Riding in the car

I am trying to get Midnight familiar with riding in the car while in her crate. I took Tal to daycare today so I put Midnight in her crate. She didn't want to go into her crate at first then I tried putting her in tail first. Worked much better because she had no way to resist..

Anyway once in the car she hardly meowed at all. She did really well in the car. Doersn't like it like Tal does but she seems to tolerate it well. So hopefully she'll de well on the ride next week!

Not all cats will get to enjoy the rides but it sounds like Midnight may do so eventually.

Bijou and Mika both really enjoy the car - Bijou will jump in as soon as the door is opened, hop in the back and lay down on the seat waiting for the adventure. Mika prefers to curl up and sleep on the passenger's lap.

I can't say that either of our cats enjoy riding in the car but, they tolorate it. One way I got our cats to go in the carrier was to put their food dish in it for a while. Now when I get the carrier out Enzo jumps right in it looking for a treat, which sometimes I forget

I leave Oliver's carrier out with a blanket in there and he often takes afternoon naps in there, he's gotten to "packing himself" when we're about ready to leave.... he does alright in the car, but I do use prescription meds when it's a long trip

I may be crazy but I am not going to give Midnight any meds for the trip. Most of the driving will be at night and so I'm hoping she will sleep thru most of it.She is calmer when both Tal and I are around so hopefully she'll just curl up and go to sleep!

Originally Posted by Mygirlmidnight

I may be crazy but I am not going to give Midnight any meds for the trip. Most of the driving will be at night and so I'm hoping she will sleep thru most of it.She is calmer when both Tal and I are around so hopefully she'll just curl up and go to sleep!

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I personally am against giving meds. Sometimes they can react badly to them and can go a little nuts when the meds are wearing off.

Most often the cat, if it's not comfortable riding in a car, will complain for awhile but will settle after a little while.

When we travel I have a towel over the carrier and of course a nice soft towel in the bottom of the carrier (we leave the door open for the kitties to go in and out which some folks don't agree with lest the cat get under the driver's feet which could be dangerous), have a dish of water near the carrier and a litter box in the back. Bijou and Mika don't try to get under the seats so we don't worry too much - they are happy curling up on my lap or just laying in the carrier with the door open. We do, however, make sure their harness is on and the leash attached before opening any car doors or windows.

I think your kitty will be fine once you have driven a ways. She'll settle down I'm sure.

The only reason I started giving meds was the trip between school and home was 4 hours, and Oliver NEVER settled down during the trip... I tried several times - he would pant the whole time, not stop meowing, his feet and ears would get really hot, etc - ie: it was waaaaaay to much stress on him, and I knew without some kind of meds, he wouldn't successfully make an 8 hour trip we had to go on... he gets a very low dose which he responds very well to - he'll stay in his crate or venture to the back seat or occasionally come out to use the litter box now, but doesn't pant or get hot anymore and only occasionally talks to me like "Are we there yet?"... like I said, I only use them for long trips, which don't occur that often

Originally Posted by BuzbyJLC10

The only reason I started giving meds was the trip between school and home was 4 hours, and Oliver NEVER settled down during the trip... I tried several times - he would pant the whole time, not stop meowing, his feet and ears would get really hot, etc - ie: it was waaaaaay to much stress on him, and I knew without some kind of meds, he wouldn't successfully make an 8 hour trip we had to go on... he gets a very low dose which he responds very well to - he'll stay in his crate or venture to the back seat or occasionally come out to use the litter box now, but doesn't pant or get hot anymore and only occasionally talks to me like "Are we there yet?"... like I said, I only use them for long trips, which don't occur that often

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You know your cat better than we do and if that's what you need to do, you do it. 4 hours is a long time for him to be all stressed not to mention the stress it would put on you driving. Sounds like to have the dosage down pat and it's best for Oliver. That's all any of us can hope for - that we do the best we can for our babies.

Originally Posted by Yosemite

You know your cat better than we do and if that's what you need to do, you do it. 4 hours is a long time for him to be all stressed not to mention the stress it would put on you driving. Sounds like to have the dosage down pat and it's best for Oliver. That's all any of us can hope for - that we do the best we can for our babies.

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Exactly... just tryin to do what's best for him! It's not like I up and decide it's a nice day for a 4 hour drive and the cat should come, hahaha

PS: I also only did this under the guidance of my very trusted friend and vet, haha

I have always traveled a lot with my cats as kittens, try to take them on rides, different houses for visits. Maia hates her crate, but is a doll in the car! Lies on my lap purring most of the ride . She also is great with new places, as long as I am there she is happy! Love her for that trust!
Thats great Midnight was calm for the test ride. A good thing to do before a long ride is encourage them to use the litter, usually if you change it's location they have to remark it. I have never even thought of medicating for a trip.......

I figure medicating them iprobably depends on the individuaL I don't get carsick, airsick or whatever but others do and there is medicine available to help those folks. Plus most of the trip will be at night so I think both she and Tal will sleep most of the way. This car ride today for her was about an hour and she did well. The trip will be about 11 hours

Maybe my cat just loves me to death. I don't think there's ever been a situation that my cat has freaked about. I've had Annie for about five years now and have never owned a cat carrier.

She loves riding in the car. She will mosy around, lay down in the back, lay down in the passenger side, and often on my lap. She'll prop herself up on a window and is fascinated with the sensory input the window provides. Sometimes I'll slouch down and prop her up on the steering wheel, like Toonces from SNL.

When I take her to the vet, she is not comfortable, but is very trusting in my arms. When waiting in the lobby she'll often snuggle her head between my arm and torso to hide from the big bad dogs, but has never acted out or tried to run. She's always been weird like that. Of course she hasn't met a vet she likes yet, but they poke and prod. Seems she has this trust, in all things, that as long as I'm around she's going to be 'okay'. Don't rub her belly though ...

Originally Posted by AnniesDad

Sometimes I'll slouch down and prop her up on the steering wheel, like Toonces from SNL.

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OMG I can't believe someone else remembers that! When I've taken trips with my parents that have included the cat (ie: moving out of my apartment at school and vacation in North Carolina last summer) we take 2 cars, Oliver's in mine, and we'll stop to eat or go potty.... Oliver's crate will be open and EVERY time I get out of the car, he jumps in the driver's seat and my mom calls him Toonces! That's really funny that your kitty impersonates Toonces too!

I moved with my two cats for three days. The first day was bad for them because they were not used to the car. However on the second day, I found that they preferred to have curled up together in the same crate rather then be separate. It calmed them down and they stopped meowing, by late on the second day they were used to the car and pleasantly comfortable.