Here’s Albus, looking all suave on the couch.
There are two things that occupy most of the space in my heart: Travel and my cat, Albus.
Sometimes, those two things happen to collide in a freakshow of a road trip.
I have relocated quite often for work this year – by the end of 2016, Albus and I will have spent around 50 hours in the car together. Yeah, trust me, I know; that’s too much time spent in the car with my cat. (You should feel sorry for him – he’s had to put up with my carpool karaoke for 50 hours.)
I’ve scoped the internet numerous times for the ultimate travel hacks when it comes to pets and have come up with some of my own along the way to make the trip more tolerable. While most of these are directed toward cat owners, some of these tips can apply to dogs as well (and let’s be honest, anyway – dogs are easier to travel with).
*Minor disclaimer: I am BY NO MEANS a professional or a vet. Please use common sense while traveling with a pet, check with your vet and only follow the right advice for your cat or dog (or guinea pig, hamster, hairless rodent, etc).
Pre-Trip Procedures
Finding a Pet-Friendly Hotel
Planning a long trip? Need to stop and take a break for a night? Sometimes it is hard finding the perfect hotel to stop at with your pet. Not only do you need to find a place that allows pets, but plenty of hotels charge an exorbitant amount per night if you have a pet with you.
Great resources for finding the perfect hotel for you and your pet:
www.officialpethotels.com/Rover
Most travel sites like expedia.com have the option to search for pet-friendly hotels as well. I always select my top 3 hotels and then make calls to figure out how much they charge per night for a pet to stay in the room. Sometimes the websites don’t have the most up-to-date information, so I highly suggest calling ahead before booking the hotel. Costs can range anywhere from $50 – $250 per night, so research carefully!
You can also skip the hidden fee fiasco all together and look for pet-friendly rentals on www.airbnb.com!
Prepping the car
While some dogs are perfectly capable of free-roaming in the car and sticking their head out the window while you drive, cats are quite different. The last thing you want is your cat sneaking under your feet while you are driving and pressing your breaks on the highway. (Hey, who knows, it could happen.)
When I travel with Albus, I use the seatbelt on the passenger side to strap in his large crate. Not only does he get to ride in the front with me (stops the meowing in the back), but he is easy to manage in case of any sort of emergency.
Some people prefer to get larger crates or cages and keep their cat in the backseat. That’s fine, too. You know your pet better than I do.
I also prep:
- *Makeshift litter box: I take a plastic container with a lid, fill it with litter and place it on the passenger-side floor. The lid helps keep the odor at bay and prevents any spills during the road trip.
- Water bottles
- Dry cat food
- Food/water bowls
- Optional: Leash, cat harness, collar, etc.
- Optional: Calming spray – I sometimes spray Nature’s Miracle Calming Spray on top of the crate if Albus gets restless. Look for cat anxiety and stress products here.
- Optional: Puppy potty training pads for the bottom of the crate. While I don’t expect my cat to readily have an accident, I’d prefer to keep one on the bottom just in case for easy cleanup.
Prepping your pet
All pets are different – fortunately for me, Albus is a natural when it comes to trips. As a seasoned traveler, he tends to settle into his crate after a few minutes of meowing and enjoys/sleeps through the ride. On the other hand, some cats have anxiety while traveling.
You know your pet better than I do: If you have any doubts regarding travel with your pet, I recommend you talk to your vet beforehand. Sometimes they can prescribe medication that calms their nerves.
If you have multiple pets and you’re not sure how they would do stuck in the same crate over an extended period of time, I’d invest in getting them their own separate crates for travel.
If your cat has a tendency to throw up, I’d recommend not feeding them a few hours before you hit the road. Some cats are fine not eating until you stop – Albus, on the other hand, is a little pig. He loves food and treats at every pit stop.
During the Trip
So, ready to hit the road with your pet? Got your tunes and ready to jam? Snacks? Cool.
Pit Stops
When I’m on the road, I stop every 2-3.5 hours in order to stretch my legs and allow Albus to do his thing. I’ve stopped in McDonald’s parking lots as well as rest stops. It really depends on where you feel comfortable in stopping – obviously with dogs, you’ll want to be near a greener area for them to use the restroom.
My normal procedure with Albus usually goes like this: I get out of the car, taking his crate with me. I generally open the crate and grab him by the collar/cat harness and take him in the car with me. There, he has a chance to use the makeshift litter box, eat some food and drink some water. I let him roam for around 5 minutes in the car before giving him some treats and putting him back in his kennel and hitting the road again.
Make sure you check the kennel/crate for any signs of incontinence or throw up. This is a great time to clean it up so your car doesn’t begin to smell. Make sure you put the lid back on the litter box and empty the extra water out of the bowl before hitting the road to prevent spills.
Leaving your pet in the car
Seriously, just don’t do this unless it is for a two-minute bathroom break. Leave the A/C on if it is a hot day. Be mindful of your pets, please.
Other tips
Don’t turn your music up too loud while you’re driving – pets can be sensitive to sound and you don’t want to overwhelm them. Traveling can be a scary experience, so make sure you keep your pets comfortable with their favorite blanket or toy in the crate with them.
Post-Trip
Make sure you pay attention to how your cat is acting after the trip. If you see any noticeable signs of trauma or anxiety in your pet, I recommend you take them to see a vet immediately. When in doubt, always talk to a vet!
What has worked for you when traveling with a pet? What hasn’t? Share your tips, tricks and stories below.
Just Go. 