Traveling with a feral cat

stacyb

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Hi everyone,
I am in need of some advice. 3 months ago I took in a feral cat that I had fed for several months outside prior to taking him to be neutered, vaccinated etc. (we named him Cash)
He is a sweet boy (the black cat in my profile picture) but he won't let me or my husband touch him yet. We can now sit right next to him while he lays in his bed, and he comes within arms length of us to eat his meals and treats which is great progress from where we started. If a sound he is unfamiliar with scares him, he calms down when we go into "his room" and tell him everything is ok and just sit with him. We could tell because he will lay down and go back to sleep which is what he does most of the day...sleeps :)
My husband and myself own a business and must go away for two months. We are new to the town we live in and don't have family here. We do have some acquaintances, but none that we feel very comfortable with yet.
I feel we need to take Cash with us on our trip (it's about a 13 hour car ride) as I want to make sure he is in the best care possible and I do feel he is most comfortable around us.
I know cats don't travel well, but again, we don't have any options as family and friends are too far away.
I did contact a local pet sitting company but the cost is outrageous ($25 per 30 minute visit)
And they mainly take care of dogs so they said they would come in to basically feed Cash and clean his liter if need be. $25 just once per day would be ok if our trip was a few days or a week long but for two months, that's just not in our budget plus I don't feel like he would be getting much tlc.
We are thinking of buying a very large cage (one that would fit a bed, food, water and liter) and traveling with him. We have a truck so an extra large cage would work well (especially with the back seats down)
I spoke with our vet (we also have a small dog which Cash seems to like although I have not let them get to close yet, and she travels in the front seat with us)
And he said he would give us an oral medication to calm him for the trip. And although I hate to give him any medication, if it would make it easier for him I am all for it.
If anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it. I don't want to damage the progress we have made with Cash but I just don't see any other option. I know leaving him home with a trusting person would be the ideal situation but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be an option. I also want to mention we will be staying in a private house for the 2 months, not a hotel room.
I also considered flying (which would only be about a 2 hour flight) but I would never be able to take him out of the crate going past security which is a possibility) I called JetBlue and they said due to higher security they couldn't guarantee that I could keep him in the cage through security. Plus, even though I can board with him and leave him under the seat, what if he had an accident, I couldn't open the cage to clean it up...I would have a flight with some angry passengers! :))
If you have traveled with a feral or just a very scared cat and have some tips/advice that would be great.
Thanks for your help!!
 

lochness350

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Stacyb--You and your husband sound like amazing people. I am so happy to see there are those willing to take so much care of our feral friends.  I don't really have any experience in travelling with a feral kitty, but I think your plan sounds well thought out.  The only thing I would say is to be sure to cover the cage with a dark sheet to keep the kitty calm during the drive.  You can also spray some feliway on it to make him feel relaxed in addition to the medication.  Since he is pretty comfortable with you, I think he will adjust fairly easily.  I know that after I trap ferals and then release them after their procedures, they don't take long to bounce back and aren't too mad at me.  With all you have going on, I think you are doing what is best.  Just be sure to keep him well confined when opening doors in your temporary home so he doesn't find a chance a runaway.  That would be devastating.  Good luck!
 

ondine

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As long as you have a safe place for Cash to stay while you're gone, this might work.  The crate is an excellent idea and will keep him confined while giving him room to sleep and potty.

He won't be able to go outside because he will try to find his way back to his "territory" - your current home, so he should have his own space at the new place.  His own room is ideal and you can keep him in the crate for awhile.

I would cover the crate while you are traveling and for the first day or so at the new house.  This will also keep him calmed down.  I wouldn't bother cleaning his litter box until he's settled into his new room either - a day or so won't hurt and there's less likelihood that he will bolt while the door is open.

I really admire you for tackling this challenge.  Many people would just leave him to fend for himself.
 

ondine

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Something I just thought of - you might want to have him microchipped before you leave.  Cats are escape artists and you wouldn't want to have him get out in a new place without some means of identifying him.

The vet can give him a check-up and make sure he's up to date on all shots as well.  When you get to the new place, it will be good to have those records - just in case.
 
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stacyb

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Hi Ondine,
Thank you for your input. Yes, we will have him in one of the bathrooms of the home (that's where he likes to be here at our permanent home and he only ventures out to play during the night (we can here him playing with all his toys, jingling, rattling etc. plus he loves to take all his toys out of his toy box and put them under the coffee table during the wee hours....pretty cute in my opinion) :))

We had him microchipped 3 months ago when we trapped him to have him neutered so that's taken care of. We do not ever let him outside, nor do we ever plan to, but I agree, better safe then sorry...the microchip is a no brainer in my opinion! As careful as we are (and we are ridiculously careful)....why take a chance)

Thanks again!
 
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stacyb

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Hi Lochness350,
Thank you so much for your recommendations and for your words of support. It's so nerve wracking not knowing if we are doing right by our little guy and your kind words definitely made me feel more confident that we are making the right decision. I never knew I could love an animal I can't even touch as much as I do....(these animals sure steal our hearts huh?) :)
Wish I could save them all.
 

ondine

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A plan is the only way to do this and it sounds like you've got a solid one. I would load the crate into the van and get the bed and litter box positioned. Get the kitty into a carrier and put the whole thing in the crate. This will be easier that trying to get the crate loaded into the truck with the cat in it. Plus, the carrier will give him a hiding place during the trip. You can leave the carrier door open once it's secured in the crate.

Keep us posted. I am very curious to see how your adventure goes.
 
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stacyb

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That's a great idea Ondine...thank you! The fact that the crate will act as a hiding spot is perfect!!
 
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stacyb

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And I will definitely keep you posted....we are leaving in just over 2 weeks now :)
 

catapault

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Perhaps your vet mentioned this already, but I would trial the calming medication on Cash prior to your travels, just to make sure it works as desired.

If you have a well at home I would also bring a gallon jug or two of your "home" water for him to eliminate one more variable from the traveling and new place to live.

Right away have him start sleeping on a towel or blanket that you'll put in his travel crate and in his room in the new house. A few familiar toys brought with you would probably be a good thing too.

But the most important and reassuring thing for him will be that the two of you are there with him.
 
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stacyb

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Hi Catapault,
Yes, the vet did mention a trial run of the medication which I will do about a week prior to the trip. I feel so bad giving it to him "for no reason" but I know there is a reason, making sure it works well and that he doesn't get any reactions to it.

All the rest of your tips are fantastic (never thought about the water) and I will do all of them so thank you so much!!!
 

litchi

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We traveled a couple of times with our cats and one thing we do is put a harness and leash on them just in case. I dont know if its feasible since your kitty is feral. You are probably not planning on oppenning the crate but I feel safer to know that if my cats escaped I have more chance to get them by stepping or catching the leash than trying to grab the cats.
Good luck :)
 
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