Hi Everyone, my wife and I are moving to Tucson in the next few weeks from Rochester, NY in our Mini. We have 5 cats that will be travelling with us, and I was curious if anyone has driven long distances in their Mini with animals? We originally were going to put them in a giant kennel in the back, but decided that we would rather put a netting between the front seat area....


If anyone has any idea as to what product would be best, the information would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

We travelled (moved) from VA to CA with 3 cats.

If at all possible, I would put them in cages. They come in different sizes as I'm sure you know. For several reasons this is a good idea - safety number one. If by some chance you were to get in an accident, at least the kitties would be in a cage and not end up running out in the wild or get hit by an on-coming car... Number two, if you put a blanket over their cages, they are less likely to get car sick because they can't see out. Instead of 5 separate cages, maybe put 2 in a cage together (a larger cage) and then 1 by itself.

Donna

 

Put them in cages...no question about it.

 

i traveled 1100 Miles w/ a dog and a cat gave the cat a sedative and left him out of his cage (was in the cage 1st 300 miles didn't like it 2 much) and he did just fine slept under the passenger seat and under mine made it 24hrs in the car no problem

 

WOW... so far everyone answering you has been NICE!! How surprising!
I love cats but thought FOR SURE you would get some interesting responses!!
Good luck with the move!

 

My two cats and big dog were fine travelling around - but I was also by myself in the MINI, so the two cats were in the front seat. But I'd agree - use a big kennel in the back for them. It helps when you have to make pitt stops and have to get into parts of the car and not have to worry about "squirters" escaping!

 

Definitely cages. They should be trained that way from a young age. I've found sedatives to be problematic. On some they respond nicely and go to sleep, more often than not though they get somewhat freaked out on sedatives. My current cat travels just fine without sedatives in his cage. He whines for a couple of minutes then just lays down and relaxes.

 

I tried to train mine for the car when they were kittens.
They loved it initially. (I would drive around witht them loose)
Then something happened (not sure) they decided they
don't like the car at all.

They scream. In cages or out.

You would want to have sedatives just in case, but see how
they do without.

I don't see anything wrong with putting up netting for a long trip.
I don't think in my opinion they are safer for crashes in a cage.
But you definately don't want them jumping out when you stop.

I'd put blankets down in case they have an accident (not referring to
car accident)

 

What do you do for the cats' calls of nature?

 

I have never taken them on a long trip like that.

I think some people walk them (not sure how you are alerted).

Maybe put a small cat box on the floor behind the seats???

 

I would consider having a friend/family member air ship them. You are talking aobut a 3k trip. 8-12 hours per day would still take 3-4 days. Herd management is gonna be an issue.
You know how long it takes to get the smell of cat pee out of a car?

 

I'm a retired GI, with a lot of cross-country moves under my belt. Most of them involved my wife's cats. A couple of things that my wife discovered about traveling with cats over the years:

Cages. Definitely. Before you leave, go buy some adult diapers - the paper kind. Cut them apart so that you'll have a single layer in the shape of the bottom of the cage. Throw an old dish towel or similar on top of that. This is for comfort, and in case the cat has an accident. Get a small cat box of the size and dimension usually used in the large cages at cat shows. Large pet stores usually have them. Use the clumpable litter. About every four hours or so, stop at a rest stop, and while the car is still closed up take the cat out and let it into the cat box, which it will either use or it won't. Return the cat to the appropriate cage. Empty the cat box into a plastic garbage bag. Then open the car and take your pit stop, dumping the garbage bag with dirty cat litter into one of the trash cans at the rest stop.

Repeat as necessary as you cross the country.

Air transport of cats is an iffy thing. Works better in the spring and fall than it does in the summer and winter because the live animals are treated as cargo, and put into a cargo hold which are not as well climate controlled as the aircraft cabin. The ground crews are another issue. Maybe they'll be careful with your pets, maybe they won't. The thing is, you won't know until it is too late. If you opt for air transport, make sure you have a top shelf, good quality, cage so that it doesn't inadvertently open, or get damaged.

 

Ya - ya ....what Reprobate said. The sending by air SOUNDS like a good idea, but if you're not actually travelling by air with them...Not an idea I'd like to think about. Besides, that can get costly with FIVE cats....

 

Cat kennels...definitely!
I have traveled across country, solo, 3 times, accompanied by my (late) kitty. California to NY/VT.
(she was NOT a happy camper at any point during these marathon trips, God bless her.)
I had an idiot boyfriend who refused to put his 2 cats in a carrier...one darted out of his van during a stop in Ely, Nevada, and he never saw him again.
I never had a cat box problem...She always waited til we got settled in our hotel room. But I wouldn't try that if you're thinking of driving 10 hours a day. They'll (and you) will definitely need a break.
One suggestion...when you buy your kennel(s), leave them open for the cats to explore and get used to before your trip. Give them treats and let them associate it with something pleasurable. That way when you go to put them in there it's not such a shock!
Best of luck with your move.

 

Reprobate and minimizevt posted great info. I have done the cat road trip a few times and feel the cat/dog carrier is the only way to go. I use a plastic Veri-kennel for our dog and cat. It offers some protection in a collision in that they are not flying around the inside of the car and they will not escape through a window or door. Dogs and cats seem to be calmer in the kennels than lose in the car (the cat isn't to happy about the trip but the dog thinks it is great). The small dog size will likely fit a few cats and you may be able to find good used ones on craigslist.org. I have used "piddle pads" an absorbent soft paper pad from pet stores or online suppliers e.g. drsfostersmith.com, a cat harness which makes it easier when getting them out of the cage/crate/carrier in your motel room or at your destination. I put an old t-shirt in the carrier, yes one that I have recently worn, and they (cat or dog) snuggle up in it. Putting treats to let them associate it with something pleasurable worked for my dog who thinks it is great fun every time the cat knows better after her first voyage. I wish you all an enjoyable adventure and success in Tucson.