13 Long and Short Distance Road Trip with Cat Tips and Tricks

(Last Updated On: April 27, 2022)

Road trip for human needs care and attention. road trip with the cat requires additional care. Talk to your vet about the more specific safe temperature range for your cat, depending on your cat’s age, breed, and any chronic medical conditions that they may or may not have. This article will be sharing some ideas for road trip with your cat.

Road trip with a cat

If temperatures are out of range, you need to be careful when stopping your own pit, and this includes food. In many cases, it is possible for you to bring your cat to the bathroom in their carrier! This is the simplest solution if it is possible and practical.

If it gets to the higher end of the temperature range and you can’t bring the kitty with you, take a few steps to ensure their comfort and safety when in the car:

Break your bathroom into a place where you don’t have to go to a big store or mall to find and use the bathroom. Gas stations and rest stops on the side of the road are usually good options. Coffee shops are often!

If you have an extra set of car keys with you, drive the car and air conditioner and lock the door behind you. You will be happier to be back in a cool car! WARNING: It can help a lot, but be aware that car engines and air conditioning compressors can and do fail, causing excessive hot temperatures in the car to rise quickly.

If it is not possible to drive the car and A / C or not have a practical use, cool the car to your best by turning the air conditioner on for a few minutes before you exit.

1. You park in the park in the most well-shaded spot

Park your front windshield in front of the sun and have a reflective windshield like this.

Cracking windows doesn’t make much of a difference, but neither does it harm (as long as your cat is protected in their carrier and you have no fear of reaching someone in your car and stealing your things).

2. Make sure the kitty has plenty of water

Move their carrier from the front of the back seat to the front of the back seat. As the hot air rises, it should be cool on the floor.

Make your stop as simple as possible. If this is a food break you are consuming, come back and check on your cat frequently (every ten minutes or so, just to be safe).

If it is below the temperature range and you cannot bring the kitty with you, take a few steps to ensure their comfort and safety when in the car:

If you have an extra set of car keys with you, drive the car and keep the heater running and lock the door behind you. You will be happier to be back in a warm car! WARNING: This can help a lot, but be aware that car engines and heater compressors can and do fail, causing winter temperatures to quickly turn into cars.

If it is not possible to drive and use the car and heater, heat the car for a few minutes before you turn it out before turning the heater on (if it is not already).
Add a nice cozy blanket or flour to your cat’s careers to scoop them up and warm them up. Pro Tip:

If it’s a lamb or blanket, you have a scent on it, the better. Your cat will love to “keep you close” when you leave.

3. Take them to a sunny spot in the car if their career is any.

Make your stop as simple as possible. If this is a food break you are consuming, come back and check on your cat frequently (every ten minutes or so, just to be safe).

4. A cat-friendly place to stay on the road

Road trips and long-distance walks with cats often require hotel steps to sleep and rest (oh and shower!). However, not all hotels or motels are pet-friendly, and even a few may have pet-friendly rooms. So, here are some tips for finding pet-friendly places when you’re on the road with Kitty.

If you know your own routes and plans, try to book early for pet-friendly accommodations before booking. This is especially important during summer travels and busy weekends.

Some big hotels and motel chains are usually very pet-friendly. See, for example, Red Roof Inns, Kimpton Hotels, La Quinta, Best Western, and more. GoPetFenderly.com has a state-by-state database to help people find pet-friendly accommodations.

Some Airbnb features are also pet-friendly, so might be helpful for the road trip with the cat!

Check if your cat is healthy enough to travel, and learn what to do if your cat gets a car. Check out the basic ideas from this Petfinder Expert Questionnaire.

Practice makes perfect

Practice driving a short distance to respond to your cat in the car.

5. Check identification

Check that your cat is reading an easily readable tag on his collar. Also, be sure to check that your cat’s microchip information is up to date. Still not microchipped your cat? Read about why microchipping is so important.

