Conference misery::feline_v1

We've moved between Colorado and California several times and have always
taken our cats with us in the car.  Our first cat, Hobie, was full grown at
the time but was fairly used to the car.  He'd usually spend the first hour
or so mewing and walking around, but would then find a suitable place for a
nap and zonk out for hours at a time.  The last time we moved, we had two 8 
week old kittens and had no problems whatsoever.  The car was packed full, so
they had lots of good hiding places, etc.  

For each trip, we always put a litter box on the floor in the back seat, had
fresh water and dry food out all day, and only fed canned food at night.  We
were/are very cautious about opening and closing doors and windows - I've 
heard of several cases where the cats escaped enroute - and usually the
passenger held on to the cats at toll gates.

The hardest part was finding hotels that accept pets.  Best Western publishes
a country-wide listing of all its hotels and the various facilities and rules
at each.  This is what we used.  There was usually at least one hotel that took
pets.  We did have to check into one place that did not take pets, but when we
asked about having the kittens in the room, were told ok.  The only time we 
had to smuggle a cat was in Reno - It was real exciting trying to carry the cat
through the arcade to the elevator and keep him wrapped up baby-style.  I kept
hoping no one would ask to see the "kid" and had to keep tucking his tail back!

Our kittens are now grown and aren't thrilled about car rides, but I've noticed
that they usually settle down under the seats after a while.  I'd try taking
your cats for a few jaunts around the neighborhood and see how they do.  I've
never tried drugs, so can't help you there.  A friend had to send her cats via
plane from Colorado to California and I know she used tranquilizers.  The
only complaint she had was that the cats were pretty dopey for a few days
after and seemed a little more nervous for a while after that (which was also
caused by having a new home).

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

Lynne

I have travelled twice from Springfield, OH to Northboro, MA with two kittens 
in the car. This distance is about 750 miles in a car.  We made it the last
time in 13 hours of travel time, including two hours worth of stops for the
kittens.  (I didn't buy my radar detector because I liked it's looks.) 

We've never had a serious problem.  Neither set of kittens particularly liked 
car travel, and tended to meow and fuss for the first couple of hours.  
However, they then settled down, and played happily in the back seat or in the 
front passenger's side.  No tranquilizers, no pills, just a patient passenger 
willing to cuddle and play, with a dish of food on the floor in the back, and 
a litter box on the back seat.

It IS annoying to listen to a kitten meow for an hour or two.  Sharing a car 
with two kittens using the litter box simultaneously is also a joy difficult 
to describe.  But if you aren't a particularly nervous person, if you can be 
firm about preventing the cats from getting onto the dash or behind the 
pedals, and if noxious smells won't drive you off the road, I'd say you could 
give it a try.  It's certainly cheaper and maybe even less dangerous for the 
cat (how would you like to find out the airline sent your cat to Des Moines
while you are in Mass?)  At any rate, during the transportation period, 
someone is available to tend to the cat if you do the transporting...

Older cats with a more definite idea of what they will tolerate may be more of
a problem.  If travel times of over a day are involved, or you are doing it 
solo, you may also find it to be more wearing than its worth.

Good luck either way,
Chris

Be careful opening the window at toll booths. Erick would be a feral cat
in New Jersey today if Jon had been less quick to react.

We too found that after a couple of hours of wailing, our guys were too tired to
complain any more. They don't seem to have suffered any permanent trauma, and
tranqilizers probably wouldn't have been worth the risk. They were not inclined
to eat or use the litterbox during the whole 9-hour trip, but that would
probably vary from cat to cat. 

Jon & Val

Do be careful about letting the cats run loose inside the car. Some of them
prefer it (my most independent cat, Gunslinger, *loved* to sit on the back
of the driver's seat, lounging across my shoulders, and peer out the window),
but many get nervous. (Chiun the Magnificent, one of my current pets, was
sitting quietly in my lap on the trip to NH from Arlington, Mass, when he
quietly, without a sound, deposited a large, warm, wet stain on my lap...)

