How to get your cat ready for a trip

For most cats a trip is not an adventure but a change of routine. With a little preparation even a nervous cat can travel more calmly, whether you are going to the vet or to visit family.

Choose the right carrier

• Sturdy, well ventilated, with a front door and ideally one on top.
• Big enough for your cat to turn around and stretch.
• With a removable top: many cats cope better when they are not pulled out.

Make the carrier an everyday place

A few weeks before, leave the carrier open at home with a blanket that smells of home inside. Now and then, put a treat or a favourite toy in it. The goal is for the carrier to be an ordinary spot, not the signal that something unpleasant is coming.

Practise short trips

Close the door for a few minutes, then open it and give a treat. Then carry the carrier around the home, then to the car, then go for a five-minute drive. Small steps matter more than duration.

On the day

1. 1Feed your cat a few hours before, not right before leaving.
2. 2Put an absorbent towel at the bottom of the carrier.
3. 3Secure the carrier on the back seat so it cannot slide.
4. 4Talk calmly and avoid loud music.

A cat that escapes in an unfamiliar place usually hides very close by. A tag with your phone number and a microchip make finding them much easier.

On long journeys

Take breaks, offer water and never let your cat out of the carrier in an open place. Never leave them alone in the car, especially in summer.

If your cat is very stressed

Some cats need extra help to travel. Do not give medication on your own initiative: ask your vet, who can recommend what suits your cat.