Vacation season will be here before you know it, and the question of traveling with your cat will become very real. If you have a choice, it’s usually better to leave your cat at home with a trusted sitter. Unlike dogs, most cats don’t enjoy trips and travel. If you do have to take your cat with you, do everything you can to make the journey safe and comfortable. Of course, some cats happily tag along on adventures far from home, but they’re the exception rather than the rule.
Before Any Trip
- Get your cat used to its carrier weeks in advance. Leave it out at home with the door open, a soft blanket and treats inside, so your cat sees it as a cozy den rather than a sign of doom.
- Make sure your cat is microchipped and the details are up to date, and consider a breakaway collar with an ID tag that includes your phone number.
- Visit your vet to make sure your cat is healthy enough to travel and its vaccinations are up to date, and to get any travel documents you need. Read more: cat health records and pet travel documents.
- Pack a travel kit: food, water and a bowl, a portable litter box or disposable trays and litter, puppy pads or spare blankets, paper towels and cleaning wipes, any medication, your cat’s vet records and a recent photo of your cat in case it gets lost.
- Ask your vet about motion sickness or anxiety. If your cat gets carsick or very anxious, your vet may prescribe medication. Never give your cat medication meant for people. Read more: safe calming options for cats.
Traveling with a Cat by Car
First and foremost: never let your cat roam free in the car. It’s very dangerous. A loose cat can distract the driver, get under the pedals, be injured if you brake suddenly or escape through an open door or window when you stop. Always put your cat in a secure carrier.
How to Choose a Cat Carrier
There’s a wide range of carriers available today, in different sizes and materials. Choose a sturdy, well-ventilated carrier that’s easy to clean. Hard-sided plastic carriers with a door at the front and an opening at the top are easiest to use, because you can lift your cat in and out gently, and the top can often be removed at the vet. Soft-sided carriers are lighter and popular for air travel. Avoid flimsy carriers, and don’t use cardboard boxes for anything but very short trips: they can get soggy and cats can escape from them.
Think about the weather too. In hot weather, the carrier should have plenty of ventilation to prevent overheating and heatstroke. In cold weather, line it with a warm blanket and protect it from drafts, while making sure your cat still has plenty of air.
The carrier should be big enough for your cat to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably, but not much bigger. You might think more space means more comfort, but that’s not the case: in unfamiliar surroundings, cats feel safer in a snug space, and in a large carrier, they get thrown around when the car brakes or turns.
You may be offered a very large carrier so you can fit a litter box inside. But most cats won’t use a litter box while traveling, because they’re stressed. For long trips, line the carrier with absorbent puppy pads under a soft blanket that smells familiar. If your cat has an accident, you can easily replace them. On very long drives, you can offer your cat a litter box during stops, inside the closed car.
Place the carrier where it can’t fall or tip over, for example on the back seat secured with a seat belt, or on the floor behind the front seat. Never put it in the trunk (boot), and don’t bury it under luggage: your cat needs plenty of air.
Be prepared for your cat to meow loudly and for a long time. Don’t scold it. Talk to it calmly and softly, but don’t give in and let it out of the carrier. Covering part of the carrier with a light blanket can help your cat feel more secure. A pheromone spray on the blanket 15 minutes before the trip can also help. Often, cats settle down after a while and may even fall asleep.
Check on your cat regularly, especially in warm weather. Don’t underestimate how quickly a car heats up: a cat’s fur is like a fur coat, and heatstroke can develop very quickly and is very dangerous.
Never leave your cat alone in a parked car, not even for a few minutes and not even with the windows open or in the shade. On a warm day, the temperature inside a car can become deadly within minutes. When you stop, take your cat with you in its carrier, or make sure someone stays in the car with the air conditioning running.
Traveling with a Cat by Train
Traveling by train with a cat, surrounded by crowds and without the option to stop when you like, is usually harder than going by car. You’ll need a secure carrier that keeps your cat safe and as comfortable as possible.
- In the UK, most train operators allow passengers to bring cats in an enclosed carrier free of charge (usually up to two pets per passenger), as long as they don’t take up a seat or cause a nuisance. Eurostar doesn’t accept pets, except assistance dogs.
- In the US, Amtrak allows small cats and dogs in carriers on many routes for trips of up to seven hours, for a fee and with advance booking. There are weight limits for the pet and carrier together, and a limited number of pets per train, so book early.
Bring plenty of puppy pads or soft, clean blankets, so you can easily replace the bedding in the carrier if needed. It’s best if they carry a familiar smell. As in the car, keep the carrier in a safe place, protected from overheating and drafts, such as at your feet. Don’t open the carrier or take your cat out: talk to it calmly and soothingly instead. Keep your cat’s vaccination records with you.
Traveling with a Cat by Plane
Flying requires the most preparation and costs the most. First, find out the airline’s pet policy and fees, and book your cat’s place well in advance, since airlines limit the number of pets per flight.
- In the cabin. Many US airlines allow a cat to travel in the cabin in a soft-sided carrier that fits under the seat in front of you, for a fee. The size and weight limits vary by airline. This is by far the best option for your cat.
- In the hold (cargo). If your cat can’t travel in the cabin, it may have to travel in the cargo hold. This is more stressful and carries more risk, especially in very hot or cold weather. Some airlines don’t accept pets in the hold at all, or only at certain times of year, and some don’t accept flat-faced breeds such as Persians, which are at higher risk of breathing problems.
- Flying to or from the UK. Most airlines don’t allow pets in the cabin on flights into the UK. Cats entering Great Britain by air must usually travel as cargo via an approved route, so check the rules carefully and consider using a specialist pet transport company.
Documents. For domestic flights in the US, airlines may require a health certificate issued by your vet within a certain number of days before the flight (often 10 days). For international travel, your cat will need an official health certificate and must meet the destination country’s requirements, which may include a microchip, rabies vaccination, blood tests and parasite treatments. Some countries require months of preparation. Check the requirements with the airline and the official government websites (USDA APHIS Pet Travel in the US, gov.uk in the UK) as early as possible.
Vets and airlines generally advise against sedating cats for flights. Sedatives can affect breathing, blood pressure and balance at altitude. If your cat is very anxious, talk to your vet well in advance about safe options.
General Tips
- Feed your cat a small meal 3 to 4 hours before you leave rather than right before the trip, to reduce the risk of nausea and vomiting. Don’t withhold water, and offer water during long journeys.
- Don’t give your cat sedatives or calming products without your vet’s advice. They can make things worse and slow your cat’s adjustment to its new surroundings.
- Sort out the necessary veterinary documents well in advance.
- Never open the carrier in an unsecured area, such as an airport or train station, and make sure the carrier is securely closed.
- When you arrive, set up a quiet room for your cat with its litter box, food, water, bed and familiar items, and let it settle in before exploring the rest of the place.
Remember that cats are homebodies at heart, so travel with them only when you really need to. And if a trip can’t be avoided, have a safe journey!
