Traveling with a cat

[Frog7]

What do you do with your cat if you bring him with you? What do you use for his litter box?
Thanks

[eggplant]

I've traveled with cats. Just bring a litter box with you and set it up when you get to your destination.

[Frog7]

You just used your regular litter box? You didn't use the disposable ones?

[rabid_child]

Unless you have to, I wouldn't recommend travelling with a cat at all. They're typically home-bodies who don't like to go to unfamiliar places.

I do travel with my cats to my parents' house when I'm going to be gone for more than a few days. They've both lived there for several years so they're familiar with it and adjust well going back and forth. Still, they don't eat as much as they do at home and are a bit more jittery. My parents have a litter box there that they set up when their "grandkitties" come to visit.

[Frog7]

We are moving , so we have to take our cat. My mom wanted to use the disposable litter boxes, but she didn't relize how $$$ they are.

[eggplant]

You just used your regular litter box? You didn't use the disposable ones?

I didn't even know they sold disposable ones. I don't really understand why it's necessary. I agree to only travel with cats if absolutely necessary. I've only traveled with mine when I'll be away for 3 or 4 weeks and I've stayed at my parents' or my bf's mom's house.

[eggplant]

Oh, sorry, I just realized that you're moving, not going on a temporary trip. Your cat should be fine. If you're concerned about stress on the trip you can get a prescription for a sedative from the vet. It doesn't knock them out, just mellows them out.

[rabid_child]

We are moving , so we have to take our cat. My mom wanted to use the disposable litter boxes, but she didn't relize how $$$ they are.

Ah. that's different. I thought you meant like, taking your cat on vacation.

How far are you moving?

I'd just bring a regular litter box with you, and when you get to where you're setting it up, line it with a garbage bag or a drawstring litter liner (the non drawstring kind SUCK), and put in some litter. Not a lot, only enough for the kitty to scratch around a bit. When you're packing up for the next leg of your trip, just pull out the litter liner, tie it up and toss it. The box stays clean, and the cat has a travelling potty!

Another option if you don't want to waste that much litter and plastic, is to get a large, shallow (litter boxe sized) plastic storage container with a snap on lid. Just scoop the box, snap the lid on, and carry it away til its time for kitty to potty again!

[Frog7]

It's 10 hours total, but we are doing 5 hours then stopping at a hotal for the and then driving the rest of the way.

[thebelovedtree]

I would just set up a litter box in the hotel (all of rabid's ideas sound good) a scared cat isn't going to want to use the litter box and having it shake around her in the car probably won't help things.

[Thalia]

Try getting some Feliway- it's a synthetic hormone that calms cats. Kind of expensive, but well worth it.

My ex sprayed the inside of his car/the cat cage and the hotel rooms when he had to drive his cat cross country. She normally hated traveling but was much calmer.

[Frog7]

Thank you.:)

[Bof]

My friend, Mr Richard Whittington, travelled extensively, accompanied by his feline companion, and never had any problems, except for a bit of tinnitus. :yes: :D

[LadyFaile]

do you put him in a carrier or leave him loose in the car? what we've done in the past was just washed out the litter box really well beforehand (so as not to stink up the car too much) and secured it with a seatbelt onto the seat next to him. we put down a blanket on the other seat and he usually just stays there (well back and forth between there and my lap). so if he really needed to go he could.
but for 5 hours he should be fine to wait til the hotel

[omgglitter]

when i had to evacuate for katrina my cat was very small. i had no choice but to bring her with me on a 10 hour drive to dallas. i just buckled her cat carrier into the seat next to me and put a litter box in the backseat on the floor. every few hours i took a break at a rest stop, put her on a leash and let her potty, wander and then poop in her litter box.
it worked out fairly well. just stop at a rest stop and let them do their business in the box

[Frog7]

Thanks.:)