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Original poster

Driving to France with cat - any tips?

124 replies

MarmMummy · 21/07/2020 19:55

Hi, we are driving to France with out 5 year old cat for the first time this year. It’s about a 14 hour journey. Anyone have any top tips to share?! TIA

OP posts:
Nearlyoldenoughtowearpurple · 21/07/2020 21:53

Genuinely don’t, it’s a terrible idea
Unless you have that one cat in 1000 that is very chilled and might enjoy it.
The cat will be stressed beyond belief with a 14hr drive. The kids can’t pet it as it needs to be in a secure crate or it could either escape or cause an accident.
Once you get there if you let it out it will either get lost or get beaten up by neighbourhood cats as it will be in their territory.
And what if you need to leave and it has wandered off for the day
For the cost of the passport and rabies vaccine you could pay for a lovely cat hotel .

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/07/2020 21:53

You should be. Your follow up threads going to be “I had to leave her in France”.

This is really, really not a good idea.

Frazzled2207 · 21/07/2020 21:55

Golly I think you're slightly bonkers tbh! That said some friends relocated to Switzerland and drove out there (one way) with 2 cats. They said to me that they were very pleased it was a one way trip and if they relocated back to the UK they'd rehome them rather than do it all again.

Wolfff · 21/07/2020 21:55

I really wouldn’t take her. Can you get feliway or something similar for use in the home if the cat sitter is there. I left my cat with sitters a few times and she was fine despite in a couple of cases the sitter being a stranger to her and a very shy cat. I wonder if there was some other reason for the hair loss.

milienhaus · 21/07/2020 21:56

I was being snarky earlier but genuinely I really really don’t think it’s a good idea.

rottiemum88 · 21/07/2020 21:58

How will you feel if she gets out and doesn't stay close? Could you imagine her getting lost and having to leave her behind? Honestly, it's a terrible, terrible idea for anything other than a permanent relocation

BringMeThatHorizon · 21/07/2020 21:59

I thought it was an absolute no to letting cats out of a new house for at least two weeks - when we moved my vet advised at least a month! Surely as soon as you let her out she won't know where she is and you're likely to lose her?

pandafunfactory · 21/07/2020 22:00

For a fortnights holiday? Bad idea. Different if you were going for three months perhaps.

ShyTown · 21/07/2020 22:00

OMG just no. It sounds massively stressful for everyone but especially the poor cat. You’re also not supposed to let a cat out immediately in a new house because you risk them not finding their way home. So that will be all the windows and doors closed in the holiday home. Get someone to house/cat sit for you, arrange for the cleaner to come twice a day and hang out for a bit (paid obviously) or book a cattery stay so that she’s not left alone for ages. My cat has done a transatlantic flight and it obviously wasn’t very nice for him and it was much less time in transit than you’re proposing. His crate was packed with absorbent vet bedding but he still needed a bath when he got out as he’d been sitting in his own pee. He also cried the entire drive from the airport after we collected him and was clearly really upset. There’s no way I’d inflict that kind of stress unless it was for a relocation.

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/07/2020 22:02

@BringMeThatHorizon it is. I kept the Bengal in for a month to make sure.

HeronLanyon · 21/07/2020 22:02

This doesn’t sound good op.
Your kids can’t stroke her and bother her in her box !
The last thing she’s needs as a highly strung car is this nightmare journey followed by strange house/area/animals/weather etc etc etc.
How will you be leering her out ? Does she have a history of being able to cope with different houses and does she come back not get lost !
I wouldn’t even consider this as just an absolute nightmare for everyone and your poor cat.
Can you get a cat sitter who stays in your home ?

Campingintheraintoday · 21/07/2020 22:02

Managing your cat on holiday will be the full extent of your trip...
Imo..

bewilderd · 21/07/2020 22:05

What? What if your cat goes walkies? You could literally lose your cat in France. You're meant to keep them inside for AT LEAST 2 weeks when you go to a new place. This is a bad idea and not good for car. Sorry to say it.

bewilderd · 21/07/2020 22:05

Car, not car. I'm sure your car would be fine!

NoMoreJunk · 21/07/2020 22:07

Cat chasing lizards?

You think she would come back?

She wont. You will lose her in France...

Our cat hates the car, a 10 minute trip to the vets is a nightmare. Cant imagine a 14 hour car journey twice in two weeks.
Hell !

Shmithecat2 · 21/07/2020 22:08

Honestly, if it wasn't for the long car journey, I wouldn't think the holiday with a cat was such a bad thing. It's totally dependant on the cat though. My two UK cats moved 7 times in 11 years - I didn't keep them any longer than it took them to eat their dinner and use the litter tray. Once they had done those, they were ready to explore outside. So in that respect, the holiday itself isn't the problem to me if your cat is fairly reliable. But the journey? No, not sure I'd put them through that.

Howzaboutye · 21/07/2020 22:13

It will be fine!
We used to take our cat on holiday to the beach. Do remember quite often he went on walkabout just when we were packed up to leave. So do bear that in mind.

Definitely get some cat sedatives. If the cat whinges lots then it would be rather horrendous for you all

Elieza · 21/07/2020 22:14

Don’t do it. You will return home from abroad without the cat as she’s lost and lonely. I couldn’t take that risk.

You need another plan.

Perhaps get your mum to stay at home with her during the day while you go out so she gets used to being at home without you but with someone else.

And she will learn that you come back eventually. Which will stand her in good stead when you do go away if you practice enough now.

thefruityelf · 21/07/2020 22:15

I agree with everyone else who's said it's terrible idea. The car journey will be super stressful. The cat may run off and get lost during the holiday. Don't do it!

We have a neighbour who comes in every day when we're away (sometimes twice, she loves our cat). She feeds him, but also sits and gives him some attention too. Before they moved in, we paid a cat sitter to forge safe thing. No way would I take him away with us Confused

unfortunateevents · 21/07/2020 22:15

You were planning to transport her in a dog basket?! and are just thinking maybe you should buy a crate?! Were you seriously going to do a 14 hour journey with a cat loose in your car and rely on your children petting her to keep her calm. Words honestly fail me.

WarriorsComeOutToPlayay · 21/07/2020 22:16

This has to be a joke. We are planning on moving to France in the near future and have spent significant time researching the best way of transporting our lovely cat so she suffers minimal stress on the single journey to France. That you could even consider subjecting your cat to such distress for a bloody short term HOLIDAY is appalling. Please rethink this, it is a terrible idea.

Icequeen01 · 21/07/2020 22:17

I had to re-read your thread as I thought I had misread it. This is utter madness. Please don't do this.

Toddlerteaplease · 21/07/2020 22:33

This is not going to end well. What if she goes missing? You'll never see her again. Find a really nice cattery. My cats adore the cattery and never want to come home. Please please don't do this to your poor cat.

Nearlyoldenoughtowearpurple · 21/07/2020 22:37

You also need to factor in the stress of going to a vet in France before you come home , for tick and tapeworm treatment. Timing will be critical if you have a 14 hr journey as you have a limited window of time.

BarrelOfOtters · 21/07/2020 22:47

We used to take our cat on holiday on a barge. She was fine apart from getting pregnant one year, TBF this was the 70s and things were different then.

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