Driving to France with cat - any tips?

[MarmMummy]

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

Siamese cats are a completely different kettle of fish.

We have had cats all of my life. My current kitties are aged 16 and 11. The biggest stress for me is when we moved house twice. The worry if whether they will come home - they always did. But NEVER would I consider taking them on holiday. I'm not sure if you are brave or daft.
Ours go to a great cattery. They get daily cuddle sessions and music played. Heated car pads and lovely scratch trees. I know they are safe and we can all relax! There are texts and Facebook posts too.
If your cat goes missing, your holiday and more will be ruined.

I have actual nightmares about taking my cat somewhere and her running off, I can’t imagine thinking this is a good idea. You can’t keep her in and she WILL run off.

This is bonkers

You have a cat that is so sensitive it freaked out staying at home with a cat sitter, so you want to take it 14 hours in a car and then release it in a foreign country, and hope after two weeks you can catch it again and take it 14 hours back?

My prediction would be if you don't lose her on the way, she will do a runner as soon as you let her out at your destination.

I have to agree I think this is a terrible idea op.

@Pegase
I'm amazed anyone who knows anything about cats at all is contemplating this. You have to keep them in for 2 weeks when you move !

Not every cat. I never have done. My 13 yo UK cats have moved 7 times in 11 years and I've never kept them in more than 1 night. And my 5 ME cats have moved 3 times in 5 years and I've never kept them in more than 2 nights. Some cats move perfectly happily.

This is a terrible idea. 14 hours in a cage, scared and stressed? For a holiday? How are you going to ensure the cat doesn't escape once you arrive at your destination? You're not supposed to let cats out in a new area for at least six weeks and then you only let them out bit by bit.

Just get a pet sitter so that your cat has company. Or pay to put them in a cattery. Don't be so cruel as to drag your poor animal hours across the continent on a whim.

Another who has travelled abroad with a cat and advises against this in the strongest terms.

If you were moving I'd have some advice. But for 2 weeks?! If you think the cat is stressed without you, try a 28hr journey and a stay somewhere with 100% new smells.

It sounds like you think the cat is a dog.

It also sounds like you think your "weird family" is doing something unique now and will put your poor cat through this.

Remember if you do, that if your cat is silent and still in the car, it's because s/he's passed the "fright/flight" stage and the nervous system has dropped down to playing dead until the threat is over.

What you are planning is, for a cat, a major trauma.

*A major UNNECESSARY trauma.

@MarmMummy

Thanks everyone! Um, it’s for a holiday... when we went for 2 weeks last year she got very anxious and stressed by herself and pulled out lots of her hair ( with lovely cat sitter who is our cleaner and she knows very well). We figured she’d love to be with us chasing lizards in the French sunshine so thought we would try that this year. Kids will pet her in car, hoping she’ll sleep, Fingers crossed!!!!!

I don't think you've thought this through tbh. That cat will be over the wall and gone. You'll probably end up coming home without it.

I’m sorry OP but please leave the cat at home. Perhaps hotbox your house with felliway to help. Cats do not travel well. It’s extremely stressful for them.

"Any tips?"
Yes, don't do it.

Jesus - don't do this to your cat!!! It's madness. You think the cat will happily play and chase lizards on holiday. Firstly, it'll be very traumatised after the journey and it'll take time to recover from that. We took our cat on a 5 hour journey when we moved house. She was a wreck - panting, hyper-ventilating, shaking etc. Secondly - when you arrive your cat won't just think "Great, I'm on holiday. I'll have a lovely time chasing lizards". Cats are extremely territorial. They get very stressed when away from their territory. It will be confused, disorientated, probably go in to hiding for days or weeks (which is what cats do when they're stressed). There's a really big chance your cat will run off in fright and you'll lose it forever. Sorry if that sounds dramatic but this is the nature of cats. It would be far better to ask a friend or relative to stay at your house while you're away. We're going away soon for 10 days and I've paid a cat sitter to come each day. It's one who'll spend time with him, playing, giving him attention etc so he won't feel completely alone. The thought of bringing my cat with us is just a recipe for disaster. I think the stress would kill him - either that or he'd run away. Cats aren't like dogs.

Just to add - last week I did actually have a nightmare (an actual dream) that we took our cat on holiday. It was so stressful. The cat was terrified and trying to escape. We had to spend the whole time chasing him and catching him. I woke up with my heart racing. I can't believe you'd consider this. I'm sorry OP but you just don't understand cat psychology at all.

OP, you had your two cats loose in the car when driving from Kent to Scotland? Absolute madness and incredibly dangerous.

As for taking cats abroad with you on holiday - no, just no. It's not fair on the cats to travel that far in a car. There are plenty of people who will visit your home to look after your cat while you're away.

Your next thread will be "help, I lost my cat in France"

Stupid idea. Don’t do it.

At least from this madness I’ve learnt that I can ask the vet for a sedative for our cat for our upcoming house move :)

@Fluffycloudland77

Its not just the long journey its your plan to just let her roam when you get there.

Your 100% responsible for this cat & if you make a mistake she’s the one who suffers.

This! Your poor cat 😢

This is hilarious .

Never in a million years would I take a cat anywhere on holiday.

My cat would certainly not want to hang out close to us and would leg it at the first opportunity

I'd use a car. Cats have terrible mpg

OP, love, do NOT take the cat to France on holiday!

The journey will be hell, the cat will hate it, and if you're planning on letting it loose when you get there, it will bugger off to enjoy a fabulous life in the French countryside!

Taking a cat on a holiday to France?! WTF?

Hands down the most batshit thing I've ever read on here!

You are mad.

No. No. No.

Apart from the two main issues of the drive there (and back) and the potential loss of the cat which have been covered above, please think what would happen if you broke down on the way.

Two years ago, we drove to south of France. Had a breakdown and had to stay in a (small and rather quaint) French village b&b for three nights while it was fixed. If this happened to you, what would happen to the cat?

Leave puss at home I'm familiar safe surroundings and enjoy your holiday without permanent worry.

I’m not totally against the idea of taking cats on holiday - we’ve taken ours to Wales a few times but it’s only about a three hour journey.
But then our cat is very calm and takes everything in his stride, and also very attached to us. And we were very careful to keep him shut in there.
A 14 hour journey aboard? No, I wouldn’t.