long drive to vet specialist

We will be taking Hobbes to a cardiologist about 45 mins drive away and just want to make sure we are trying to make this as comfortable for him. He has been in the car with us twice and I am not sure he liked it much. The first time was when he came home with us - it was very traumatic for him. It was a 25 min drive and he was stressed since he was in the carrier maybe for the 2nd time in his life - the first time he was with his mother and sister and was very young. He was not vocal at all when he 1st came and so did not hear anything. He has since learnt to be very vocal and I think he's picked that up from Calvin. He hid the 1st few days and he came with an URI. The next day I drove him to and from our vet who is a mile from home - so a short drive. But he was unwell and upset. So needless to say I am trying to make this drive as comfortable as I can. We decided to take an appointment on a day when both DH and I can make it so that I can hold the carrier while DH drives. I will spray feliway in the car and the carrier and maybe leave the carrier open in their room for him to get used to it. Anything else I can do to reduce stress? The visit at the vets itself can be stressful since they will do an echocardiogram on him and he is not a very confident kitty and scares easily (sometimes if he hears us coming down the stairs he tries to run and ride and once we call out his name, he becomes ok). So looking for any advice here.

Thanks, Robin. I do put their blankets in the carriers (they each have a couple). With Hobbes (he does not like to be carried at all), the last time I wrapped him in his blanket and practically shoved him inside the carrier since he was struggling so much. Yes, and I do put the seatbelt through the handle - even for the 1 mile drive. Thanks for the wishes - I hope all goes well, too.

What would I have done without all of your suggestions??? Thanks LDG, Feralvr and Hissy. Pillow/ Bed beneath carrier sounds greats. Never thought of that. Rescue remedy I can surely get - got me through my prelims/ comprehensive exams . Harp of hope will check out. We had 1 carrier till this past weekend when we found carriers on sale at petsmart and got a top open one for - so that's set too.

However, there's been some development regarding the trip to the specialist. Hobbes's vet just called me. He suggested I bring Hobbes over one more time so that he can check Hobbes out. He saw Hobbes the day after we got him and Hobbes was unwell and had URI. That's when he heard a grade 3 murmur. He suggested once Hobbes was well I take him to a cardiologist. So about a month back I called the office and said I was ready and he called me back and told me to make the appointment and he would send over the referral. Today he called me after I left word with the receptionist that I have made an appointment and if he could send over the referral. So he wants to check Hobbes once more. This I like. In case he hears the murmur, I will ask for a chest x-ray to see the size of Hobbes's heart. This is what both Eileen and Carolina had suggested to me, since they both have kitties with murmurs but as my vet seemed to recommend going to the cardiologist, we decided to just go ahead and do it. We may still have to go to the specialist but I like the intermediate step.

Thanks Hissy. I usually go put something over the carrier. I had to take him to the vet today and we sprayed the carrier with feliway last night. Did everythig except the socks and harp and this was a mile long drive. Hobbes did whine a bit but Calvin was as freaked out as he was when I put Hobbes in the carrier. But he is happy to be home. I also got him microchipped while we were there. Just as a extra precaution, once we came home, I put a little powder on both - don't know if Hobbes was carrying the vet office smell but decided that it should not harm for them to smell similar