Moving, need advice quickly (well couple days) I have 3 cats to move 1300 miles

I've resigned to being stuck putting my cats in a truck. I hate this, but no other way i can think of to do this.

I don't know the best way to approach. The crate has to be big enough to hold a small food and water dish and a throw away litter box (probably something like those tin turkey pans or something.

I don't know the best approach.

I'm going to have to get a minimum fo 2. is 48 inches big enough to hold two cats that don't cuddle, and all those extras? Or should I consider 3 36 inch?

I just don't know the best approach. i'm 30 days out from the move, and I want to order these now.

PREFERABLY stackable but i can go either way

Do you mean a big moving van? I would not do this. It is not air conditioned back there and if the rest of your belongings are going in there too, anything could fall at any time. Can they go in a car with you?

JEsus i don't know what I was thinking. of course they can't go in the back.

my god how am i going to do this? there are two of us driving there's no way there's enough room in the cab

How far are away are you moving?

1300 miles

fastnoc said:

1300 miles

Click to expand...

Could you rent a second car? If you pick up / drop off at airports it's usually around $30 a day.

A friend of mine moved her 3 dogs cross-country, they rented a van with the back seat that could be removed, and it held all 3 of her large dog carriers.  Is there a way you can get a 3rd or possibly 4th person to come with you and then fly them home so you have swap-out drivers if you need relief drivers?  That way you can drive a van with the cats plus the moving truck?

The back of the truck will definitely be roasting this time of the year, it gets hot enough in there that the last time I moved it melted a box of candles I had packed.  All over everything too.

You may have thought of many of these things already but I'll post this link anyway.  This article may have some tips that are helpful for you.
[article="33377"]How To Move With Your Cat To A New Home In A Safe Way  [/article]

No way. entirely too much money. the truck is already $1500 and it would be another $1000 to rent something lik a van etc. but it would defeat the point o9f what we're doing. it's 20 hours, we're doing it one day. that can't happen if we're both driving

I talked to my other driver, the truck has a full bench seat. we're going to put a cooler in the car that's on the trailer, and figure out how to squish 3 carriers in the truch. it's a 20 hour trip and we're doing it in one day. i'll drive while he sleeps. There's one more person involved but i'm flying her down two weeks early.

I'll have no choice. i wanted a crate for each cat. nowhere near enough room. so it's 3 carriers and  tranquilizers for kittys. they'll hopefully sleep most of the time. if they poop i'll just have to pull over. I have leashes and harnesses

this is going to suck

betsygee said:

 
You may have thought of many of these things already but I'll post this link anyway.  This article may have some tips that are helpful for you.
[article="33377"]How To Move With Your Cat To A New Home In A Safe Way  [/article]

Click to expand...

Most of it yeah but it always helps to read up. thank you!

I am ok with getting them familiar with the new home, it's just getting them there i'm stressed about

@Ondine moved recently and had a pet moving service move her cats for her.  Here is a link to her thread.

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/318688/adventures-in-moving

How far away are you moving?

You certainly can not put them into a moving truck.  Which you know.

While a large crate is preferable, if the move isn't too long putting them into their own carriers should be fine.  They will be ok for several hours. If lucky they will just fall asleep.  

fastnoc said:

 
No way. entirely too much money. the truck is already $1500 and it would be another $1000 to rent something lik a van etc. but it would defeat the point o9f what we're doing. it's 20 hours, we're doing it one day. that can't happen if we're both driving

I talked to my other driver, the truck has a full bench seat. we're going to put a cooler in the car that's on the trailer, and figure out how to squish 3 carriers in the truch. it's a 20 hour trip and we're doing it in one day. i'll drive while he sleeps. There's one more person involved but i'm flying her down two weeks early.

I'll have no choice. i wanted a crate for each cat. nowhere near enough room. so it's 3 carriers and  tranquilizers for kittys. they'll hopefully sleep most of the time. if they poop i'll just have to pull over. I have leashes and harnesses

this is going to suck

Click to expand...

If you're going to medicate the cats, be sure they actually swallow the pill.  I know it sounds like it doesn't need to be mentioned, but years ago an ex and I made the drive from Florida back to New Jersey with his cat in tow.  He pilled her but, apparently somehow she hid it in her cheek (we assume) and spit it out as soon as she could.  She meowed the entire trip.  We stopped one night half way and it was the only few hours where she was silent.  Was a really difficult trip.  

sivyaleah said:

 
How far away are you moving?

You certainly can not put them into a moving truck.  Which you know.

