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I REALLY Need Help (Minor Emergency)

post #1 of 14
3/11/11 at 4:08am
Thread Starter 
Hello. I'm really hoping you can help me.

I had to plan an emergency move, and I'm leaving tomorrow. Of course, I couldn't leave without my cat, who I love.

He's huge, so I couldn't fly with him, not to mention I don't have the money to pay for the pet fees on planes...

I convinced my step-dad to come get me. After much begging, he agreed that Isaac (my cat) could come, provided he stay in the carrier.

It is a twelve hour drive.... I know that my step-dad is not going to allow him to leave the carrier. The carrier I have for him is ample for him to sleep and move around in, but I don't think it will fit a litter box (at least not one bigger than 6"X6"....is that sufficient? Could I somehow manufacture one?)...

What do I do?? How do I administer food and water without him bolting when I open the cage? (I know my cat- he doesn't like to be confined, and he DOESN'T like to do what I want him to, and I fear he will immediately run away at the first opportunity) How do I make sure he has his bathroom needs taken care of?

Also, he screams when he is unhappy... I have never taken him on this long of a drive, but I really feel like he is going to scream for most of it. He is stubborn, and doesn't give up easily. I know that Benadryl is safe for cats, but what is the appropriate dosage? I am really apprehensive about giving him medicine, but it may be the only thing I can do to prevent my step-dad from throwing him out of the car.

I'm just overall concerned about him.... I don't have the money for a larger carrier, nor would I have room in the car for a larger one... I just need SOME WAY to keep him happy and quiet...and for him to have food and water and a bathroom.

HELPPP!

Thank you!
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post #2 of 14
3/11/11 at 4:22am
You can get a small, disposable, aluminum "roasting " pan at the grocery store for a litter pan. Or a small plastic bin with low sides and a lid would work. Get a harness and use a leash on it when you open the carrier in the car - WITH the doors locked. Keep the harness on him the whole trip (put it on him today so he gets used to it) and hold him - WITH the doors locked when you clip on the leash. I knew someone who lost a cat forever at a rest stop. So be very careful. Be sure the harness fits him.

I've taken cats across county - 4 long days in the car. They didn't eat much or at all in the car. But I did offer water every couple of hours. They didn't use the litter pan much either.

One cat I got medication for from the vet to calm him. Though he was a big boy, I learned to only give him half a dose because he reacted so strongly to it.

Good luck on the trip.

Robin
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post #3 of 14
3/11/11 at 4:30am
Thread Starter 
The roasting pan is a great idea!! I think a small one would fit. I'll have to go check them out after work today Thank you.
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post #4 of 14
3/11/11 at 6:55am
Hey, I don't have any experience with your situation, but I found this sites with some great tips:

http://www.howtodothings.com/pets-an...avel-with-cats
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post #5 of 14
3/11/11 at 7:08am
Thread Starter 
Thanks!! The site definately had some great tips, but a lot of them were for long-term adjustment. :/ While I can be sure to impliment some of them now, I sadly need a way to introduce Isaac to the car rides reallllllllllly quickly.

I opened up his cat carrier, as the site suggested, to get him acclimated, and he loved it. I thought it was a bit odd, he fought to get in as I was setting it up. :P

After he was in, I slowly closed the door and latched it. I left him in there for about a minute, and then unlatched it.

He seemed fine being latched in, and when I unlatched it, he didn't want to get out. He stayed in there for nearly ten minutes, and I hadn't even gotten to putting blankets in it yet!!

Soooo, that's one fear down. If he likes the carrier and I can get him to remain happy in it, he might be more calm in the car. (???) I'm hoping.

I'm worried about using a harness on him. I've had cats trained on a leash before, and it's not an easy process... it scares them to have a harness on at first, plus they don't like being tethered to where they can and cannot go. I fear Isaac would just sit down and be terrified if I tried to take him out for bathroom breaks... I don't want that to scare him more!!! I'm not sure... I want to put a harness on him so he doesn't bolt on me, but I don't know if I want to try doing "outside" bathroom breaks..... Ahh, decisions, decisions.
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post #6 of 14
3/11/11 at 8:05am
I wouldn't do outside bathroom breaks. The harness idea with the leash was for security when you open the carrier for any reasons. Since you aren't traveling alone, the car doors could be opened while you are stopped. Then your cat could get out.

Getting the carrier out today and getting your cat comfortable with it is a great idea. You may want to try putting his food in there until you leave.

Feliway spray, which is sold at major pet chain stores, calms some cats. You would spray it all over the carrier and bedding as well as in the car shortly before you leave. People can't smell it and it won't hurt anything.

Calming music in the car, at least at first, may help. And you might want to pick up some ear plugs, especially for your step-father.

