Moving a cat to new home, advice please

[meddie]

Daughter has moved to Scotland and her cat, which was temporarily lodging with my mum can now go to live with her. Its approx a 300 mile 4 hour journey. The cat yowls in the standard carrier , we looked into pet couriers, but they quote £375 ( I,m assuming thats massage and glass of champagne on the journey for those prices).
How can we make this move in the least stressful way for the cat.Would a car boot dog carrier work? Anyone have any advice?

[cozietoesie]

I'd imagine that that price could be operative and car costs for 2x the journey - plus admin overheads and VAT. It's a lot but not quite as bad when you view it in those lights.

I've done it many times with cats - a 400 mile journey usually seems to work out at 8 hours with jams and appropriate rests so I just assume that that's what it will roughly be these days.

You said she yowls in a standard carrier. Is that constantly or just on short journeys? (I've received some protest mouthing-off at the start but they usually settle down pretty well after ten minutes or so. )

[meddie]

Longest journey has been just under an hour to take her to my mums. She was yowling and distressed (panting) virtually the whole time.

[cozietoesie]

Then a dog crate might be good for her. (With appropriate home comforts.) Remember that if she has to be moved -.does she in fact? - then the journey would likely distress her in any way, regardless of whether it's private or commercial.

Sometimes, also, it's as much the passengers/drivers who are distressed/stressing out as the cat. It all communicates.

[Papergirl1968]

Our cat howls in the carrier on a five minute journey but was absolutely fine when we took him on holiday which was about three hours as we let him loose in the car. In fact he slept for most of it, in the passenger footwell or over the handbrake between the two front seats! We had a litter tray on the floor of the back seat but he didn't use it.
Could you take the cat up or could your daughter come down for him? You'd just have to pop him back in the carrier at rest stops to make sure he didn't escape...

[HonniBee]

I second papergirl. Our cat is much happier napping on my lap than in a carrier. Do be prepared for accidents though. We didn't have a litter tray for her, but did have towels and puppy pads around. good luck!

[cozietoesie]

I would definitely not recommend letting a cat free on a journey. You might be the world's most careful driver but you can't assume the rest of the world is the same. In the event of a prang, I wouldn't want a cat running bewildered all over a motorway, for example.

[RubbishMantra]

Like Cozie says, a cat loose in a car is a recipe for disaster. Some people use cat harnesses, that clip into the clippy bit of the seatbelt.

I think the dog crate is a good idea, 3 sides covered with a blanket, and a nice comfy blanket inside. I suppose you can get a litter tray in there too?

Little M shouts his head off in the car, but if you ignore him and are quite matter of fact about the whole thing, he goes to sleep. It is really hard not to talk to a distressed cat, but they do usually calm down quicker if you don't.

[Wolfiefan]

Cats tend to prefer smaller and darker spaces but for a long journey I would look at a slightly larger carrier. (Not sure if you can put a litter tray in?)
How about consulting a vet? Get feliway? Our vets supply towels sprayed with a cat calming spray. Cover the carrier with that makes them feel happier.
2 hours then stay over. Cat in cattery then 2 hours? Could be worse?