{"id":5962,"date":"2016-12-09T18:40:24","date_gmt":"2016-12-09T18:40:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hartz-v2.local7\/travel-anxiety-in-cats\/"},"modified":"2023-02-24T15:24:19","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T15:24:19","slug":"travel-anxiety-in-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hartz.com\/en-ca\/travel-anxiety-in-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel Anxiety in Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cats plus cars don\u2019t always equal a smooth ride. Even the shortest trip can turn your sweetest cat into a feral beast. Skip the moaning, crying, pacing, clawing, and hissing with our tips on how to keep your cat comfortable during road trip and avoid any car sickness.
\nInvest In a Great Cat Carrier<\/strong>
\nAlthough the temptation to let your cat roam free in your car is hard to resist, don\u2019t do it. Your cat will be more comfortable confined to her carrier, trust us. The ride will be smoother for her and you don\u2019t have to worry about a roaming cat affecting your driving.\u00a0 Note: Some cats can claw through a cloth carrier so you may want to invest in\u00a0a plastic one.
\nTry a Few Trial Runs<\/strong>
\nGet your kitty used to traveling in her carrier by testing it out a few times throughout the week. Try increasing the length of time as your vacation gets closer. Make sure she has a blanket and her favorite toy to make the time in her carrier pleasant. Over time, she\u2019ll learn to love her carrier and actually relax in it. Also, try a few mini trips to get your cat accustomed to the motion and noise of the car. The more you expose her to travel, the\u00a0quicker she\u2019ll be at ease with the process.
\nBe a Safe Driver<\/strong>
\nDuh \u2026 but really avoid going too fast, taking sharp turns, and stick to smooth roads. Traveling by highway is often the best for your kitty because the road is smoother and you\u2019re driving at a steady pace. In addition to that, make sure your music isn\u2019t blasting, the car is at an ideal temperature (not too hot or too cold), and that her carrier is secure and not shifting back and forth. A great spot for the carrier is on the floor in the back seat -- the lower center of gravity will reduce any extra movement.
\nStop for Potty Breaks<\/strong>
\nIf you\u2019re going on a long road trip, you\u2019ll need to stop for potty breaks and so will your kitty. Once you\u2019re stopped, be sure all the windows and doors are shut and open your cat\u2019s carrier -- let her come out on her own. Try putting the litter box on the floor in the back seat across from the carrier. After your kitty has done her business, offer her some water and let her roam around the car for a few minutes before going back in her carrier.
\nDecrease Car Sickness<\/strong>
\nKeeping your cat in her carrier and slowly introducing her to the car will decrease your cat\u2019s chances of getting car sick. You\u2019ll also reduce stress and sickness by driving slowly and steadily and regulating the car\u2019s temperature. Mostly importantly, don\u2019t feed your cat three hours prior to your trip. Check her often throughout the ride and make sure she has plenty of water. If your cat is ultra-sensitive, ask your vet about medication to decrease motion sickness or a sedative to lower her stress level -- another reason for car sickness.
\nProtect Your Cat<\/strong>
\nYou should never leave your cat unattended in the car for any length of time. Heat exhaustion can happen fast and can be deadly. Make sure someone is always watching her or take her with you. Proper tags and a micro-chip are also important. Traveling can be very disorienting for your kitty so she might get frightened and run off. Having the proper identification will increase her chances of getting back to you safely.<\/p>\n