I'm moving from Texas to Nevada tomorrow with my 2 cats in the backseat. I'm placing puppy pads inside my large dog carrier that will be housing both of them. I also have ace to sedate both of them. The litterbox will also be in the backseat, but they will probably just stay in the crate so I don't think I'm going to stop during the 6 hours we will be on the road tomorrow. Anyone have experience with long distance moves? Any advice would be appreciated.
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Moving experiences
- Thread starter meowsersmom
- Start Date
What you are doing, is exactlu what I have done in the past. The only thing that you can do is to try and make their surroundings ( the car) as similar to their old surroundings as possible. Which is sounds to me like you have done, in fact, you have thought of things that I didn't. You've got it down though, have a safe move...let us all know when you've settled in
Peace,
Rob asnd Sport
That is not such a long trip. They will probably howl and cry for a while, then settle down and do what cats do, sleep. I would advise against sedating them. I sedated Fred once, and he woke up and went crazy enough to break out of his carrier and fling himself around the car, and attack me. Then he went right back to sleep. He did this at 5:00 traffic in Nashville and almost killed both of us. The radio helps calm them, too.
Fred was the gentlest of cats, but he didn't even know me, and was terrified. He did much better the next time without sedation, as did the rest of them.
Fred was the gentlest of cats, but he didn't even know me, and was terrified. He did much better the next time without sedation, as did the rest of them.
Actually, I'd advise against having them in one crate or carrier. On a move several years ago at a rest stop, a dog in the next car startled my sister's orientals, and they began fighting each other, even though they were littermates and lifelong friends. She lost a few layers of skin getting them apart, and poor Cotton had to finish the trip in a box, because it was all she had. At least take along a means of separating them if there should be a need.
We moved about 100 miles. But my cats are used to traveling so very little problems.
However, I would NOT ride 2 adult cats in the same carrier for safety reasons. Each should have their own carrier. Second, I would NOT sedate them at all. Most cats don't take well to sedation and have the opposite effect. Just cover them with a towel and keep the air conditioning on when riding.
If you stop for more then 1/2 hour (for eating lunch/supper) then let them out to stretch and use the pan if they will - most don't.
However, I would NOT ride 2 adult cats in the same carrier for safety reasons. Each should have their own carrier. Second, I would NOT sedate them at all. Most cats don't take well to sedation and have the opposite effect. Just cover them with a towel and keep the air conditioning on when riding.
If you stop for more then 1/2 hour (for eating lunch/supper) then let them out to stretch and use the pan if they will - most don't.
i definitely agree ....... No sedation !!!!
I agree, get separate carriers. I learned the hard way on that.
We had our pair of litter mates in the same carrier on our way to California from Wisconsin, and they did end up getting in a fight. For our move back they had separate carriers, and always after that.
You may or may not need to let them out for a potty break. It kind of depends on your cats' bathroom schedules. We traveled with them once at night, and they had accidents since that was their normal "litter box" time. But when we traveled in the mornings or afternoons they were fine. And that was a 4 hour trip.
You may or may not need to let them out for a potty break. It kind of depends on your cats' bathroom schedules. We traveled with them once at night, and they had accidents since that was their normal "litter box" time. But when we traveled in the mornings or afternoons they were fine. And that was a 4 hour trip.
You might have already left but here goes...
I just did this in May with 2 cats (a 2-day move). The vet gave us valium but I didn't give it to them because I was nervous about possible side effects/complications (it can be harmful to their kidney I think). They were fine without it.
We kept them in their carriers the whole time. They did not have access to the litter box in the car. It's too dangerous to let them roam about. Even if they had access, they probably wouldn't want to use the litter box. I would not give them water for 3 hours before leaving. Feed them well before leaving too.
(I will say that once I took Chloe on a 5-hour road trip and had her out of her carrier with the litter box on the floor. She actually did use the box when the car was stopped. She was really young though and so her bladder control was not that great).
When we got to our hotel room on the first night of our 2-day move, the cats were freaked out. They used the litter box but not right away. Just leave the box out for them and they will eventually use it. Same with food/water.
Oh, and separate carriers are a good idea.
We didn't have a single accident.
You've probably left already, but just in case (or as info for others), I did a 7-hour move with ONE cat (I, too, would not put two cats in one carrier), but I DID give her a sedative. My vet warned me about the possibility that the sedative would have an opposite effect, and he advised me to check it at least a week before the trip to make sure it worked as it should.
My cat was particularly fearful, and even with the (very mild) sedative, she cried for six of the seven hours. I did not stop at all, and that did not seem to be a problem for her (i.e., I stopped for gas, but nothing else). I was advised NOT to feed or water her before we left as am empty stomach would not only help with no elimination but make her feel better in the car.
When we arrived, I quickly put out food/water and her litter box, but she approached nothing for a few hours (trauma of the move I'm sure). She "recovered" easily and was her old self the next day.
My cat was particularly fearful, and even with the (very mild) sedative, she cried for six of the seven hours. I did not stop at all, and that did not seem to be a problem for her (i.e., I stopped for gas, but nothing else). I was advised NOT to feed or water her before we left as am empty stomach would not only help with no elimination but make her feel better in the car.
When we arrived, I quickly put out food/water and her litter box, but she approached nothing for a few hours (trauma of the move I'm sure). She "recovered" easily and was her old self the next day.
