SunnyDeeRV
Las Vegas
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Does anyone here own a cat ? My kitty hates driving in the car . What types of things do you do to calm the kitty down ?
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FXSTOHIO
Ohio
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Joined: 01/27/2009
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We have two cats that hate being in a carrier in the car or truck, what we did was buy harness and leashes for them and let them ride in the back seat of the truck after a couple of hours they settle down and go to sleep and ride like that. We tried all the over the counter drugs and sprays and they were useless, they seem to adjust on their own better than anything. The harness and leashes are to keep them in the truck and under control when one of us has to open a door and get out, the other hold the leashes.
2008 Pilgrim Lite 21LRB
2004 Chevy Silverado Extended Cab 4x4 5.3 Tow Pkg 3.73
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hawkhill
Florida
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Getting them used to the carrier at home for short periods with their favorite blanket, toys, catnip etc helps. It is good to have something in the carrier that has their scent. Feliway has good reviews as a pheromone that helps calm cats. Once they relax in the carrier try to take them for a few shorter drives. It is helpful to cover the carrier with a blanket if they are criers. When they cry, do not pay attention to them, but ignore them. We have gotten about 5 or 6 kitties used to traveling this way.
2005 F350 PSD DRW SuperCab Lariat "The Beast"
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GTN_and_Catz
Houston
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For over 50 years I've been subjected to various felines in various stages of distress at being forced to endure the indignities of vehicular travel. Something majical happens when little kitty gets in a car/truck/motor home. Their lung capacity quadruples, they no longer need sleep and (I swear) their heads spin around on their shoulders at 7,200 RPM! 
We've tried everything from tranquilizers to spacious carriers to closing off the rear seat with hardware cloth and giving them the entire back to get comfortable.
They just stayed mad!
My theory is that they don't like the motion - not so much the motion of the vehicle - but the scenery passing them by when they look out the window. We just took our first road trip with our three cats in our new (to us) motor home and it was a major success. Of course it took a while for them to go through it and sniff everything twice but each of them found a little corner to get comfortable and off we went. There were a few, mandatory, loud complaints but they subsided rapidly. Later, when they started moving around and looking out the front window, it was actually a pleasant experience. Can't say they were super happy about the trip but they certainly didn't mind it. Once the newness of the MH wears off, I don't think there will be any issues.
So, I guess that's the key. Make them comfortable, give them a place to feel secure and let them settle in. The screaming will drive you crazy but don't drug them. All it does is knock their legs out from underneath them and they lay in one spot ... and SCREAM!
After a while, the sound of your own sobbing will drown them out.
Gene
2003 36' Rexhall RexAir
2009 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
Blue Ox Aventa II
2 Ragdolls
1 Tabby
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popeyeluvsoliveoyl
Providence, KY
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Like everyone else said, have their favorite blanket, toy, etc. in the car. Also take a small litter box with their normal litter and put it in the floorboard of the back seat. Also take some treats, food, and water.
We take ours with us (along with a 1 yr old Lab), and she cries for a little bit but then calms down and is just fine. She will curl up on the DW lap and sleep, or watch stuff go by. We have never used drugs for riding with her.
Gene and April Cole
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bamcote
KsMeMoTn
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When we pulled a TT, the cats were in a carrier in the back seat of the truck-crying for hours on end. With the motor home, we first tried them in a small dog crate-again the crying. Now we just close them in the bedroom with the curtains down and they settle down on the bed. A friend suggested to just let them situate themselves in the vehicle and it is less traumatic for them-just use caution when moving the slides or opening car or truck doors.
DH, DW, 3 chats-Butt, Mocha and Molly, where's the
weight police on these cats?
Mina the rescue mutt
2008 Fleetwood Bounder 36Z
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lckcmk
Arizona
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We started Scratch traveling in a carrier and he hated it. We finally hit upon the idea of a metal rabbit cage--it's about 2'x3' and about 2' high. Found it at Walmart, but I don't know why a farm supply place or pet supply place wouldn't have one. We kept the back seat of the pickup folded down and DH put a storage tub under it so he was high enough to see out. He traveled this way for several years. Now that we have the MH he pretty much travels where he wants. We do block off the slides when they're in....would hate for him to be down there and us not know it.
2005 Intruder
2009 Chevy Colorado
Scratch the cat(well, someone has to hold the couch down)
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Executive
Northern California
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SunnyDeeRV wrote:Does anyone here own a cat ? My kitty hates driving in the car . What types of things do you do to calm the kitty down ?
I never let mine drive the car... ..mine likes to ride in the carrier whenever traveling. I think she feels safer....Dennis
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Opie431
Bellevue, MI
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Joined: 06/19/2004
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What about asking you vet for tranquilizers?
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DrTanTodd
Sioux Falls, SD
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As stated give them plenty of things in their carriers while going down the road. Ours will calm down after a few miles. Cats should be left in the carriers incase you have an accident they are not protected as well if left to free roam.
* This post was
edited 08/07/09 10:04am by DrTanTodd *
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Todd and Dawn with Oliver and Maddy the Cats
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