How to travel with a cat--tips

I've decided that for our upcoming long weekend, I will be taking our senior cat with us and leaving our young cat home with a cat sitter checking in on him.

The older cat is on medication and doesn't get along with the younger cat, so it would be easier to do that. The senior cat is also very old and mellow and is not much of an escape artist. I plan to bring both his leash and harness and his cat carrier.

I'm a little nervous, though because supposedly cats don't travel as well as dogs. We're driving for 600 miles--from Michigan to North Carolina.

I've checked with my host and they said that it's fine to bring the cat and that they have a room where the kitty can stay. Any other tips on traveling well with a kitty?

We had a siamese cat that did not start traveling until she was 15, but by 17, she loved being road trip kitty.  She was not fond of carriers and considered them a prison, but if I put a pillow on my lap so she would be up a little higher, she loved sitting there and looking out the window.  The only thing she hated was for people to pass us.  She didn't mind us passing them.

We have a two year old cat now that loves traveling.  She also loves her carrier and will nap in it at home, so it is no big deal to put her in it for the road trip.  We always leave the door open and she can be in or out just because we are afraid she gets too hot in there.

If your cat is not used to riding in the car, or being in a carrier, I would start getting her used to both.  Leave the carrier out with door open, and put something she likes inside.  If she gets to investigate on her own, its a lot less traumatic.

I guess I should add it is probably not safe for a cat to ride in a car without being restrained much like an infant and a car seat... but  hey, I grew up riding in the back of a truck hanging on for dear life while the wind whipped through my hair and the bugs got stuck in my teeth... ah, the good old days.  So if my kitty wants to lay on my lap, or the back window, its all good by me.  We have a one year old cat though that I don't trust not to jump out the window!

A good carrier is important. I prefer the larger carriers. Some carriers, supposed for cats, are too small and makes them more anxious.
If the cat is very anxious for a carrier, I'd recommend a carrier which can (also) be opened from above. 
It's a good idea to use some Feliway Spray. (Spray half an our before you put the cat in the carrier. Also, spray some Feliway in the car before you're leaving).

Cats usually don't travel as well as dogs, unfortunately. Their territory is very important to them. Dogs like to go away with their owner, cats prefer to stay home because it's their territory.
Is it an option to leave him home too? This is less stressful for cats than traveling, even though the two cats don't get along. Perhaps there is someone in your neighborhood who is able to give the medication? 
If that is not an option I'd recommend a good carrier, maybe an antislip mat so it doesn't slip easily, preferably no smoking and music while you're in the car.
 

Unfortunately, if I left him home, I would have to keep him confined to one room, because he and my other cat don't like each other. (long story how I ended up being a forever home to 2 cats who don't get along, lol!)

Hm, okay. I don't know about your situation etc but one room sounds a bit stressful too.
And a kennel or a pet hotel? (Don't know if this is the right word in English)
Stressful too of course, because he leaves his own territory, but he doesn't have to travel so long.

Thanks for the replies. My senior kitty is very relaxed and mellow and fairly low energy, so I imagine that he should have less trouble adjusting to a road trip than a young energetic cat. He will probably ride in someone's lap for most of the trip. We've taken him to the vet without a carrier (just with leash and harness) and he did fine. He's old, mellow, and slow and a real cuddler. He will actually let me carry him in a baby carrier for long periods of time.

If I took my young kitty, though, for sure I would put him in a carrier for the trip.

We have A/C, so having open windows shouldn't be a big issue.

Will he ride leashed? It can be dangerous to transport a cat in a car with no carrier and no leash.

I found this website , don't know if it's helpful for you  http://traveltips.usatoday.com/travel-long-distances-cat-1606.html

Yes, he will ride leashed.

So I ended up taking him and the trip went really well! 

At home, he never really took to the leash, but while traveling, he learned to walk on it! 

He did so well and it gave me a lot of peace of mind that he was being taken care of properly.

Good to hear !!

That was a picture of him contentedly riding in my lap.

i took  my cat with me to my camp this morning i put him in a really big carier made for dogs he was not happy in the carier and now that im at my camp  he hides from me he has to go home tommorow so it should be a fun trip im gonna have to put gloves and a thick coat on to put him in the carrier or ill get all scratched upnguess its going to be his 1 and only trip