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Original poster

6k km drive, and the cats hate to travel...help

15 replies

Seafog · 18/09/2020 10:49

We are moving, and bringing our cats with us. We have a 6000 km drive to do (10 hotel stops) with a 2 day stop part way.
All our furniture and such go in the truck, but we need to bring the cats in our car.
They hate the car, they hate traveling and strange people.

We have tried to get them used to the cat carriers by having them out, with their cuddle blankets in them and treats, but what else can we do?

Is there anyone who has done similar with suggestions?

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 18/09/2020 10:51

Would it be possible to have the cats shipped by air and spend the time that you are travelling in a cattery at one end?

ShyTown · 18/09/2020 10:57

Can you not fly them instead? My chap has moved transatlantic twice and has always been fine despite being very nervous of new places/people. Confining a cat to a carrier for most of the day for 10+ days and a new hotel every night just seems unfair. They could stay in a cattery before flying whilst you drive if you don’t have friends/family willing to take them- the pet relocation company should be able to arrange this.

Original poster
Seafog · 18/09/2020 11:14

We looked into flying, the issue is that our son (20) is traveling separately by plane, but cant bring both cats, it is one pet per person unless you put them in the hold, which would traumatize them.
Added to that is the issue of having to isolate when we arrive, as our furniture doesn't arrive until a few weeks later.
Son is staying at a friends until we get out there, then flying to meet us.
We were going to send the cats with him, but then found out he could only bring one. Also where he is staying has dogs that cant be around cats.
If he flew out first, even if he could bring the cats, there is no where for him to go with them, until we and the furniture gets there.

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Cats
RedCatBlueCat · 18/09/2020 11:15

Fly them. Cattery one end, one days travel, and done. 10 days of carriers and hotel rooms sounds very stressful for everyone involved.
If Europe, I know a pet relocation company who will assist.

BarbaraofSeville · 18/09/2020 11:17

Can your son do two round trips with the cats one at a time?

RedCatBlueCat · 18/09/2020 11:17

X-posts. Honestly, send them cargo, or appeal for a flight buddy to be "assigned" a cat for travel purposes. This is quite common around me.
Cargo is one days stress. Driving is nearly 2 weeks of slightly less stress.

KonTikki · 18/09/2020 11:19

Dump the cats one end - buy new cats at the other end.
Cats are cheap !

RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 18/09/2020 11:21

You can't do that drive with cats. They will be miserable. You need to work out a way to fly them, or rehome them.

zafferana · 18/09/2020 11:23

I agree (as a loving cat owner), that would be hellish for all concerned and extremely stressful for your cats. I really would look into either using a pet relocation service who can care for them either end as well as transport them, or consider rehoming. What you're planning is not kind or fair on them.

ShyTown · 18/09/2020 11:26

10 days in carriers in the car would be a hell of a lot more traumatising than flying in the hold. My cat is so, so nervous and after a short sulk on arrival, was back to his old self as soon as food came out. I’d recommend using a specialist relocation company- someone can likely recommend if you share the country/countries you’re moving to.

BarbaraofSeville · 18/09/2020 11:28

appeal for a flight buddy to be "assigned" a cat for travel purposes. This is quite common around me

Oh that's a good idea. No idea how you'd arrange it, but it sounds like it's a thing where you are (Australia? US?)

If you don't have someone near your original hometown who can mind the cats for a couple of weeks until your DS flies out, the kindest thing would be to put them in a cattery and then your DS take them by air, either by two round trips, or by using a flight buddy - you could pay someone, given the alternative is two round trips for your DS.

10+ days in a car with the cats will be stressful for you as well as them. If they are car sick or go to the toilet you could have a lot of cleaning up to do. They could damage hotel rooms with their claws or by going to the toilet on the bedding/carpet.

Krook · 18/09/2020 11:28

Does son have a friend who needs a few days away and could fly with him? Then they could bring one each. I don't think you could subject cats to that journey. Or you could all fly and get car shipped or drive by someone else?

Original poster
Seafog · 18/09/2020 11:36

Taking everything you say on board, I thi k it has helped to convince DH as well, we are checking out cat boarding right now

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wedidntstartthefires · 18/09/2020 23:53

My cat would wail for every second of that car journey. It's unfair on the cats and stressful for you.
Cats aren't like dogs, they don't look to us for comfort, they would likely be in fear the whole journey.
Agree with air travel for them.

Original poster
Seafog · 24/09/2020 19:22

Good news, ish...
We have them booked into a cat hotel for 2 weeks, and then they will fly out with ds, but in checked baggage Sad
I hate to be away from them, but agree that the drive would be even harder on them. I can put up with it, but they would be so miserable.
Hopefully the flights go smoothly, there is only one transfer, and then we can get them settled in and feeling 'home' again

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