When we became travel therapists, the thought of traveling long distance with cats was daunting. We debated leaving them with our parents but of course, that was never an option because we love our boys and we would never leave them behind.

Luckily, we didn't have to tackle any air or boat travel since all of our jobs have been in the US. But we still had to figure out how we were going to survive a cat road trip.

So before hitting the open road we did A LOT of internet searching for any helpful tips on taking cats on road trips thinking we would get a very simple answer. That was not the case.

Cats are very different from dogs and mostly the internet gave the advice “don’t travel with cats”. Once again though, that wasn’t an option for us.

So we did it anyway and after several road trips with our cats, we put together a list of tips that we have either gleaned from the internet or came up with on our own through trial and error.

We've come a long way from our first road trip, and now our cats are experienced travelers. They have logged over 20,000 miles (and counting) and prove CATS CAN TRAVEL.

The whole process has become quick, easy, and efficient. So here is what you need to know before the trip and during the trip when traveling long distances with your cats.

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Before the Trip

Get Collars

Our boys hate their collars so they only wear them while we are en route but it's good to have. This way if something did happen we would be likely to find them. The following should be included on the collars for them to be most effective:

• • Name
  • Rabies Vaccine
  • Owners Name
  • Owners Number

Make a Health Folder

Make sure to always have a folder with all updated health information. You never know when it will come in handy.

Emergencies happen and if you have to take your pet to the vet you want to have everything ready. We have also boarded at several new locations and having this folder helps. Keep this where it is easily accessible.

During our first cross-country trip, we made the mistake of packing it deep in the trunk where it was almost impossible to reach. We always make sure to have the following in our health folder:

• • Adoption papers
  • Vaccine record
  • Copies of annual exam from past 3-5 years
  • Past medical history

Have a Yearly Exam

We get yearly exams so why would our pets not get the same? It’s always a good idea to make sure they are up to date on all vaccines and healthy.

Keep in mind you are about to subject your pet to something that can be very taxing. It's smart to make sure they are doing well beforehand.

Buy Calming Treats

Cats love treats and they deserve a little something for being troopers. Giving them a calming treat is great since it not only makes them happy but relaxes them as well.

We typically buy our treats at a pet store but we've also bought them online through Value Pet Supplies as they are easy to order from and ship very quickly. It's an easy way to save a step before the trip.

We first looked into this calming spray but we noticed it made us tired as well which is not ideal for road trips. The treats work well though and the cats love them.

We typically give treats before the trip and throughout. We have heard of some people getting medications to put their cats to sleep but we have found the treats to be the best and easiest way to calm down a cat in the car.

During the Trip

Use a Large Pet Carrier

Our boys like being together so we just got one pet carrier perfect for two cats. We made sure that it was extra large to make up for two cats being in one container.

Make sure there is room for the cat to stand up and move around. We have found buying a container "made for dogs" is an easy way to make sure it has more room.

Our current container is perfect and we highly recommended it. It's a soft, collapsable "travel kennel" with enough space so both cats can be standing at the same time and not have to touch.

Even though it's big enough for a cat bed and extra pillows it folds up flat and takes up little to no space. We love it for our minimalist travel and nomadic lifestyle.

Cover the Crate

We were skeptical of this at first but it turns out covering the crate with a blanket helps. We were worried the blanket would make the crate too hot.

It turns out, our cats do much better when we put a blanket over the top while driving. This adds extra sun protection and seems to be calming.

We do leave the front of the crate uncovered for better airflow. Plus, this way we can keep an eye on them.

Give Stretch Breaks

At gas or food stops sit in the car and let your cats out. We have the litter box on the floor of the back seat so this also gives them a chance to use the restroom. We try to have to rule that we let our boys out every other gas stop.

Our cats seem to get pee-shy on the road but it’s still good to give them the chance. They will use it from time to time. Just don't expect your pet to go as much as they would at home.

Travel with Your Belongings

If you are moving this is very important. Furnished places typically don’t like pets anyway but we noticed the boys are happier when they have their stuff with familiar smells.

If it's more of a temporary stay, at least bring blankets, cat toys, and other items that have your smell.

Set Up a "Homey" Crate

Since your pet may be in the crate for such a long amount of time, you may as well make it more enjoyable. Make sure to put in a blanket that spans the entire bottom.

We always place extra fabric and items for our cats to hide in. Our cat Pedro likes to nap covered up and has several options for hiding locations.

We spoil our cats so each one has their own blanket and pillow. Also, toss in some toys in case your pets get bored.

Find Cat-Friendly Hotels

Our favorite is La Quinta which can be found all over the US. It's both cat and cat owner approved.

At first, we were worried about how our cats would adjust to staying in hotels but they love it. Staying at a hotel was the first time our cats saw themselves in a mirror and it turns out they loved having a new place to explore.

The boys get better and more comfortable with every trip. At times, there is some meowing when we first get in the car but they typically relax after a few minutes.

We have not done any air travel with the boys but we have read that flights can be bad because they are in the crates under the plane and it can be very scary for cats. For now, we are lucky to just stick to driving.

Let us know any other ideas you may have because we are always trying to make our cats happier while traveling. Good luck with your road trip!

If you would like to learn more about our travel kitties check out their about page here!