Cat Travel Tips - How to Make Traveling With Your Pet Safe and Enjoyable

Some animals love to ride in the car; others leave the house only when they have to (usually to visit the vet for their annual shots). Regardless if you are going on holiday vacation, relocating across the nation or just taking your cat to the vet, most likely you'll need to take a trip with your pet at some point. Here are some tips to make traveling with your pet fun and easy:

Make sure your pet is in good health before traveling. If you have a cat who is older, ill or pregnant, it may not always be safe for them to travel. If uncertain, take your pet to the veterinarian for a checkup prior to departing on your trip. You should also make sure your pet is current on all of her vaccinations, including rabies shots. Along with your typical cat travel items (food, water, bed, cat carrier, etc.) you may need to provide documents showing your pet is up to date on her vaccinations (if traveling by air). If your pet isn't used to traveling, consider taking her on short trips prior to going on a long trip.

Having proper id tags on your family pet is important when traveling. Pets could get separated from their owners when traveling by air, thus it is critical to have current tags on your cat or perhaps a microchip to ensure that your cat can be identified and returned to you should you be separated. Microchip procedures are safe, quick and becoming more popular as cat hospitals, animal shelters and kennels are utilizing scanning equipment to read microchips and help reunite pets and owners.

Have additional supplies for your cat handy in the car and when you arrive at your destination. Along with your pet's favorite toys, here are some other important pet supplies to take on your trip: extra leashes and collars, an old blanket or towel to set underneath your pet's carrier for easy clean-up, your pet's bed if she has one, a food and water bowl set, extra treats, cat grooming supplies, extra litter and litter pans for cats, and a first aid kit for pets. Remember to bring extra food for your cat in case their favorite brand is not for sale where you are traveling to. In the event that you have to switch your pet's food, do it gradually over several days rather than all at one time. Also, be sure you provide your cat fresh drinking water at every opportunity.

Lastly, be sure you use a durable cat carrier for your cat. If you are traveling by airplane, make certain you have an airline approved cat carrier that meets the airline's specifications. In general pet carriers for cats should be sturdy (hard sided or durable plastic), and properly ventilated. It should be adequate size to allow your pet to stand up, turn around, and lie down in comfortably. Be sure the door to the crate is secure so your cat can't get free from the carrier. It's also a good idea to line the bottom of the cat carrier with a towel to help keep your pet comfortable and to keep the carrier from leaking. And of course, make certain the carrier has both your pet's name and your name, as well as contact details so that you can be reached in the event your cat becomes separated from you.

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