It's Sunday night and that means time for
another post by me, Murphy! Hey ya'll! Summer is here! Congratulations
to all of you graduates! Life just keeps moving on!Today, we are going to talk about traveling with your cats. Many more people travel with their dogs than their cats, but sometimes, the kitty gets to go on holiday, as well! So here are a few tips to make your travels more relaxing for everyone.
As when traveling with dogs, be sure your cats are up to date on their vaccines and flea prevention. Some states do have issues with heartworms- and heartworms aren't just in dogs anymore! Ask the Doc what you can do to prevent your kitty from getting this preventable disease.
If you are going to travel with your cat, the Doc recommends that you get your cat used to wearing a well-fitted harness before you leave. When in the car, your cat should be in a carrier or at least in a harness and secured in the back seat. Some cats will not settle while on a leash in a car. Those cats should be in a carrier. Loose animals have the potential to fall/jump out windows or even get on the floor in front of the person driving and cause an accident.
When traveling, don't put a litterbox into the carrier while the car is moving. It tends to spill and leave your kitty standing or lying in a messy kennel until you get a chance to clean up the mess. A covered litterbox let's your kitty have a little privacy, while you cover the opening with a piece of cardboard to keep him from escaping when you aren't paying attention. Once the kitty is done, back into the carrier and you can empty the litterbox. Having a bottle of Febreeze or some other air freshener that is not too strong will make the car more tolerable after a litterbox trip.
Even if at a hotel, the Doc doesn't recommend leaving your cat roaming the room for long periods. Being out of the carrier is fine as long as the kitty is being watched. It's too easy to forget about the cat when opening your hotel door!. The harness and leash are very nice for this. Your cat can walk around and stretch it's legs. Having your own blanket or towel to cover any bed he lays on is a good idea - especially if the next hotel guests are allergic to cats!
Just like with the dogs, be sure to take extra food and any medications for your cats. A little preparation makes traveling with pets a much more pleasant and relaxing experience! If you have any other questions about traveling with your pets, give our office a call!
It's summer time, so get out there and play!