals, they are generally easily stressed, and a car is a source of many unpleasant sounds and smells. Therefore, few people from this fluffy family easily endure trips. But even this difficult moment for a cat can be tried … that’s right, smooth it out!
The Rules of the Road do not regulate the transportation of pets, however, laws for the safe transportation of tailed-whiskered-striped pets still exist.
Recommendations
1. It is recommended to transport the animal in a special container for transportation – spacious enough for the cat to be comfortable in it. If there are several pets, everyone should have their own, and it is better to place him (or them) in the back seat, securing with a seat belt in case of sudden braking or maneuvering.
2. It is recommended to transport the animal in a special container for transportation – spacious enough for the cat to be comfortable in it. If there are several pets, everyone should have their own, and it is better to place him (or them) in the back seat, securing with a seat belt in case of sudden braking or maneuvering.
3. Carrying a cat in the trunk is unacceptable!
4. During the trip, the cat may behave restlessly – it is difficult to breathe, meow plaintively. These are manifestations of stress, and the owner should try to calm the animal – gently talk to him or stroke him, if possible. It is very good if the cat can be accompanied by a passenger whom she knows.
5. Be sure to monitor the climate in the cabin. Stuffiness, temperature fluctuations, cold and draft can worsen the cat’s well-being.
6. If the trip lasts more than 10-12 hours, it is necessary to make stops. You can take a cat on a harness for a walk, but only if she is accustomed to this.
7. Do not forget to offer the cat a drink (your pet can do without food).
8. And bring a sufficient supply of diapers with you in case the cat does its business in the carrier.
9. If you’re leaving the car for a long time, it’s best to take your cat’s carrier with you rather than leaving it alone, especially during hot or cold seasons.
10. After the trip is over, leave the cat alone, because she needs time to recover.
Driver/
Passenger
It is undesirable to transport a cat on hands. They may be frightened by a sharp turn or a loud sound and end up scratching/biting someone. Animals should not be allowed to move around the vehicle on their own. There are many cases when a cat “walking on its own” during the movement threw itself under the feet or on the head of the driver. If the animal gets under the pedals, the consequences can be extremely unpleasant not only for him, but also for the driver and passengers, including oncoming and passing cars.
Be smart and travel safe!
Car Interior
During stress, cats begin to shed their hair intensively, and if the animal is not in a carrier, the seats will be covered with a layer of stubborn fluff.Sharp cat claws are dangerous for covers and seat upholstery (especially sorry for the leather interior, right?).In addition, a pet can get sick – with all the ensuing consequences.
There is only one recipe for saving the interior: the cat must be in the container all the way, and not on the seat.
