Hi... I Just joined this tribe, and am looking for a little advice for my little friends:
We are tentatively planning to move this August (of all months) - Oakland to NYC area. The people portion will be driving, but we know this wont work for the 2 kitties involved. They are pretty nervous travelers in general - the boy tends to puke, pee, poop, and then foam at the mouth when all his other reserves are exhausted- on 20 min car rides to the vet. SO we are obviously a little concerned as to how to get him and his sister across country in one piece..
Does anyone have advice on this? Are there companies that specialize in this sort of thing, any with personal references? We will probably need some sedation from the vet... right now the biggest logistical concern is transportation. Has anyone brought cats on a plane ride? (I refuse to check them, they must come in as carry on... can they really go 6 hrs without littler box breaks?) Help!
We welcome any and all feedback, we adore these guys..
Thank you in advance for your thoughts!
We are tentatively planning to move this August (of all months) - Oakland to NYC area. The people portion will be driving, but we know this wont work for the 2 kitties involved. They are pretty nervous travelers in general - the boy tends to puke, pee, poop, and then foam at the mouth when all his other reserves are exhausted- on 20 min car rides to the vet. SO we are obviously a little concerned as to how to get him and his sister across country in one piece..
Does anyone have advice on this? Are there companies that specialize in this sort of thing, any with personal references? We will probably need some sedation from the vet... right now the biggest logistical concern is transportation. Has anyone brought cats on a plane ride? (I refuse to check them, they must come in as carry on... can they really go 6 hrs without littler box breaks?) Help!
We welcome any and all feedback, we adore these guys..
Thank you in advance for your thoughts!
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Advice for Moving Cross- Country?
Thu, February 7, 2008 - 7:45 PMHi, We once drove with two young cats/old kittens from San Francisco to Minneapolis. The 1st few hours, they were really unhappy, but by the end of the 1st day, the car became their home. We had a small cat box on the floor of the back seat. We also had some dry food, and water in a high sided pot. Every few hours, we would stop, and we had the kitties in a body harness (which they alway wore) and a leash. They would explore some, but they stayed pretty close to the car. We and they, survived the trip just fine.
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Re: Advice for Moving Cross- Country?
Thu, February 7, 2008 - 7:51 PMIf you are taking them on a plane, please make sure they have had a recent check up. Most airlines require this.
I did a cross country plane trip with two cats. None of us enjoyed it, but it went fine. A friend of mine is a stewardess on United, and she has verified that cats ride in a pressurized compartment. And baggage handlers are quite gentle with them. They have to have food and water dished attached to the carrier in case of layovers.
Domina -
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Re: Advice for Moving Cross- Country?
Fri, February 8, 2008 - 1:01 AMDo they associate the car with the vet? If they haven't been out much other than the vet
it might help to take them to the car and just sit in there with toys or their favourite
food or just quietly.
Then a round the block ride. Then a bit further. Each time praising them for
being brave kitties, and with lots of fuss and a treat at the 'destination' (home)
and maybe they might break the association of the car with the stress of the vet?
Mine used to be fine in the car and would travel home with me for longer visits
to my parents...3 1/2 hours (there are advantages of living in a small country!).
I always put her within reach on the passenger seat so could stick a reassuring
finger in her carrier when needed - she would get a bit fed up usually after
about 3 hours, but seemed to be boredom rather than anything else.
If they're not already used to it, getting them to have a go with harnesses sounds
like a good idea too so they could stretch their legs like the other ones!
Good luck!
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Re: Advice for Moving Cross- Country?
Fri, February 8, 2008 - 12:56 PMOh, one thing I forgot. If you're bringing them into California, you must have up to date shots and show their vet records at the border. California is fussy about animals and plants coming into the state. I don't know about other ones, but I sure know about California.
Domina
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Re: Advice for Moving Cross- Country?
Sat, February 9, 2008 - 8:06 PMthanks for all the tips cat people! we will work on getting them motion-friendly over the next few months. i wonder about the origins of this sickness... i feel like the boy kitty is just like me, physiologically doomed to suffer motion-sickness, but easing the stress can certainly make that factor more bearable than when youre terrified. the first time we brought him home he puked in the car. i wonder about his first trips to the place we adopted him from, over 100 miles from where they found him (we got him from tony la rousas clinic, which rescues strays on death row.) omg the pathos. off to go squish him with love!
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Re: Advice for Moving Cross- Country?
Sun, February 10, 2008 - 12:20 AMSentient life is incredibly flexible, and adaptable. I was in Oregon, driving with a friend thru a particularly winding cyn. Suddenly, her 8 yr old son yelled,"STOP!" I pulled over, he opened the door, and barfed all over the scenery. A year later, going and coming in the same cyn, he was fine. Once I crossed on a ferry boat between Washington St. and British Columbia; my first big water trip. On deck I was fine, but below deck, I kept getting seasick. Fortunately, it was good weather, and a short trip. My friend, who owns a sail boat, says that everyone gets used to it. Until then, don't barf into the wind.
Give your little boy some time, and I'm sure he'll be fine. One warning, if he's loose in the car, he's going to explore. That's fine, but keep him away from the gas peddle, and brake- or OOPS! -
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Re: Advice for Moving Cross- Country?
Wed, March 19, 2008 - 5:26 AMHi I moved to Fort Laud. from Baltimore and my to babies flew. I took them to the vet and they new just what to do , all theyr shots and a mild tranqualizer for the plain, Contact the airlines and they will tell ya everything you need to know , incl. wether you can have them with you in the plain or with other large pets in the hold . Salomie and Lilboy did just fine ,thats saying alot since Salomie is affaid of her own shadow !!
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