Now I keep them in their travel box, so I know they won't dive for the door
as soon as it opens. If I were to take them on a long trip I think I'd try
to either get a larger cage, or put one of those screen-type things across
the back of the car so they could run loose there.

If you try tranquilizers, TEST THEM ON THE CAT BEFORE THE TRIP! Some cats
get nervous and hyper under the influence, and you don't want to find that
out doing 70 on the Mass Pike. (Not that we ever drive that fast, right?)

-b

I frequently take my two cats from NH to CT for weekends.  They do not
like car travel and meow for a large part of the 3 hour trip.  I found
that it is impossible traveling with the cats lose in the car and no
passenger to grab them at toll booths, etc.  I bought two carrying
cages, and put one in each now.  That is much safer for the people and
the cats, in case of an accident.  It's really taking a risk not having
any kind of cage for an animal...since you can't plan if you will have
to get out of the car or not, and if you do, you'll need to shut them up.

A friend of mine had his Siamese tranquilized before he moved it to
Florida.  It was groggy for an evening but fine the next day.  He moved
three cats back to MA from Florida the same way -- tranquilized, by air.

From his experiences and mine, I'd say go by air and use tranquilizers.

				- Kathy Morse

I have used ACE as supplied by my veterinarian on Cisco on car trips because
he gets car sick. I don't mean prone to car sickness but gets sick every
time he is taken more than 15 - 20 mins from home. It makes him groggy but
despite any opinions to the contrary I thinks he prefers it to getting sick.
I leave water but not food out along with a litter box. My experiences with
Cisco convinced me to withhold food for at least several hours before a trip.
Because I have a cat that gets car sick I am perhaps stricter than I need
to be with my other cats. 

I travel with the cats in carriers for long trips where they might get out.
For short trips I sometimes let them free. Angus was a good traveler if 
somewhat vocal, Malcolm is just fine.


							.wIx.

I've taken Loiosh and Ada on three trips from northeastern Mass. to my
parents' house on Long Island, a five-hour trip.  They sit on the front
passenger seat, wearing harnesses, with their leashes tied to the handle of
the passenger door.  The leashes are shortened enough they can't quite reach
me in the driver's seat, but can still get to the floor behind the seats to
use the litterbox.  I tie them in such a way that I can release the leashes
quickly in an emergency.

I take away their food eight hours before the trip, and offer them water
once or twice along the way.  Only once has either of them taken any water.
Never have they used the litterbox enroute (though they jump right in when
we get home), and they've never had an "accident" in the car.

Once they've figured out that they're not going to the vet, which is close
to my house, they behave just fine.  Loiosh stands on the back of the seat,
looks out the window, looks cute for the benefit of the toll-takers, and
curls up next to me to nap for several hours.  Ada mostly just sleeps
straight through to New York.

I vote for the car trip. :-)

					-- Roger

Consider this story before you let your cat roam free in the car.

A roommate was taking his young cat Nermal to the vet one morning.  He
decided that he would let the cat out in the car, instead of using
the cat carier.  Nermal got behind the brake and clutch pedals of the
car so that Tony couldn't stop.

The cat was quickly stuffed in the carrier after that.
				/AHM

I had to relocate my cat Missy from Massachusetts to Arizona three years
ago.  When we left, Missy joined us under the seat of the airplane in a 
small carryon bag. (This is legal!  One cat per section of the plane if
they fit under the seat.  You can't take them out of the carrier during
the flight.)  We had her on a tranquilizer for the trip.  She did very
well, meowed only a little, and didn't seem bothered by the trip.

When we arrived in Arizona, she was a little unsteady on her feet (paws?)
for a day or so, but recovered well.  

Missy will be traveling again in two weeks.  My wife and Missy will be
flying back to join me in Massachusetts.  I hope that they both have a
nice trip.

As for two cats, that may be more of a problem.  As I mentioned, the
airline we flew on allowed one cat per section (one in coach, one in fisrt)
You may have to purchase two carriers, and have the flight attendant watch
one cat for you while you keep an eye on the more sensitive one.

I've driven with my cat for a few hours and my recommendation is flying!

