What do I need to prepare for moving my cats long distance by car?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Hi, my family maybe moving from nevada to oregon next month with my cats by car. Is there anything i need to do or prepare and can i get advise to travel with car? My cats fully vaccinated.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on October 16th, 2017
Congratulations on your move! Many times cats do quite well in the car. Depending on how long the trip is, it may be advisable to buy a large crate to put in the backseat so they can have a small portable litter box and a bed. This will also keep them from jumping around the car, keeping them (and you) safer. If your cats have a history of car sickness or nausea, I would reach out to your veterinarian to discuss a prescription (cerenia) that may help with it. Finally, some cats have a strong aversion to the car. If your cats have a history of stress or anxiety in ththe car, you could also reach out to your veterinarian to discuss a sedative, if needed. Good luck!
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on July 29th, 2017
For that long of a ride, I would highly recommend the use of a carrier. Although free roaming may seem like it would make your kitty more comfortable, giving a cat a secure, small, and dark location is something the best thing you can do for them. It will allow it to relax more easily, which is exactly what cats want to do in unusual and out of the ordinary situations like the one it is about to experience. I would also recommend using a product like Feliway, a feline pheromone product that can be placed inside the carrier or in the car. It has a calming effect on many kitties. Lastly, there are drugs that can be used for events such as this that will calm your kitty down for a few hours if you think that might be necessary. They are generally safe and pretty effective. Hope this helps.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
What is best way to move long distance within USA with 2 cats?
I would recommend traveling with the cats in a car, each in a separate carrier for safety. If you are concerned that the trip may be stressful for them, you can talk to your veterinarian about prescribing anti-anxiety medication to help with this. You could also consider using a pheromone spray such as Feliway, along with a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure to help them relax if needed.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
I have to travel with two cats from NJ to Florida over a 3-day period. What's the best way to do this with 2 skittish scaredy cats?
Here is a great article regarding traveling with cats: https://www.petcoach.co/article/safe-summer-traveling-tips-for-cats/ You should also get the cats use to the crates so have the crates out for at least a week in advance. You may also try feeding the cats in the crate to create a positive association. If the cats become stressed out easily, you may discuss getting sedatives for them from your veterinarian. Make sure the cats are up to date on vaccines, have a record of their vaccines, you may also want a health certificate just to be safe and you may also want to microchip them (if this is not already done) just in case they escape. Please feel free to post any additional questions.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I may be moving to Alberta, where I live is 8-10 hours away, and I have a cat and 2 rabbits. My cat is aloud to wander the vehicle (we never put them in carriers unless needed) but how can I make it comfortable for them?
For that long of a ride, I would highly recommend the use of a carrier. Although free roaming may seem like it would make your kitty more comfortable, giving a cat a secure, small, and dark location is something the best thing you can do for them. It will allow it to relax more easily, which is exactly what cats want to do in unusual and out of the ordinary situations like the one it is about to experience. I would also recommend using a product like Feliway, a feline pheromone product that can be placed inside the carrier or in the car. It has a calming effect on many kitties. Lastly, there are drugs that can be used for events such as this that will calm your kitty down for a few hours if you think that might be necessary. They are generally safe and pretty effective. Hope this helps.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I'm planning a cross country move with my two rescue cats who are very anxious about change. Is there a reliable, low impact, over the counter sedative I could use on them before our 14 hour car ride? I don't want to them to necessarily sleep through
I sympathize with you. I just moved across the country with my 2 cats last year. There are a number of over the counter options, but none of them are as reliable as prescription medications. So, it really depends on how anxious your cats are as to which would be a better option for them. You could try calming treats such as Composure ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetri-science-composure-feline-bite-sized-chews ) for an herbal option. We used to recommend tranquilizers for traveling which would sedate an animal, but we now recommend milder anti-anxiety medications that do not cause excessive sedation. I used the prescription medication Gabapentin for my cats for a 3 day drive across the country, and they did great. I would recommend asking your veterinarian for their recommendation and try a few products before you actually move. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have an 18 year old cat. He has lived with us in the same house for all of that time. In a month we are moving Three hours up north . How to i help my cat adapt to the completely different lifestyle? I am deeply concerned that the big change will t
