Car Luggage Carriers

Traveling in a car with a Cat for 36 hrs.?

I am moving to Mexico in a wk and i'm taking my cat with me. He already has his shots and just needs his health certificate... well, my 7yr old cat is going to travel in a van with my dad and brother. the van is going to be full with boxes and luggage. The problem is that they will be on the road for 36 hrs. that is way too long! **What do i do for my cat to be able to drink water, eat food, and go potty? the carrier is just big enough for him to move around in. [i think its a bad idea to put his bowls in it] **and, in Mexico there is a place called Sonora. my dad will go through there within 24 hrs. of the trip. What they do there is they check what you have with you in your vehicle and sometimes go through your stuff. Is it ok for my cat to be in the carrier for 24 hrs, until they pass through Sonora, and my dad can take him out of the carrier? When we take him out he usually just hides under the seats. do you have any tips for me? No, we will be driving the whole way. They will take turns driving me, my mom, and my little brothers will get to mexico in a bus {like a greyhound bus}. but, my dad and brother and getting there with the van, which will include my cat.

Public Comments

1. This is a long stressful journey for any animal. When i had my cat and we had to evacuate for a storm he was car sick in about an hour. The cat will most likely vomit, so be prepared for that. You might think of getting it a collar and leash and letting it out to potty and stretch every time you stop to get gas and eat and such.This would be a good time for water and feeding. Also are yall going to stay in motels along the way? Find pet friendly motels. Be safe and have a good trip.
2. So, you're not taking your cat at all, are you? How'd Dad get so lucky? You know, if he'd be willing, you can always set the litter box near the carrier, where he can easily get to it, and give him water at least every couple of hours. You definitely don't want to let him loose at the checkpoint, in case he should become spooked and rum away. Our Rorschach was trained for the car, so we didn't have to bother with the carrier, we just made sure there was a litter box tucked in the back well, a paired dish next to her blanket, and she did fine. What you want to be sure of is that you offer him water at least every two hours; you can just carry a 20 ounce bottle and dole him out a few tablespoons at a time. Feed as usual, and put at least a couple of toys in with him, to make the carrier homey. There really isn't anything else, much. He'll do okay, even that long, as long as the carrier offers him sufficient room to stretch--which they can do in hardly any room--and to move around a little.
3. The hard part is that you will have your car full of items causing there to be little room for your cat. The first option would be to discuss a tranquilizer for your cat with your vet. He'd likely sleep most of the way, and then be zoned out for the rest. Another benefit of this would be that you can give him/her food and water when you stop to use the restrooms once he/she is then awake. The second option I have is to use one of your boxes intended for packing for your cat's travel cage instead of your typical cat cage. If you place the box in the back seat, the back of the front seat can be used as support to keep the box in place in the back seat (a box the size of the seat space would need to be chosen). Cut slits that are just slim enough for a hand to reach through on the sides so you can pet him/her if he/she becomes scared or needs human contact. Not to mention these slits will provide fresh air too. With the box being that large (not too large though that you can not see out the back or side window), you can find a kitten litter box to place in the box, or simply make one out of a large kleenex box. You definitely don't want to keep the level of food and water in there very high, but you most definitely want it to be available to your cat if he/she wants it. Keep some kitty food in a plastic baggy outside the box along with a water bottle in order to keep his/her water dish at least a little filled. Because the box will be fit securely between both the back of the front seat and the front of the back seat, there really shouldn't be any reason for it to spill other than for sudden stops. You can also squeeze some pillows between the back of the seat to make it tight enough not to move too.... along with blankets etc on the floor so it doesn't tilt down either. You should also put a thin towel in the box as well. Now your cat has her/her own space and the ride will then be more comfortable. Don't forget though that you'll need easy access to fill the dishes throughout the trip so keep one of the top flaps available to open, but might need to keep duct tape with you in case he/she tries to escape through it. Now if you are someone who really wants this to be as painless for your cat as possible, you could also securely staple some cloth over a portion of the top of the box so more light will shine through and keep it cooler for him/her also. Make sure you test it out before you leave though!! Don't want an escapee! Please keep in mind that it's likely that he/she might not eat or sleep or anything because of it's stress level due to the trip. If there's an accident, please remember that they are kind of freaked at the moment and it could have been a "so scared I peed my pants" moment for them =)