6. The plan pit is closed

Plan to stop every 2-3 hours to give your cat water and access to the breathing box.

7. Pack extra supplies

If your cat needs a special diet or medication, be sure to pack extra to avoid emergencies.

8. Confirm your hotels

Call and make sure that any hotel you live in will also allow your cat. Worried about how your cat will behave at the hotel? Watch this video to advise pets on staying in a safe hotel.

9. Prepare for stress

If your cat is easily stressed, talk to your doctor about possible medical help while your road trip with the cat.

10. Before you Start

Practice playing with your cat before he leaves. Also, give him some food and water (unless your veterinarian instructs you to do otherwise).

11. Put your cat in the carrier

Keep the cat and his / her safe in the car to avoid accidents keep Will you hate the cat carrier? At the beginning of your travel plan, try these steps to help your cat as its carrier.

12. Never put your cat in the car alone!

The cars heat up fast and within minutes your cat’s life can be in danger.

13. Consider the cat’s Healthcare

Chronic health problems and special travel considerations for cats on medications before you go for a road trip with the cat.

Before getting out on the road for a long trip or walking with a cat that has a chronic medical condition or has a long-term actions medication – such as a cat with diabetes, or a chronic kidney disease – there are a few steps you should take and be careful.

Make sure your cat has been recent (ideally tested in the last month or so) with your vet. You better know that their condition can be handled as much as possible and they are as healthy as possible before they hit the road. Your veterinarian will have recommendations to make their trip as comfortable and safe as possible.

Bring a copy of your cat’s medical records with you! These should include recent test notes, laboratory test results, and medication/supplement names and dosages.

Your veterinarian can often print these (with sufficient notice), and they may subscribe to an app or other service that enables you to always keep a copy of this national record with you on your phone. This will make you visit another veterinarian on the road if you find it too easy.

For cats with particularly known chronic health concerns, a good idea to know about a few veterinary hospitals before and after your departure know See the veterinarian location tools and links listed above to begin searching on preparing for the road trip with the cat.

If your cat is on a specially managed diet like a kidney, be sure to check with your veterinarian before hitting the road. Getting prescription diet refills is not always easy when you are away from home and your veterinarian’s office! The duration of your trip should be PLUS an extra (at least) 2 weeks.

Likewise, do not stock up on your pet’s medicines and supplements as well as any supplies you may need. This will include a delicate container for storing needles safely used by diabetic cats and for preserving blood pressure pills, overt thyroid, and any other chronic medicines. Again, during your travel time, you should take enough to allow you to have at least 2 weeks of extra time.

If your cat is diabetic and on insulin, don’t forget a cooler and ice packs to help keep it cool while in the car. You can also look at the cooler that plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter, the Coolie Mini, Wagon 14L, or Wagon 24L (which can store some of your food and drink for the road!

Depending on the type of insulin your cat is on; You may be able to get an insulin “pen” that can be more stable outside the fridge and make your cat easier to handle on the road. Talk to your vet to see if there is an insulin pen option for your cat – this is not for all cats, but if it is you, this could be a great travel (and long-term) solution for you.

Take away

When we’re in the car, we must put our cats in a carrier, which should be secured with a seatbelt. However, do not place the carrier in the driver’s seat! If your human is in an accident and the airbags are activated, we kittens may be injured or perhaps killed! As a result, the front seat is a very dangerous position for us. Instead, place the carrier in the backseat and fasten it there with a seatbelt.

Make sure your cat is comfortable in your car at all times, especially during the summer and winter. If you’re traveling away for a full day or more than a day, bring a travel kit for your cat. In case of an accident, you should have pet first aid, snacks, water, a litter scoop, pet wipes, and paper towels on hand.

Never leave your cat in the car! Even though the weather appears to be moderate outside, a closed automobile might get hot enough for her to succumb to heatstroke. You’ll also need a carrier to road trip with the cat in and out of the car if she’s in a box or kennel.