The cat hates car rides would definitely fall into the stressful category. It can also be very stressful for cat parents to watch their cat suffer from anxiety in the car. Not good for anyone.
You’re not alone, and yet many people take their cats on long car trips. There must be a solution. Not all cats hate car rides.
Why Do Cats Hate Car Rides?
If your cat hates car rides and the cat’s only car journey is to visit the vet, the cat will quite likely be anxious. He has to cope with the car ride and visiting the vet.
Cats become anxious easily and any change in routine or an unfamiliar situation can unsettle a cat, even a cat who normally is quite placid.
It is also possible that the cat doesn’t like the noise of being inside the car, and for some cats, it may also be the movement.
Some cats can suffer from motion sickness. Observe your cat to see if he displays any of the indicators, which are further explained in the article from VCA.
excessive vocalization (loud meowing or howling), pacing and restlessness, excessive licking of lips, excessive drooling, lethargy or inactivity, vomiting, diarrhoea
VCA
How To Help Your Cat Get Used To Car Rides
What can we do to help the cat get used to car rides?
Let’s make any journey in the car with the cat as stress-free as possible. It might even become enjoyable.
My cat hates car rides may soon become, drum roll – my cat loves car rides.
Some or all of the following points may apply to your situation.
Emotional Issues – Is That You Or The Cat?
Cats can become anxious in seconds and it can take a long, long time to calm them again, so a calm demeanour is essential.
Thinking along the lines of “the poor cat” is not helpful. We can almost reinforce the idea of “my cat hates car rides” without actually meaning to do that. Use a soft, calm voice when talking to the cat.
Some people prefer to go to a veterinary clinic that only treats cats. There is one near us called “The Cat Hospital.” You may be surprised to find a cat clinic near you.
Is The Cat Carrier Up To The Job?
- Ensure the carrier is sturdy, stable, and easy to carry.
- Is your carrier old and heavy or it’s become hard to open the latches. Get a new carrier. It will be well worth it. The door should be easy to open and won’t give the cat a fright when opening and closing.
- A front opening plus a top opening is preferable.
- A removable top is ideal because the top can be removed while at the vet. the cat can stay in the lower half while the vet begins the examination. This is particularly helpful for sick cats, or elderly cats or cats that are fearful.
- Make sure that you’re familiar with the way the carrier is put together so that you are not struggling on the day with unfamiliar latches.
- Some cats prefer to be covered with a blanket while others prefer to see out.
- A standard sized carrier will be appropriate for most cats. You should be able to carry the carrier easily with the cat inside without it being too cumbersome.
- Consider a larger carrier if your cat is a large cat breed.
Encouraging The Cat Into The Cat Carrier
This is a step-by-step process. Start off with number 1 and keep on going until the cat is okay with the carrier. Don’t rush the process.
- Leave the carrier with the door open for the cat to explore on his own, just as he might explore a cardboard box. Place a blanket or towel or something similar that is familiar to the cat inside the carrier.
- Make sure that the carrier is in a safe location out of the way of traffic and young children.
- If possible the carrier should be in a quiet place where the cat feels safe and secure. Put the carrier in a warm place as cats gravitate to warm places.
- The carrier needs to be stable, any unexpected movement may scare the cat. Have a look around your home and find a good location.
- Leave the door open to tempt the cat inside. Leave the top off completely.
- Place treats or cat grass inside the carrier. When the cat first enters the carrier immediately offer another treat. You can even offer some meals inside the carrier.
- Use a feather toy to entice the cat into the carrier. Let the cat catch its prey every so often.
- Once the cat has some familiarity with the carrier, the door can be closed and the carrier covered with a blanket.
- Cats like this security and it may calm an anxious cat to have the carrier covered with a blanket.
- It may take several weeks of training for your cat to feel safe and secure with entering and exiting the carrier.
Now It Is Time To Get Used To Being In The Car
Let us assume that the cat is now used to being in the carrier with the door closed and a blanket or towel over the top.
Take the carrier to the car and secure it with a seatbelt.
Close the door. Leave the cat in the car for one or two minutes, and then remove the carrier and go back inside.
Increase the time the cat is left in the car. Eventually, go for a short ride.
Use a pheromone if you think it is needed.
Note: Check that the handle of the cat carrier is in good condition and not cracked. Don’t necessarily rely on the handle to pick up the carrier. A safer way may be to carry the box from underneath. The handles have been known to break, and if this happens, it will certainly cause distress for everyone.
Cats actually do like a secure, closed container. We know what they are like with boxes, so being in the cat carrier is not going to feel cramped for them.
From an early age, take your cat in the car, properly secured in a carrier so that the cat becomes used to the sensation of car travel. It will then be associated with a normal thing to do and not necessarily just when a trip to the vet is needed.
No Carrier? How About This One?
The Petco Cardboard Cat Carrier is a ventilated and economical way to bring your kitty to vet visits and more. This convenient cardboard box cat carrier is easy to assemble and disassemble and has a comfortable built-in handle.
For all sorts of reasons, we may need a temporary cat carrier, and this is a good solution. To make the handle last longer, try wrapping it with duct tape for extra strength.
As explained, use a pet blanket or towel folded inside the carrier and have some kitty treats at hand to persuade kitty to enter the box.
Synthetic Pheromone
A synthetic pheromone can be used to calm the cat. It is used when a cat is stressed, fearful, or generally anxious.
It is used to spray onto surfaces, e.g. bedding, to relieve symptoms of stress and send calming messages.
Some veterinarians use this in the clinic to coax an anxious cat back into the cat carrier. Spray inside the carrier and specifically onto the folded towel or blanket 15 to 30 minutes before using the carrier for travel. Feliway is a synthetic product that mimics natural pheromones.
Choose The Best Kind Of Carrier For The Car
Both hard-sided and soft-sided carriers can be used with seatbelts. The main difference between the two is the rigid construction as opposed to the soft construction. Rigid offers more protection from unseen circumstances such as heavy objects or being squeezed into a space that is too small.
Some cats do not like the instability of being carried in a soft-sided carrier, particularly if they shift their weight. In this case, a rigid floor structure like that found in a hard-sided carrier would be preferable.
Emergency Trip In The Car For a Scared Cat
A situation may arise where you have to take the cat to the vet but you have never used the carrier and the cat does not want to get into the carrier.
OK! Get a bath towel. This will avoid the situation where you are likely to get scratched by the cat.
From behind the cat, use the towel to totally cover the cat. In one fluid motion, scoop up the cat with your hands under the shoulders and your arms extended firmly along the body of the cat. The towel will naturally fold underneath and the cat will be enveloped. Immediately place the cat and the towel into the carrier.
Before you start this procedure, ensure that the carrier is placed with the door open or the roof off, so that it is one quick movement. Any delays and the cat will in all likelihood escape, possibly disappearing and out of reach.
This video shows the technique perfectly. It is all about the timing with no hesitation.
Many people have to take their cats across the country or elect to go on road trips with their cats, so there is a way to make it okay.
I love this story about this guy and his trip around Australia with his cat. It shows that cats can travel, whether that is a short journey or a long one.
I know, two videos, but all together they are just over 3 minutes and both are well worth watching.
It does take time for the cat to adjust, and although the instructions and tips for success may seem lengthy, they are not really when tackled bit by bit. Give it time to work. Let us know our progress.
