7 hour car journey for dcat

[changeisasgoodas]

Advice please. We're moving house in a few weeks to the other end of the country, so about a 7 hour car journey. What shall I transport her in? I was thinking of a small, cosy basket with some of my clothing in it (for the smell). But what about a litter tray?

I know of someone who has the litter tray in the back & stops at a couple of service stations on the way to Scotland to open the carrier & put the cat on the litter tray

I don't know about litter tray but I had to do a long journey with mine the other day and I used feliway spray all over her carrier and on the car seats and she was a little angel! I really recommend it

I have travelled with my cats and stopping to offer the tray is worthwhile. I put two of mine in a carrier and have another on a lead. They also like to be held in the car by a passenger.

I bought and then resold a kittening crate. Not a peep!!! In their baskets they could wake the dead but with a lot more room they were quiet.

Our journey was only 4/5 hours and they didn't use the litter tray.

I would use a crate as RandomMess mentions. You can often borrow one from dog owners or they're cheap enough to buy second hand then sell on. You need one that can fit the crate, a bed and food/water.

Get a harness that's a good fit, and let her/him toilet on a short walk in a quiet area

When we moved from Essex to Scotland, dh and ds1 drove up with our cats. We put a dog cage in the car, with a mini litter tray (made out of cardboard), and they went in there. We also had cat harnesses, so they could have taken them out of the car, if they had really needed it, but they were fine.

@LadyFannyButton

I know of someone who has the litter tray in the back & stops at a couple of service stations on the way to Scotland to open the carrier & put the cat on the litter tray

If you decide to do this be very careful. Make sure there are no open windows in the car - and definitely don't try to put the cat outside the car on a lead or harness - they can slip these when very scared.

We unfortunately have been asked to help in many rescues of cats at motorway services - often unsuccessfully.

I bought my kittens a 6 hour journey away. We got a dog cage and put food , a bed and a litter tray in it and they went in the boot .. much kinder than a cat box IMO .

Found a pic of them . They look scared because they had just left their mum and didn't know me but I'm sure an established cat would be fine . We took out the parcel shelf so we could chat/ check to them .

I'd be very wary of trying to walk your cat on a harness or take them out of a safe carrier unless you have tried this successfully close to home first.
My usually very chilled cat got hugely stressed on a journey and we had to bundle him back into his carrier before he hurt us as he was getting very frightened.
A crate sounds like a much safer option.

I'd never get my cat out at a services!😱..they always get out of harnesses IME! Slippery little suckers,,!

Talk to your vet about temporary medication to keep them calm during the journey. We did this a few years ago when moving house, and it worked a treat.

gubbbbbddaaaa They are gorgeous are they Ocicats? We have two Ocicat kittens

they can slip these when very scared

I agree. I had a bad experience with a foster cat who was thankfully in the garden, but I would definitely not try it during a seven hour car journey at the side of a motorway. I think it is not worth the risk.

@Ibizafun half Bengal .. two big beastly bengals now but such fun!!🤩🤩😍😍

Love them!!! Who needs furniture anyway🤣🤣😻

@Ibizafun .. indeed !!🤷‍♀️😂😂