Moving Cross Country

Hi all,

I just found this site and wanted to get some advice on my upcoming move from Florida to Colorado with my two cats.

Neither of my cats likes riding in the car, but I'm not so worried about Bob, who will wear a harness and leash, is somewhat manageable, lets me handle him, and who I have taken on a few short car trips in the past few weeks to get him used to a car trip that does not result in a trip to the vet.

The one I'm worried about is Lawrence. He has been very hard to deal with and aloof since we got him, and he does not hesitate to scratch or bite when he is handled. He refuses to wear a harness - I recently tried to harness/leash train him, and he freaks out and wriggles out of the harness every time, doing all kinds of strange gymnastics to do so. I have had him for 4 1/2 years now (he was a pound kitty, an adult when I got him), but there's really no bond between us. When we recently made a smaller-scale move from one side of town to the other, my mom, boyfriend, and I all had to work together to force him into his carrier, and I really am apprehensive about having to deal with him while on the road. I don't want him to get hurt or lost, nor do I want him to hurt me! Plus, I am going to be starting a new job out in Colorado and will need to make good time on the road. I won't have time to spend hours coercing him into his carrier every time we need to kennel him.

I would prefer to find him a home before we leave, but time is drawing near and I don't think I will be able to do that in time, and I don't want to leave him at a pound. Does anyone have any advice for me regarding handling this unmanageable feline during a car trip that will probably span 4 days?

Thanks in advance!

-meowzas

I don't really have any good advice for you, my cat being a good traveler. But, maybe after the first hour or so he'd settle down.

The real reason I responded was because I just made the trip from FL-CO in August. If you're driving the southern route through Texas and New Mexico, there's a really great Hampton Inn in Amarillo, TX that accepts pets and is fantastic. Also, the trip took me and my husband 3 days.

I just recently moved with my cat from NY to NC. It was a 11 hour drive. The night before I removed his food and water. I put him in the carrier an hour before we left so he would feel comfy. I also put in a old shirt of mine that had my scent on it. He did great. He rode with me in the front seat (the guinea pig was in the back) He cried until I opened the door on the carrier. He was fine after that. The last 45min, he ventured out and rode lying next to me. My advice, talk and sing as you travel, but don't make too much of a fuss about them. This way they hear your voice but don't get anxious. Happy moving!

If you are driving to colorodo with someone you should just drive non-stop. If you do 8 hour shifts and sleep during the 8 hours you should have no problem driving from FL to CO wothout stopping/ this will minimize the cats stress. Use a large crate that is big enough for a small litterbox/small bed and/dry food and water.

another option is to hire movers to move all your stuff/sell your car/ fly the cats and yourslf to CO and then buy a new car. This is probably what I would do.