F.A.Q Kittens & Cats

I am getting a new cat soon, and would like to get her used to travelling in the car. How do I go about this?

If possible 'travel training' should begin at a very early age to make sure that a new kitten will adjust to travelling. It is best to start from about eight weeks old, if possible, before they develop a fear response. Remember to protect them if they have not yet been vaccinated.

Open the car doors and let the cat scamper around inside the car, always ensuring they are not exposed to any danger. You can feed the cat there, or put a toy in the car to play with. After the cat is acclimatised, take them on their first car journey. Make sure it is in a basket secured by a seat belt, so the car's movement does not affect it too much. You can cover the basket with a light cloth, so they it see out of the car and make sure your car seats are protected against any 'accidents'. Take your cat out for this car ride before it is fed, and make sure it is given a reward, such as a small savoury tit-bit, afterwards.

If this is unsuccessful, it might be because your cat is slightly older, as an older pet needs a bit more time. It may be that you don't know the past history of the animal, if you didn't get him as a young pet, and it may be that the cat has have come to associate car journeys with unpleasant experiences. Make sure that your cat isn't using motion sickness to gain attention for himself or to get comfort from you. This can be especially likely if the pet was neglected in its previous home.

Start with very short journeys, and try and ignore any sickness where possible, and be lavish in your praise when your cat is not sick. Don't feed your pet before the journey, and place the pet carrier on a seat, secured by the seat belt, or in the front foot-well on the floor. Do not place the carrier in the boot of a saloon car. Position the pet carrier so that it cannot shoot forwards if the driver breaks suddenly.

If your cat is still sick after all this, then make an appointment to see the vet. There are medicines that can help, but vets need to check to make sure that they would be suited to your pet's needs and health status.