How to travel with a cat

Traveling can be a nightmare. The packing, the traffic, the security lines, the cost — it's pretty amazing what we put ourselves through just to get away. But traveling with cats is an entirely different matter, one I've dealt with personally.

In 2016, I moved from California to upstate New York with my two cats, Daisy and Fredo. There was a long layover between flights, so we had a good eight hours of travel time over the course of the day. Neither of the cats enjoyed the trip; Daisy howled and thrashed around her carrier the entire time, while Fredo froze in one spot, refusing to make eye contact with me. 

Dr. M. Kathleen Shaw of Latham Animal Hospital in Latham, New York, says these types of reactions are common in anxiety-prone cats. The trick is to do whatever you can in advance to keep your fur baby calm. 

Using Feliway, which is available as a spray or wipes is one way to do so. "It's a calming pheromone," she says. "We can't smell it, but cats can. It's been proven to reduce stress, and seems to really help a lot of cats when they're traveling." Another option is to place something that smells like you, such as a t-shirt, in the carrier. 

Before embarking on any road or air travel, make sure you have the necessary items to keep your cat safe. "Always have a copy of your cat's medical records with you," Dr. Shaw says. "And put an ID tag on your cat that has your cell phone number." That way, if your cat flees while you're en route, you can be reached. 

I found that having a few additional items was helpful: 

A disposable pad to absorb any urine and make the carrier a bit more comfortable.

Moistened wipes, small garbage bags, and disposable gloves to clean up cat poop from the carrier.

A harness and leash, in case we had to open the carrier on a layover to clean it.

A small container with dry treats.

A water bowl and bottle of water to offer during our layover.

According to Dr. Shaw, anxiety and car sickness are very common in cats. Knowing how your cat travels — do they freak out every time you take them to the vet, or are they more chill? — is a good way to gauge how they'd do on a long trip. 

Before taking off, bring your cat to the vet for a check-up. Discuss whether or not your cat would be a good candidate for anxiety or car sickness medication, which can make the experience much more pleasant for your kitty.

That said, Dr. Shaw says "one thing we absolutely can't do is give sedatives. A lot of people ask for sedatives, but that can be dangerous because some of them can lower cats' blood pressure. If they have health issues, it can be risky. Anxiety is one thing, but sedatives are another. It's a different class of drugs."

You know how airlines are all different when it comes to baggage fees? Well, they're just as varied when it comes to traveling with pets. 

Before you book your flight, check the airline's website for any specifics on acceptable carrier size, travel restrictions, and fees. Most airline fees range from $95 to $125 per pet, per flight. There are also limits as to how many animals are allowed on board at once, so you'll need to make a reservation for your cat in advance. This sometimes requires calling the airline, so give yourself time to do your homework before purchasing your ticket.

Airlines require that pets on board stay in a carrier under the seat, just like any other smaller personal items. As such, you'll want to invest in a cloth carrier that can fit in a tight space. The Sherpa Travel Pet Carrier is the one I went with for each of my cats, and it worked out well. 

A similar, less expensive option is the Henkelion Cat Carrier, which holds pets up to 15 pounds. That one wasn't an option for me when I traveled because one of my cats is on the larger size. And comfort, Dr. Shaw points out, is key. "Make sure your cat can stand up and turn around comfortably in the carrier if they're going to be in there for a long time," she says.

According to Dr. Shaw, one of the biggest mistakes cat owners make on road trips is letting the kitty roam free in the car. "Keep them in the carrier unless you're stopped," she says. "If you had a car accident, it's like being unrestrained; the cat's going to die. And if the cat doesn't die in the broken glass, it can escape and you'll never see it again." 

She adds that it's also risky for the driver, since "they never want to sit in the passenger seat and curl up in a little ball. They're either in your lap or under your feet. It's just too much of a distraction."

The safest way to travel in a car with your cat is to secure their carrier in the backseat. You can either keep the kennel on the floor or secured to the seat with a seat belt. Covering the carrier may also help your pet feel safer. Before leaving on the trip, do a test run to determine what they prefer. 

Though you might be tempted to let the cat out to use the litter box at a rest stop, Dr. Shaw says this isn't a good idea. "I cannot recall in 24 years and with all the cats I've had, a cat using their litter box at a rest area," she says. "You risk them escaping out of the car, and a lot of times it's hard to get the cat back in the car."

The best thing to do is to get to your destination as quickly as possible. And, of course, never leave your pet unsupervised inside a parked vehicle.  Even with the windows open the temperature can get to dangerously high levels.

Unlike air travel, a hard-shell case is fine for a long road trip. Two of the best sellers on Amazon are the Petmate Two-Door Kennel and the Amazon Basics Two-Door Top Load Kennel.

Luckily, in my experience, my cats were fine once we reached our destination and let them out of their carriers. Though it was a long day, planning in advance and having all the right tools helped out significantly.