Transporting your cat by car requires taking many precautions because your cat loves car journeys and you will have to implement several things to make the trip go well for him.
In this article, I explain everything you can do to ensure that your cat travels there as peacefully as possible.
Transporting your cat by car: Getting it used to it step by step
The first thing is to get used to it, the younger your cat will be used to it, the better it will be, some cats are even totally cantankerous when they travel by car because they have been used to it from an early age.
Here are the different things to put in place to gradually accustom him, whether he is young or not, these tips will allow you to prepare him to be in the car
Getting used to the car
Associate the car with a reward is the first thing, you can take him in the car with you, stationary and play with him in it to get him used to it. He will associate the car with something positive, which is great, and you can even give him a treat on the way out to create a positive association with the car.
Put it where it will be during the journey so that the environment in which it will be when you drive will already be perfectly known to it.
Go slowly
Go gradually so that your cat can get used to it step by step without shocking it. Start with a very slow 5-minute ride, like in a parking lot or on a quiet ride.
You can then lengthen the duration and drive at normal pace to get him used to this stress-free road trip. The younger he is, the shorter the learning curve for your feline.
Avoid roads with curves at the beginning and also roads that take you too high due to the difference in air pressure which can harm your cat and make him car sick.
Properly equip the car
Make sure that the car is sufficiently equipped, so that he is in total safety and that he can travel without danger. For example, put the belt around his cage and make sure that the car is sufficiently equipped to make his journey as simple as possible for him and not to neglect his safety.
Choosing the right cage
The cage must be large enough for him to move around in and stand up in, because otherwise he will feel very bad in it and will experience the trip very, very badly. A cat must have enough space to move a minimum.
If your cat is of an agitated nature, get a hard cage, so that he can’t move it around and possibly fall.
On the contrary, a cage with a soft support is much better for calm cats, much less stressful for them and which limits the feeling of being confined.
The cage must always let the outside be seen, because if the cat does not see where he is and his environment, his stress will be at its maximum because he will consider himself in high danger.
Give her comforting things
To ensure the calmest journey possible for your cat, equip your car well by making sure that it has everything it needs, such as toys or its cushion for example. The idea is that in addition to ensuring comfort, it feels at home when you drive.
Take anti-stress products
To act directly on stress, you can give him anti-stress such as soothing pheromones or Bach flowers that will act on his mood and relax him immediately. Anti-stress products are highly recommended if you have to take your cat on a long trip and he has never taken the car.
During the trip
Now that you’ve got everything ready, it’s time for the ride. By adhering to the following principles, I assure you that your cat will be much calmer than expected if you implement them.
Give him attention
If possible, and you are not driving, you can reassure him by speaking softly to him during transport, he will feel more reassured by your presence and your attention. But only do this if it doesn’t interfere with driving and you’re not behind the wheel yourself.
Manage what he perceives
The more a cat is aware of its surroundings, the less stressed it will be, so make sure it can see the outside, see you, and see its close surroundings, don’t have it travel in the trunk or in a cage which leaves nothing to be seen.
Put on soothing music
Cats have very developed hearing and perceive things that escape us, that’s why when they suddenly get up we find it strange, we haven’t noticed what is happening to them. perceive.
When I say soothing music it’s actually classical music, because other music will be much less effective in calming your cat.
Manage driving well
The slower you ride the better your cat will feel, if you rush over a speed bump he will meow during the ride and be anxious the whole ride. So be careful not to roll too much glass in the bends, for example, so that he is not afraid.
Maintain a healthy environment
Cigarette smoke, insufficient ventilation or even the smell of artificial fir trees in the car will not be appreciated by your cat who will then seek to flee its cage. The healthier the air, the more he will appreciate it. In summer, opening the window can even help him feel the nature he loves.
Transporting your cat by car: The final word
Transporting your cat in the car without it fussing isn’t as difficult as you might think, but you will need to put some habits in place to make sure everything goes well for it. And the younger he is, the easier his adaptation will be.