I think the hardest part of the move for your cat will probably be traveling the 3 hours to the new house. Typically I would recommend sedation for a trip like this to keep the cat calm but since your cat is of an advanced age it is probably not worth the risk. Once you get to the new house have some of you cat's familiar things around, like cat beds, blankets and of course litter boxes. Try not to wash the beds etc before you move so they still have a familiar smell. If may also be beneficial to get a pheromone diffuser like Feliway for the home. These release a scent that can be calming for cats. There is also a pheromone spray you can get to use in the car to help keep her calm as well. You may want to also consider having your cat checked by your vet befor taking a trip just to make sure there are no underlying problems going on. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Boop by Petco. Best of luck with your move!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I need advice on how to move my 13 y/o cat to my new home. I live about an hour and a half away from where he is staying now, with my mom. I cannot trust her to take care of him, as the last time I visited his coat had become matted and he had lost 3
You may be surprised at how well he will take the move. If he becomes car sick, you may want to discuss anti-nausea medications with your vet that will ease this stress. Supplements like Zylkene or Comfort Zone Feliway Diffuser Kit for Cat Calming can be used during travel and when he gets to his new house to help with the transition. I would recommend keeping his food, litter, and litterbox the same. Give him plenty of attention. If he has any specific behavioral concerns once you move, post a new question and we would be happy to help again!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, I'm planned to adopt a kitten I'm a few days but in a few weeks I'm booked to a 6hr family road trip in the summer. How would I go about in taking care a kitten during this road trip? This will be my first time having a pet kitten.
Great question! I would take your kitten out for car rides in a carrier before the big trip to see how they handle car rides. Some kittens will ride quietly, while others will get car sick or stressed out. If your kitten gets stressed out or car sick, then I would take her into the vet to discuss medications to give her to help the ride less stressful. She should be in a carrier that is large enough for her to turn around and lie down. You can bring along some food and water for her to have, and have a litter box in the car that she can use during breaks on the trip. When you take a break, you can let her out of the carrier in the car, but I would not let her out of the carrier outside the car. She may get freaked out and run away. I would also make her carrier comfortable with blankets and toys.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat hates cars, but we're moving and he needs to be in the car for 4 hours. He has chronic URIs that are trigged by stress, and this will be stressful. How can we help keep him calm and minimize the chance that he gets sick?
Cars are quite stressful for many cats, so Dash isn't alone in this issue! However, as you mentioned, stress can definitely lead to shedding of viruses that trigger URIs. Calming pheromones, like Feliway, can be helpful when sprayed or wiped in carriers. Since Dash's stress-related situation sounds more severe, I also recommend asking your veterinarian about prescribing some medication (such as trazodone and gabapentin) for this trip. Doses can vary a bit with individual cats, so it's always important to conduct a trial run ahead of time to see if the dose seems sufficient. If the first dose doesn't alleviate enough stress, your vet may need to increase it a bit for your longer drive. Best of luck with your move!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
Hi! I have a 4 year old cat and I was thinking about bringing him to college with me next fall. My school is a 6 hour drive away from home and I was wondering what the best way to transport him would be. He hates the car so I thought of giving him so
I would recommend that you schedule an appointment to with your vet to discuss prescription anti-anxiety and anti-nausea medications that can help with stress of traveling for North. 6 hours isn't that long, but it can feel like an eternity if you have motion sickness or intense fear. I usually prescribe enough for a trial run to make sure there are not any odd side effects before the day of travel.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
We’re moving shortly and I’m worried that our cat will get stressed. Any suggestions?
Moving can be a stressful time for both cats and people. Some cats begin to experience stress when the first box is packed. Try to keep this time as normal as possible for your cat by continuing a normal daily routine and avoid packing your cat’s bed, cat tree, and toys until the last minute. Calming pheromone products, such as the Comfort Zone® Calming Diffuser or Comfort Zone® Spray and Scratch Control Spray, may minimize some of this stress. When moving day arrives, be sure that your cat is safely secured in a cat carrier before the door opens and boxes start leaving. We recommend plugging in the Comfort Zone® Calming Diffuser into your old home during packing, as well as in your new home during unpacking and the settling period. If possible, try to move your cat as early in the day as possible and confine them to a bathroom in your new home with their normal bed, litter box, bowls, and toys. This will keep your cat from escaping during the move and may pose less stress if they see
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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