Traveling with Your Cat: A Complete Guide

Traveling in a car or on an airplane can be frightening for cats. Most cats are strongly attached to their home territory, and a trip means unfamiliar sounds, smells, motion, and confinement all at once. With the right preparation, you can greatly reduce your cat's stress and make the journey safer and more comfortable for both of you.

Before You Travel

Train Your Cat to Love the Carrier

The single most useful thing you can do is make the carrier a familiar, comfortable place long before the trip:

  • Leave the carrier out in your home all the time, with the door open and a soft blanket inside.
  • Toss treats or catnip into it, and feed meals near it and then inside it.
  • Once your cat walks in willingly, close the door for a few seconds, then gradually longer.
  • Practice lifting the carrier and taking short trips around the house, and then to the car.

A carrier with a top opening and a removable top half makes it easier to get a cat in and out calmly. Spraying the carrier with a synthetic feline pheromone about 15 minutes before use may help some cats relax.

Plan Ahead

  • Talk to your veterinarian. Schedule a checkup before a long trip. Your veterinarian may recommend anti-anxiety or anti-nausea medication for cats who find travel stressful. Try any medication at home before the trip so you know how your cat responds.
  • Gather documents. Bring vaccination records, including proof of rabies vaccination. Many airlines and destinations require a health certificate issued by a veterinarian within a set number of days before travel, and international travel can require months of preparation. Check the requirements for your airline and destination early.
  • Update identification. Make sure your cat is microchipped and that the registration has your current phone number. Have your cat wear a breakaway collar with an ID tag, and add a temporary tag with your travel contact details.
  • Pack a travel kit. Bring your cat's usual food, water and bowls, a portable litter box and litter, any medications, grooming supplies, a favorite blanket or toy, puppy pads or paper towels for accidents, and a recent photo of your cat in case they get lost.

Traveling by Car

  • Start small. Take short practice drives, ending at home with a treat, to help your cat get used to the motion and sounds of the car.
  • Always use a carrier. A loose cat can distract the driver, get under the pedals, or escape when a door opens. The carrier should be well ventilated and large enough for your cat to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably.
  • Secure the carrier. Place it on the floor behind the front passenger seat, or secure it on the back seat with a seatbelt, so it cannot slide or tip. Never put a cat in the front seat, where an airbag can cause serious injury.
  • Reduce motion sickness. Avoid feeding a large meal right before the trip. Your veterinarian can advise how long to withhold food and whether anti-nausea medication is appropriate. Always keep water available on long journeys.
  • Keep it calm. Covering part of the carrier with a light cloth reduces visual stimulation. Play quiet music, keep the temperature comfortable, and avoid sudden stops.
  • Make regular stops on long trips. Offer water, and give your cat a chance to use a litter box inside the closed car, never outside.
  • Never leave your cat alone in a vehicle. Temperatures inside a parked car can become dangerous within minutes, even on a mild day.

Traveling by Plane

  • Check with the airline in advance. Airlines have specific rules for pets, including carrier size, health certificate requirements, fees, and limits on how many pets can fly in each cabin. Book your cat's spot when you book your ticket.
  • Keep your cat in the cabin if you can. Cats traveling in the cabin, in a carrier under the seat in front of you, are generally safer and less stressed than cats traveling as cargo.
  • Choose the right carrier. A well-ventilated, soft-sided carrier that meets the airline's under-seat size rules works best for in-cabin travel.
  • Prepare for security screening. At airport security in the United States, you will usually need to take your cat out of the carrier and carry them through the metal detector while the carrier is X-rayed. Put a snug harness and leash on your cat before you arrive, and ask for a private screening room if you are worried your cat might bolt.
  • Arrive early to allow extra time for check-in and security.
  • Comfort your cat during the flight. A familiar blanket or toy inside the carrier helps, and keeping the carrier partly covered can help your cat feel more secure.
  • Avoid sedation unless your veterinarian recommends it. Sedatives can affect a cat's breathing, balance, and ability to regulate body temperature at altitude, so they are generally not advised for air travel. Anti-anxiety medication prescribed and tested in advance is a different matter, so discuss the options with your veterinarian.

Staying Somewhere New

  • Choose pet-friendly accommodation, and check the room for escape routes and hiding spots that are hard to reach, such as holes under beds or behind appliances.
  • Set up a small "base camp" in a bathroom or quiet corner with the litter box, food, water, bedding, and the open carrier.
  • Keep your cat in the carrier or a closed room whenever doors are opened, and hang a "do not disturb" sign so housekeeping does not let your cat out by accident.
  • After arriving, allow your cat time to settle before exploring, offering food, water, and a litter box as soon as possible.

General Tips

  • Stay calm and speak softly. Cats pick up on our stress.
  • Watch for signs of distress, such as heavy panting, open-mouth breathing, excessive vocalizing, drooling, or frantic scratching at the carrier. Panting in a cat is not normal, so stop in a cool, quiet place and contact a veterinarian if it does not settle quickly.
  • Prepare for emergencies by carrying a basic first aid kit and knowing the location of veterinary clinics along your route and at your destination.
  • When you get home, give your cat time to readjust. If you have other cats, reintroduce the traveler gradually, because the unfamiliar smells of the trip can cause friction.

When to Call Your Veterinarian

Talk to your veterinarian before any long trip, especially if your cat has a medical condition, is elderly, or has become very distressed during past travel. Contact a veterinarian promptly during or after travel if your cat pants or breathes with an open mouth, vomits repeatedly, stops eating for more than a day, or seems weak or unwell. With good planning and some patience, traveling with your cat can be a safe and even rewarding experience.