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Original poster

Can a cat be left in a carrier in a car for under 2 hours?

65 replies

Itshotoutthere · 03/01/2023 19:35

Friend has dental appointment at 9.30 then vets at 11.30. Will the cat be ok in the car for less than an hour whilst she has dental appointment?

OP posts:
planefullofotters · 03/01/2023 19:56

My cat would be extremely upset and stressed.

why can’t your friend just reschedule the dentist

BlueKaftan · 03/01/2023 19:57

Drop at vet earlier.

XenoBitch · 03/01/2023 19:58

BlueKaftan · 03/01/2023 19:57

Drop at vet earlier.

You can't really do that if the vet appointment is for a check up or jabs.

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Ponderingwindow · 03/01/2023 20:00

We have had to have our cat in the carrier for that length of time, but I wouldn’t leave the cat in the car unsupervised. You should never leave an animal in a car unattended because temperatures inside vehicles can easily be different than the temperatures outside vehicles

upfucked · 03/01/2023 20:00

No. Cats need a warmer temp than humans, although they learn to tolerate human home temps. An unheated car will be a very unpleasant place for them
to be. I wouldn’t want to be sitting in an unheated car at this time of year, especially for 2 hours.

leithreas · 03/01/2023 20:04

upfucked · 03/01/2023 20:00

No. Cats need a warmer temp than humans, although they learn to tolerate human home temps. An unheated car will be a very unpleasant place for them
to be. I wouldn’t want to be sitting in an unheated car at this time of year, especially for 2 hours.

Is it not normal for cats to crawl into blankets for warmth? I have a bald cat and she lives under blankets. You could whack a hot water bottle under the blankets if you wanted her to be extra cosy. The OP didn't ask if the cat would enjoy being left but I don't think it's that crazy an idea to leave a cat for a couple of hours in its carrier so long as it doesn't have a history of pooing in them or getting sick.

ChristmasCakeAndStilton · 03/01/2023 20:06

The carrier for that amount if time is possibly OK. But alone in the car, at low temperatures would make me uneasy.
I can't work out the timings tho - in carrier, incar from aprox 9am til11 30, with some of that alone?
How tight are the timings to finish at dentist, collect cat, get to vet?

zurala · 03/01/2023 20:07

No. It's cruel. The cat would be alone and would likely be distressed, with no access to food or water or anywhere to toilet. It's totally different to doing a car journey when you are with them and will stop to ensure their needs are met.
One of the appointments will have to be rescheduled.

And why are you calling everyone a viper? No one's been horrible to you.

Mariposa26 · 03/01/2023 20:08

Please do not leave a restrained cat unattended in a car.

Conkered · 03/01/2023 20:09

It would depend on the cat I think, and why it was going to the vet. I would expect a passer by to be concerned though and possibly report, especially if showing signs of anxiety. Maybe chat it over with the vet, they may be able to move the appt or take it in earlier as suggested.

RocketIceLollie · 03/01/2023 20:10

Probably depends on the cat, some cats are more chilled than others. Some cats like their roaming Probably find it stressful.

salamanderturtle · 03/01/2023 20:10

I think it depends how used to the carrier your cat is and what the temperature will be. Ideally it’s not a perfect situation but it depends how used being in the carrier it is. Can you not pick it up in between? I have cats and I’ll be honest I wouldn’t do this.

RocketIceLollie · 03/01/2023 20:10

Just try and make it as comfy for them as possible and leave treats for them.

maddiemookins16mum · 03/01/2023 20:10

Depends on the cat.
Mine travel 30 mins each way to Cat Butlins once a year and when we moved an hour away a few years ago, we had one in a basket for 2.5 hours stuck on the M20 during Operation Brock.

eurochick · 03/01/2023 20:13

Mine spent at least that long in the car on moving day - when we got to the new house the money hadn't moved so the keys hadn't been released so we sat on the driveway for hours. For some of that time we were in the car though (as we had nowhere else to go!) so they were not alone the whole time. They were ok.

sukiwh · 03/01/2023 20:14

Not ideal of course, but you do what you need to do! What about people who move homes requiring a long drive with cats, or who live rurally and have longer drives to vets? Most cats hate being in the carriers, but they get over it.

An aside, I feel like it’s quite a new thing to consider our pets feelings like this! Of course it’s a good thing - no doubt about that. But when I was growing up, my parents weren’t worried about things like “upsetting” our pets by introducing other animals, or inconveniencing the cat in some way.

Tamarindtree · 03/01/2023 20:16

Itshotoutthere · 03/01/2023 19:48

Wow! ' the vipers are out tonight

Show quote history

How am I a viper by merely stating that I wouldn’t do such a thing and offering the advice of having someone effectively car sit the cat?

Doveyouknow · 03/01/2023 20:17

We have taken our cat in a carrier for car journeys that are longer than 2hrs. I mean he is pissed off but I don't think it causes him real distress. I am not sure I would leave him alone for 2hrs though. I think he might worry (though equally he might enjoy the peace and quiet and go to sleep).

ouch321 · 03/01/2023 20:18

I think that's fine.

I would take these responses making out that you're doing something horrific with a large pinch of salt.

It's the same sort of thing when people here say that if you get a dog you should give up your job so you can be by their side 24/7.

If you are concerned you could do a practice for 30mins just leaving cat in carrier in the car on the driveway and see how that goes.

Mentalpiece · 03/01/2023 20:20

It should be fine as long as the carrier is big enough for puss to move around and stretch out.
Put a blanket, some treats and a large water bottle with it.
The large water bottles that are used on rodent cages are ideal, maybe another smaller one filled with milk too for an extra distraction.

bananaboats · 03/01/2023 20:58

Depends on the cat mine would be very distressed so not something I would do

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 03/01/2023 21:03

I wouldn't, as it means leaving the cat completely unattended in the car.

If someone is sat with them, it's a bit different as you can comfort them when they're distressed etc.

All mine hate their carriers and become very distressed - I'd never leave them shut in there without me next to them to comfort them or talk to them.

Ginandtoner · 03/01/2023 21:04

Would depend on the cat mine gets upset with a 5mins drive to the vets
she would so distressed being left in a car for 2 hours

what so you want people to say tho?

helpfulperson · 03/01/2023 21:07

I wouldn't leave them alone for that long but if you are with them between appointments it's fine. What distresses my cats is being chased and caught and put in the basket not the time. I use puppy pads so these could be changed if necessary

Mine once spent 6 hours in a kwik fit office while my car was getting fixed. We managed to provide water and treats but not much else I could do.

Tamarindtree · 03/01/2023 21:08

It’s not the length of time that is concerning but the fact the cat is unattended and alone in the car.