Cat is terrified of riding in the car

My cat is terrified of riding in the car. She screams, vomits and poops in the carrier all the way to the vet and back. I hate putting her through the trauma! Is there anything I can do to make this easier on her?

The vet visit is likely over, but I like the topic and want to reply too 

When I was younger I took my cat to the vet in an old canvas backpack. In the car he would get strapped down in a dog carseat harness. Then I would unclip that and put the backpack infront of me like a pouch, clip the carseat harness onto the internal key clip in the backpack, and carry him in that way. He loved to ride in his carrier.

Now they all have their own individual carriers if needed, but if I just take one (cat or my small dog) I still use the same method. They stay really nice and calm and seem to enjoy being up high and getting a bit of a snuggle. They freak out in their carriers, but with 4 animals (sometimes more if I am trying to rehome a stray or displaced kitty) they at least stay safe while I bring them all in. 

Have you tried covering the carrier (with your cat inside of course) with a blanket? I do this when transfering ferals to the vet in my tnr program. It does calm the cats even to the point of them falling asleep.

My cat goes crazy too! I am in college so I travel back have forthe form home and school every few months and she needs to come with. My most recent trip I bought these treats that help de-stress cats. They made he 100x calmer on the ride, she didn't cry, vomit, or try to poop at all during the ride. 
I can not think of the bran ATM but when I get a chance I will find them and post the brand for you to try I just found them at PetCo in the pharmacy row. They have all sorts of calming aids for cats and dogs there that are all natural, and they really really do work.  

http://www.petco.com/product/115784...lming-Aid-Cat-Chews.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

This is the exact brand that I use. It really does make a huge difference. before she would cry and cry, vomit multiple times and sometimes poop in protest, thinking it would make me take her out of her crate. It worked, but she still needed to finish the car ride :/

these treats made that all stop. she is a happy kitty now on long drives. When she was younger I would only give her one treat (is says to give them 2) and they would make her sleep. But now (at 7 months) i can give her 2 and they just keep her calm and happy. 

My cat Meeko totally hate ride in car all he keep MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW  all way to vet .. he dont like ride in car .. but im suprised that my cat love it when I carry the carrier walk outside all way to vet .. at first he just freak out in the carrier feel like never been outside before but he does see outside from window yes he is indoor .. so I carry him with carrier and he was just at start meow meow till feel calm and watching outside I put towel in the carrier and it got him feel comfortable while I carry him to vet .. yeah he doesnt like car ride guess he like when I carry him from carrier outside

If you were your kitty would you like being in a cage? try letting them ride without the cage, I have had a lot of cats over the years and never put them in a cage!!!

2 things, as Yayi said, I ALWAYS cover the carrier. It makes the ride so much less stressful, they feel safer.

Summertime, driving with a window open is a huge stress factor, the sound is scarey as hell, what is that?!

Cats are smart cookies, it only takes one time in a carrier going for a vet visit, and that's it. That carrier smells of fear and adrenaline from the last time, so it's very difficult to get them back in it.

If you take the carrier outside, spray it down with a spray cleaner, any, 409, anything, and thoroughly hose it off completely, dry it or allow it to dry in the sun, then put it on the floor where the cat can see it, door always open, and once in a while put a treat or a tempting toy inside, and a soft towel of soft piece of clothing of yours.

Even if he/she never will go inside, believe me, the next time will not be this huge traumatic ordeal. It won't be associated with some terrible experience as it was.

Don't forget to cover while riding in the car

goust said:

If you were your kitty would you like being in a cage? try letting them ride without the cage, I have had a lot of cats over the years and never put them in a cage!!!

Click to expand...

This is not a safe practice. What happens if your cat gets under your feet and interferes with your driving? Or if you have to slam on the brakes suddenly you could have a flying furball hitting the windshield.

I tried to let my kitty run around the car once, and she just barfed everywhere and tried to get on the dash of my car... 
It was just around town, but it still worried me that she would cause an accident or get hurt really bad if I got into an accident

Have you tried Feliway spray or Bachman's remedies?

Or if you can pay the $, there are mobile vets.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I hope something works! Poor kitty.

I second GoldyCat, I would never allow this. They get under the seat, can spring out and be gone for good as soon as the car door is opened, and so on.

UNSAFE.

My cat Meeko DISLIKE! in car ride or he will keep meow meow meow meow meow meow meow never stop .. but he loves when I carry him with carrier that he wasnt meow at all just love it watch from screen

goust said:

 
If you were your kitty would you like being in a cage? try letting them ride without the cage, I have had a lot of cats over the years and never put them in a cage!!!

Click to expand...

This is not a good idea. A few months ago, there was an ad in the newspaper where people were looking for their cat. They had left the cat out of the carrier in the car. The people were in a car accident and the cat got out and got lost. They were frantic to find the cat....I don't know if they ever did. I've often wondered about the kitty, if he was ever found.

Don't let your cats in the car without benefit of a carrier; it's simply not safe because sometimes things happen that are out of your control.

When we have to take a cat to the vet, we always put them in a carrier and once the carrier is in the car, we put a blanket over the carrier. I think the blanket keeps them calmer. Yes, we listen to the cat symphony on the way to the vet. Afterwards, though, it's like the cats know we're on our way home and they're pretty quiet overall. They're always glad when we walk in that front door, put the carrier down on the floor, and open the door. They zoom out of the carrier and hit the kitchen, looking for a snack.

Exactly Winchester.

I have a story myself, I was working our adoptions at petco one day, and a couple were bringing in their kitty for a vaccine, were getting out of the car in the pkng lot, kitty in arms and a motorcycle roared past and the cat freaked out, there is NO holding onto a freaked out cat, well of course the cat went and hid, GONE.....never found again.........just not worth it. It was a very hard lesson for them to say the least.

If the only time you put your kitty in the car is to go to the vet, that could be what's scaring her. One thing you might do to desensitize her is to start taking her on short drives, even just around the block. Then she gets home to her safe place with no vet trauma. Give her lots of loving and treats when you get home. I wouldn't do it more than once or twice a week to begin with. Eventually she may figure out that the car isn't such a scary place.

Thanks everyone! I purchased the "anxiety treats" from PetMeds. I'll try the short trips/treats first. Hoping this works. Fingers crossed!

I hope they work!  they work great on my kitty  Let us all know how it goes! 

I have always desensitized my kitties as kittens to car travel and new environments. When Maia was a kitten I took her with me whenever I could for car rides, different friends houses for overnight stays or longer. I also leave her carrier out before and after any trips we have to go on. Today if I take her carrier out, set it down with the door open, she is in there in seconds! Happy little hiding from me Maia..............

    I would simply start with creating a positive space for her in the carrier, leave it out, door open, feed her in it, give her treats in it. Then close the door when she is in it, don't even pick it up. Each time do a little more, pick her up in carrier, next time carry her outside, next time put her in car parked, next time start car but don't move it. Each time a little more and reward her after each session. It will take time and patience but if you really want to help her it will work