Robin
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post #7 of 14
3/11/11 at 8:18am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
And you might want to pick up some ear plugs, especially for your step-father.
Haha! That's the best advice I've heard so far! :P

Thank you so much for your ideas!!

You guys have really helped me worry less about this. The move is going to be stressful on both of us, and I'm just worried I'm going to make it more stressful than it has to be :/

Thanks again!!
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post #8 of 14
3/11/11 at 9:00am
for you and Issac.

Let us know how it goes when you're settled.

Some Rescue Remedy can help with stress.
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post #9 of 14
3/11/11 at 4:13pm
I would get a few cheap bath towels that you can put down in the carrier, and not worry about the litter box. If he has an accident, just take out the towel, throw it away, and put another one in.

Cats vary a lot. Sheba, who we adopted for my brother, is great cat, but she doesn't like riding in the car. She yowls for a while, 30-45 minutes, then quits. She rode all the way to his house (6 hours) without an accident.

Whatever you do, don't let the cat out of the carrier or out of the car. Don't let your stepdad bully you into putting him out, or any such thing. Stand your ground; you're both adults, you should be able to endure almost any hardship for 12 hours, you especially for the cat that loves you and depends on you.
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post #10 of 14
3/17/11 at 2:37am
. . . she was given a mild tranquilizer and slept the whole trip with only two times getting out to eliminate.

It sounds like you need to get a larger carrier/pet taxi -- the more room that cat has the better for 12 hours trapped. What about the cat's food and water?

How about try puppy pads for his eliminating? Be sure to take something to clean the carrier with. The carrier you are planning to use: what is it made of? Plain white paper towels (plenty) with water should be sufficient and easy to pack pre-moistened in ziploc gallon sized plastic bags.

Ask your veterinarian about a mild tranquilizer to keep your kitty kalm for such a long trip. Sedated they don't get as hungry.

Try and play some music on the drive that will help keep your cat calm if you can.

I hope this helps even a little! Good Luck!
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post #11 of 14
3/17/11 at 4:29am
I do not recommend using sedatives or tranquilizers on cats for traveling. Cats don't always react in predictable ways to these medicines for one thing. They often have the opposite affect, causing a cat to be restless and nervous.

Sedatives reduce the heart and respiration rates, very dangerous for a cat already under stress and being kept in a carrier.

A sedated cat feels strange which can cause kitty to feel vulnerable adding even more stress.

And my last reason is, before I knew better I sedated my cat Baby for travel. I'd actually traveled with him several times without sedation, but after he developed asthma the vet suggested sedation. It changed his personality permanently. He was a happy friendly to other people outgoing cat, until I used the sedative. After the sedation he became high strung, fearful and not trusting anyone.

I never traveled with him again after that.

PS I also disagree with "more room". I mean, kitty should have enough room to turn around, but the carrier needs to be small enough to enclose the kitty safely, to keep kitty from sliding and bouncing around in there.
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post #12 of 14
3/17/11 at 10:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post
PS I also disagree with "more room". I mean, kitty should have enough room to turn around, but the carrier needs to be small enough to enclose the kitty safely, to keep kitty from sliding and bouncing around in there.
That sounds sensible to me- I know Mackerel always went to small enclosed spaces when she was nervous about something (workmen in the house, fireworks, dogs barking outside, etc) so it seems to me that smaller (within reason) might be better. Also- a too large carrier would mean that the cat gets knocked around, possibly? Right?
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post #13 of 14
3/26/11 at 7:00pm
Thread Starter 
I'm sorry it's taken awhile to get back to you guys. I've been busy moving in.

Isaac handled the trip... I don't know about well, but he handled it.

The poor baby nearly ripped all of his claws off trying to get out of the carrier. He ended up riding on my lap (in the carrier) due to the lack of room, so I was close. He just kept looking at me like he didn't understand why I was doing that to him.

He's happy and settled now, and has no ill-feelings toward me (I hope)

Thank you guys so much for your help. I was really worried, and you guys helped to reassure me.


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post #14 of 14
3/26/11 at 8:55pm
Ahhh, I'll bet he's glad that trip is over and I'm sure he really appreciated you putting him on your lap - it's probably all he wanted. Moves are hard on the feline gender. Good job!

Glad you all are settled now!! You guys made it! Yay!!

Warmly,

Julie O'


Quote:
Originally Posted by NalaNacious View Post
I'm sorry it's taken awhile to get back to you guys. I've been busy moving in.

Isaac handled the trip... I don't know about well, but he handled it.

The poor baby nearly ripped all of his claws off trying to get out of the carrier. He ended up riding on my lap (in the carrier) due to the lack of room, so I was close. He just kept looking at me like he didn't understand why I was doing that to him.

He's happy and settled now, and has no ill-feelings toward me (I hope)

Thank you guys so much for your help. I was really worried, and you guys helped to reassure me.
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