  I'd only reccommend flying if you can keep the kitties up front with you.
I read an article by someone from an airline about traveling with pets in a
recent issue of one of my cat magazines.  The things that were said were not
particularly confidence inspiring.  For instance, sinec the animals are
generally kept back in the cargo department with no temperature control, 
whenever the plane is delayed on ground for X minutes/hours (X being a number
I can't remember) they regulations require that the animals be taken off the 
plane so they do not suffer from heat/cold.  *often* this is not done either 
through ignorance of the regs, or reluctance to delay the plane any furthur,
or just not knowing that animals are on board.  Sometimes, animals die because
of this. 
   I've driven with cats, most of my cats are good about it.  I suggest that 
do a few things in preparation for your trip.  1) Buy one of the those
screens that spearates the front of the car from the back 2) find out if any 
of your kitties really freaks in the car 3)Get some acepromizine (sp?) or 
similar mild sedative from your vet and test it on that kitty.(very important.
some cats like some hyper kids get worse with tranqs instead of better.)
Then take 'em by car.
    Pippin, has had to be tranqulized on occasion and responds to it very 
well.  He gets real mellow for about 6 to 8 hours and then is fine.  No after
effects at all except that he is a little more friendly.
    I'll try to find that article and type it in tonight.  
tlh

re .1 - .10

Thank you for all the advice! I'll continue to check this note for further
information.

A friend of mine will also be relocating and is planning to drive with
her two cats. We're considering driving two vehicles in tandum; she has
made a screened area for her cats; I'll be contemplating designs for my
hatchback (Mazda GLC) to be the most secure and provude for all of Scamp
and Bubba's needs en route.

It is a good suggestion to try out the sedatives before beginning a trip
and also to change their eating schedule to avoid car sickness. I've also
had the cat-under-the-petals experience and don't want to repeat it!

I don't want to fly and the thought of just SHIPPING my cats is horrifying.
I've heard bad stories of airline trips, too. When I moved from NY to
AZ the two cats I had at the time traveled in the cargo section. The
effects of the pre-flight tranquillizers on them was frightening for me
to see: they were almost panic stricken as they noticed their dopiness
and loss of motor coordination. When I got to the Phoenix airport (on a very
hot September day) it took a long time to locate them and no one in the 
terminal was sure where they would be or if they were even taken off the
airplane. 

Thanks;

--Mary

P.S. (HERMES::LOWE ! You remind me of another Lowe with a cat named Missy.
Does you're cat walk on the ceiling, by any chance?!)

Yes!  On occasion, my cat has been known to walk on the ceiling.  Give my
best to the little ones.

I flew frequently (at least 6 times) with my cat in an underseat carrier.
Since her reaction to planes and airports was to curl up into a tight little
ball, the smallness of the carrier was never a problem.  In fact, whenever
I got to my parents house, she would stay is the open carrier, using it as a
bed for a couple days until she got her courage up.

I tried giving her a sedative only once.  There was no real problem, except she
looked rather pathetic when coming out of it.  She looked like a drunk, trying
get sober enough to fool a police officer!

Not all airlines will allow carry on pets.  You have to check.  Supposedly some
jumbo jets have special pet cargo areas, where the air is conditioned like the
cabin, but I have no idea which ones.

My sister used to drive to and from school with her cat (about a 10 hour drive)
and never had any problems.  She would put the litter box in the back seat, and
dishes of water and dry food.  The cat is too fat to get behind the pedals!

One reminder - DON'T LEAVE THE CAT IN A HOT CAR!  In my sister's case, meals
were always fast food drive thrus.

Steve

I drove to Pittsbugh (the real one n Pennsylvania) from Nashua over 
Christmas this year with my three cats in the Chevette.  Your cats
will be fine.  If I were you, I would *I* would take the tranquilizers.  
You'll need them!

denise

I took Hobbit to the Cape with me this summer. It was about a 2 - 
3 hour drive. Since my tiny Mazda contained me, 2 kids (ages 9 
and 14...so they aren't SMALL kids), a large collie, and a week's 
worth of assorted 'stuff,' I didn't have room for a cage.

