Pet Travel Question: Driving Across the Country with Cats
Number of Pets: 6
Pet Type: 4 cats, 2 dogs
Pet Breed: German Shepherd, Golden, 3 Domestic short hair, 2 Domestic longhair
From: Arizona
To: NY
Should we use our kennels and litter pans for our cats, or are cat carriers a better choice? Two are used to kennels and two used to be in them but haven't been for quite a while. I want to make this as stress free as possible for them. It's going to be at least 12 hours a day driving for four days. Any advice would be appreciated. I have never traveled with cats before, I take them to the vet in the carrier but that is it.
Thanks,
Shelley
Hi Shelley,
Thanks for your question! It sounds like you have quite an endeavor ahead of you. Luckily there are a few things you can do to make this cross-country pet move a little bit easier.
Since you're in control of this trip (and don't have to meet any airline requirements, for example) it's really up to you to decide what kind of travel carrier you use. For long journeys we suggest roomy travel crates with an absorbent material in the bottom, and to prepare the cats who haven't spent much time in the car, try going on a few short trips in the weeks preceding the move.
Be sure to bring plenty of food and water as well as any necessary medications, and it's smart to have current vet records and recent pictures of the pets, as well. Finally, your demeanor will rub off on them, so do your best to breathe deeply and stay calm.
Good luck with this trip, and please contact us if you have any more questions!