April 10, 2017
We have another travel question this week from a cat owner in Pennsylvania:
I plan to travel by car with my indoor cat. How can I handle the “potty problem” for him while in the car?
“For reasons involving everyone’s safety, we recommend that, when traveling in a car, your cat be restrained, either in a crate or a carrier. If restrained in a crate, then you can put in a small kitty litter tray like the travel cat litter tray at the Pet Travel Store. If restrained in a carrier, then put extra pads in the carrier in case of an accident. Generally, cats tend not to urinate when out of their normal environment and/or under stress unless subjected to long periods of travel or if they are upset. Acclimating your cat to its crate or carrier can help lessen their stress when traveling.”
Also, he cries all the way to the vets or groomers. Any suggestions to help with this without completely sedating him?
“We would suggest that you work with your cat in getting it more acclimated to its carrier. This is a long process, but will certainly pay off in time. You can find more information about this in The Conscious Cat’s article, “How to Get Your Cat Used to the Carrier.”
“There are all-natural pet calmers available that may help lessen the stress that your cat is feeling. The Pet Travel Store has one made especially for cats that may help – try our Calming Treat for Cats the next time your cat will be undergoing stress. We would suggest trying this at home first to observe your cat’s behavior. The object is not to put your cat to sleep, but just to take the edge off and make it feel more comfortable. We would also suggest contacting your veterinarian to find out whether using a pet calmer will affect its examination.”
To read more of Susan Smith‘s articles, visit our Contributors page and follow the link to her articles.
Tags: calming treat for cats, cat car travel, cat travel, travel litter box, travel with cat
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