It worked out well, though. After a singularly dirty look and a 
couple of token yowls, he curled up on his quilt on the floor and 
went to sleep. 

I didn't have to deal with any toll booths...but I did stop once for gas.
He got up, glanced out the window, sized up the situation, and 
went back to sleep...scorning all offers of water and attention 
from the kids.

When we arrived, he strolled through the house noting the 
locations of food, water, and litter box. Then he selected a 
appropriate window sill from which to rule his new domain.

Hobbit, thy name is dignity.

-nn

This note is answered in memory to one of my greatest feling friends -
Sandy.  Sandy passed away last year at the ripe old age of 17.

Sandy loved to travel.  He was a huge (at one time 22lbs) blue-point pure
bred Siamese, rugged looked with big bones.  We lived in Canoga Park
California and used to make our yearly trek (vacation) back to Brockton
Massachusetts and Augusta Maine to visit parents, family etc. 

Sandy had a carrier but also slept in the built-in closet of our van.  He
was truly a "king of the road."  He would meow pitifully for the first 200
miles or so and then settle down as he KNEW the VET could not possibly be
this far away!  Travelling with us in his harness, leash, carrier, he was
better behaved than the kids!  He knew he was safe when we were around.
He went to zoos, stayed in the pet palace at Walt Disney World in Florida,
different hotels, once went through Lion Country Safari in California . . .

Travelling with your cat is no more tramautic than a trip to the vet.  Once
they're used to it there is no keeping them out of the car.  Of course his
friend Rudy the Beagle went with us too . . . . but that's another note.  I
must admit though that Sandy would turn his nose up at Rudy's exploits in the
car - Rudy was chronically carsick but loved to ride.  I miss Sandy in the
car now.  My other cats just don't have the same personality that he did.
Toll booths were his favorite where he would ingratiate himself with the
attendants by staring at them out of the window, meowing his "silent meow"
and then rolling over on his back with all 4 in the air waving . . .

Gina

Although this is belated, a couple og points:

Frequently, the SPCA or Humane Society can help you find out which airlines
have proper facilities for cats (if you _have_ o use an airline).  You might
check with them.  Also, some airlines _used_ to have a regulation about 1
cat per adult.  So if you can find the right airline and have enough adult
friends ....

On tranquilizers: these can work, but my Siamese, Angelica, got worse on hers.

You can sometimes get cages that will fit across the width of a back seat.  My
three (at the time) traveled from Alabama to Massachusetts that way.

Steve Kallis, Jr.

THE PERSON IN QUESTION HAS DECIDED TO DRIVE.  STARTING NEXT WEEK THERE WILL
BE A CARAVAN TRAVELING CROSS COUNTRY FROM ARIZONA TO MASSACHUSETTS.  THE
CARAVAN INCLUDES TWO CARS, TWO PEOPLE, AND OF COURSE, FOUR CATS.

GOOD LUCK, MARY AND JOHANNA!

As Chris has informed everyone, all 6 of us will be driving from Arizona
to Massachusetts. My father and I custom-built an enclosure in the back of
my hatchback which has drawn raves from the design experts at the windows
of fast food drive-thrus throughout Phoenix. In test drives so far, Bubba
(the easy-going one) thinks he has his own limo and he rides like an
aristocrat. Scamp, known to use his vocal cords in very melodic yowls on
trips to the vet, has settled down to small inquisitive cries. He's more
mobile, checking out both sides of the car and doing body stretches on the
chickenwire screen; he hasn't learned to relax yet, but at least the frantic
crying and hyper-ventilation is not present. I'm confident that, aside from
some restlessness from the confinement, they'll be fine.

Johanna has also built an enclosure in her new truck for her two cats. She
has indoor cats that are seasoned travelers. We're both looking forward to
the trip and observing the experiences of our pets on the road. We'll
file a trip report in early September!

Thanks for all the inputs. I'm sure all the readers of this note would
still like to read more responses on this subject.

Adios...         (and thanks, Chris)

    If anyone is interested, I replied to this type of subject in 21.6.
    I didn't realize this note was here.