Tips on moving with cats? introducing them?

[Kristin]

We live in Southern California, and we are moving to Salt Lake City, Utah. We estimate about a 15 or so hour drive. We have 2 cats, one is from his home, one that is from mine. They have never met, and neither has traveled farther than to the vet and back. I asked the vet for medication, and he gave us some light sedatives to help them with their anxiety.

Has anyone ever travelled by car, for that long, with cats? Any tips on moving? And introducing them when we get there? Thank you!

 

[Ashley Mccutchen]

i never had cats in a car that long but just bring a pillow or blank for it to sleep on. make sure you make it feel comfortable and pet it in the car so it stays calm. when you get there try and let it understand its surroundings for a while. i have 2 cats, when i moved they really just needed space to be able to get used to place, let them wander around and try not to do anything to spook them. after a week, they should be more comfortable. keep toys, food, water, and kitty liter in open plain sight so they know where it is and it's easy for them to get to it. good luck

 

[Ambistoma]

Get some bedding used by each cat, and leave it in the house of the other cat. That way, they'll at least know the smell of each other, so meeting won't be a complete shock.

 

[~? Meow ?~]

Since I run a state-licensed cat rescue, I often take part in transporting kitties from vet appointments, other facilities, and have even travel out of state with a rescue kitty. Out of everything I have tried, I am listing the things that have helped the most, and hope that they work well for you too.

1.) Get a kennel, like a kennel for small dogs. I use this to transport our kitties in because it has more room in it than a standard cat carrier. Plus, if the car ride is a long one, your kitties will want to stand, move, and stretch, all of which they can do in a small-dog kennel. A kennel is also easier to buckle into place than a typical cat carrier.

2.)Place a small litter pan in the back of the kennel. This is another good thing about a kennel; it has room for the kitty AND their litter box, unlike a typical cat carrier.

3.) Do not let your kitty have access to food in the kennel, as kitties often become car sick and can vomit it all back up. Instead, when you take a break from driving, offer a small bite or treat while resting. Water is okay to have in the kennel, and they actually make bowls that attach to the inside of the kennel nicely (Walmart has these).

4.) Get a kennel cover. These are made to fit perfectly over the kennel, making your kitty feel more secure. If your kitty can see outside (like in a cat carrier), they get nervous, meow loudly, can become sick, and vomit/bathroom on themselves. Cats naturally like to hide in dark places, so a kennel cover makes it easy. Plus, you can always zip open the front part of the cover to check on your kitty at any time, and your kitty will be able to breathe just fine with the cover on.

5.) Put a blanket, pillow, or toy in the kennel that your kitty is familiar with. The smell of something familiar will also help calm them down.

6.) It is best to introduce your kitty to a home after all the old furniture, etc, has been moved into place. This way, the kitty recognizes all the same smells, which help comfort him. If this isn't the case, then that's okay too. Try and show him/her where the litter box and food/water is first, and show them again 2-3 more times that day so they get used to the new location of their stuff.

Good luck with the move and with your kitties!