help! two cats, long car journey

[CurlsLDN]

Hello wise MNers. I have two lovely indoor cats. We are soon going to be moving house/city. The cats will need to join us on a 5/6hr car journey to get to the new house, help!

They are indoor cats and haven't done very many car journeys in their lives. Of course I want to minimise stress for them.

• Can you recommend a cat carrier? We have one big one but I think two smaller ones (one each) would be better for this length of journey.
  
• What do you do about poos and wees? Do you put a puppy pad type thing in the bottom? I really don't want to open the carrier halfway down the motorway as they are very nimble and extremely hard to get back in!
  
• What other travelling tips do you have?
  

And lastly, when we get to our new destination, how long do we keep them indoors before letting them out?

[thecatneuterer]

OK, the last question first: we advise keeping cats in for three weeks when they move home. You need to be very careful not to leave any windows open during that time and of course if you have children you need to make sure they won't accidentally let them out.

It would be a good idea to start them off in one room - the quietest - in the new house, for at least a few days.

I would advise a large carrier each for the journey and yes those puppy training pads are a very good idea. Definitely don't let them out of the carrier at all during the journey. Don't even open it.

[snowaccidentprone]

The vet may give you a mild sedative for them. That's quite a long time to be traveling.

I'd also cover each carrier with a blanket.

[Bluestocking]

We moved our two cats a slightly shorter distance a couple of years ago. They were in separate carriers with lots of absorbent towels etc in the bottom. I made sure we had several old throws that they'd slept on so they could have one each in their carriers, and one for their new home.

I prepared a hidey hole for them at their new home; we have a downstairs bathroom so I put a litter tray and their food and water in there. I made them a den out of a big box on its side, with their smelly throw from the old house in it, and a cover so they could be all quiet and private in there. I gave them the dry food they are always used to so things would be as familiar as possible.

Calicocat was very stressed out by the journey and arrived all foaming at the mouth with her tail all soaked in wee. Fluffycat was much more sanguine about it. Calico was extremely glad to see her hidey hole and den with smelly throw and calmed down very quickly.

We let Fluffycat outside after one week because he loves us and is a real people cat. We kept Calico in for two weeks because she is such a nut and we were worried she would just shoot off and then get disoriented. They both settled in very quickly and are now super happy here. But my poor DP found it very traumatic having to drive for 3+ hours with Calico wailing at him all the way!

[RubbishMantra]

Zylkene would help for the journey.

[CurlsLDN]

Thanks so much everyone. We'll keep them in for at least three weeks then.

I dont really want to sedate them, but heard there is a Feliway spray so might use that on their blankets. We're moving in two weeks so I'll get new crates sorted this weekend and leave them temptingly by their favourite radiator with blankets in so they can make them all stinky and furry and homely.

When we get there we will have a spare room, so I'll shut them in there for a few days with their usual bed/stinky blankets etc. I'm sure they'll just be glad to be away from our crawling baby!