While a large crate is preferable, if the move isn't too long putting them into their own carriers should be fine.  They will be ok for several hours. If lucky they will just fall asleep.  

fastnoc said:

 
No way. entirely too much money. the truck is already $1500 and it would be another $1000 to rent something lik a van etc. but it would defeat the point o9f what we're doing. it's 20 hours, we're doing it one day. that can't happen if we're both driving

I talked to my other driver, the truck has a full bench seat. we're going to put a cooler in the car that's on the trailer, and figure out how to squish 3 carriers in the truch. it's a 20 hour trip and we're doing it in one day. i'll drive while he sleeps. There's one more person involved but i'm flying her down two weeks early.

I'll have no choice. i wanted a crate for each cat. nowhere near enough room. so it's 3 carriers and  tranquilizers for kittys. they'll hopefully sleep most of the time. if they poop i'll just have to pull over. I have leashes and harnesses

this is going to suck

Click to expand...

If you're going to medicate the cats, be sure they actually swallow the pill.  I know it sounds like it doesn't need to be mentioned, but years ago an ex and I made the drive from Florida back to New Jersey with his cat in tow.  He pilled her but, apparently somehow she hid it in her cheek (we assume) and spit it out as soon as she could.  She meowed the entire trip.  We stopped one night half way and it was the only few hours where she was silent.  Was a really difficult trip.  

Click to expand...

That's actually EXTREMELY easy to happen. Sometimes you think they swallowed it and it's really just on the side of their tongue. I have to give my big kitty pills twice every day for life (epilepsy). So i've gotten very good at it.

i think everyone does it different, what I do is put my left hand over the top of his mout so i'm straddling his nose with my left hand. the pill is held between (this will sound odd) my thumb and my second finger. I use my first finger to press down slightly on his tiny itty bitty bottom front teeth. they give in pretty easily and once it's open i drop the pill at the very back of his throat. if I do it right he doesn't even know he swallowed anything.

I can always tell. because i have to give him insulin injections twice a day too so they're both at the same time, right before he eats for the pill, then during eating for the shot. if I get the pill a little sideways and miss, if he tastes it at all he won't meow for his food. i think he gets irked at me. but if i hit it right he meows for food right as i let go.

all that being said, two of my cats are not going to be easy to pill. I'm praying they have a liquid version of the medicine too.

Now, the bottom line is i have no choice. they are going to all have to be in carriers in the cab of the truck. it's a bench seat built for 3 people. but there's only going to be 2 of us. So they will hopefully get all looped out on the meds and sleep.

this is not going to be quick. it's 1300 miles. just under 20 hours. We are driving straight through though to get it all over in one day. hopefully reducing stress and getting them in the new house quickly.

if they poop that's going to be one stinky ride.

i was thinking it might help to drape a sheet over the carriers so they can't see out. would that help?

Me and hubby moved two cats once in a U-Haul type truck.  It had a bench seat like you are talking about, we put one carrier in between us and strapped it with the seat belt, and the other was in the floorboard under my feet.  I rode with my knees bent up and feet on top of the carrier.  But we only had to go about an hour's drive, so no pooping/peeing/feeding needs.  Just strap them in really well.  It is going to be a long rough trip I'm afraid for you, but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.  I fully understand that.  Sending you best wishes and good moving vibes

I can't believe how stressed I am. But i thought I'd be able to get two facing the front/back on the bench and one on the floorbard in the middle which should give the passenger room. Was yours a small(ish) truck? the one i'm getting it biggest straight truck they have (26 feet). man you sound squished with only two. i havfe three

Ours was the middle size. We were cramped. But we were trying to avoid renting the truck for two days, and we had two cars packed full as well, so we figured it was better in the truck. We were worn out that day, I won't forget that. If I was close I would try to help! I really hope you at least have a smooth trip!!

hbunny said:

Ours was the middle size. We were cramped. But we were trying to avoid renting the truck for two days, and we had two cars packed full as well, so we figured it was better in the truck. We were worn out that day, I won't forget that. If I was close I would try to help! I really hope you at least have a smooth trip!!

Click to expand...

Why thank you;

it's going to be ugly. lol I'm 50, my helper is 54. when we get there we'll have help. two aunts and two uncles. all of which are over 75

We moved 900 miles with 2 cats years ago.  The carriers fit under the bench seat. Maybe you could get a measurement of the seat height and then purchase carriers that fit under there. Then the third carrier can be in the middle of the seat and do double duty as an arm rest.

Thanks for the reply.

I think I should go down and get some info by looking. I've only got one good solid carrier, it's just big enough for my big boy (20pnds) the third is tiny tiny tiny. looks like a kitten, the middle is prissy little girl. so i will need to get more carriers