Moving two cats cross country

[stephanie305]

Hi there! I'm a lurker, and I'm looking for advice on moving my two cats cross country. I have an 11 year old male cat and a 3 year old female cat. DH accepted a job in Texas, so we're driving there from Virginia at the end of September. It will take us three full days to get there. We probably could make the drive in two days, but I thought it would be more stressful for the cats to be crated longer each day. My female cat HATES to be confined. It's a struggle to get her to the vet sometimes.

We're going to crate each cat separately for the drive. We've booked pet-friendly hotels for each stop along the way. I plan to feed them no later than midnight each night of the trip and we'll take breaks each day.

Do you have any advice for me as far as making the cats comfortable? DH is wondering whether they will be less stressed if we put towels over their crates for privacy, parakeet-bedtime style. Also, since one of my cats hates being confined, should I ask my vet for a tranquilizer for her? TIA for any advice you have!

[katietornado]

What kind of car will you be in? We've moved our cats from coast to coast twice in our Jetta wagon. We put up a barrier (got it free on craigslist) and let the cats loose in the trunk with a litter box, carriers, and water. They hated it, but it was way better than crating them all day.

Most vets don't recommend sedatives for travel, in my experience. It may be because something could go wrong and you wouldn't be able to get in to see the vet? I don't know.

Our one cat yowled for the first hour of the drive each day, but then settled.

[mrssavy42112]

Yeah, I don’t like the idea of a tranquilizer either. I’ve never moved my cats anything further than 30min. We did keep him in a crate & covered it so he didn’t freak as much. He meowed at first, but then got over it. If it’s possible to do like the PP and safely give them an area to roam, that would be best.

[mrs.jacinthe]

We've moved cats cross-country three times. I've never kept them in carriers. I put the passenger seat as far forward as it will go and then put a small covered litter box (clean) on the floor behind it. The cats are harnessed and I clip their harnesses/leash to the back seatbelts. They are free to roam around the back seat at their leisure - I put blankets over the cooler and anything else not upholstered to make it cozier. They just settle down and sleep, although the 1st hour or so is miserable - one of my boys howls and howls for that first hour, loudly, but fortunately it's only the first day.

I offer water when we stop at rest areas, but no food during the day unless we're eating takeout in the car - in which case I'll tear up a few pieces of hamburger or something for them.

Be aware that it can get really hot in parts of Texas and the south, even in the fall - so have a plan for meals and bathroom breaks that will keep your cats cool. It's awkward but can definitely be done.

[stephanie305]

Yeah, I'm thinking the tranquilizer isn't a good idea. I know a woman who gave her cat a tranquilizer and then flew with him. The poor thing (the cat, tee hee) got diarrhea midway through the trip. Not something I want to risk!

Unfortunately, my male cat has peed in the car when he was not in his carrier, so I can't let him roam. And my female cat is super skittish, so I wouldn't feel comfortable letting her roam, either. I'll probably let them out at rest stops, though. Good point about the heat. We'll have to do quick meals in the car.