In a message dated 5/12/2005 8:22:04 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Hi Martha!
Don't worry, you can take your cats with you and it really ISN'T difficult to do. The trick is you need the right type of crate for them where you can put a litter box and a scrap of rubber-backed rug, and off you go.
1) Do you have a PetSmart near you? If so you can pick up a small DOG crate, open wire, plastic tray bottom (collapsable) for about $40 ea. They stand about 3 foot x 2.5 x 3 foot and you can fit two in the back seat of a small compact car. (I shoved two in the back of my Chevy Metro just last summer).
2) Assemble crate and place a rug remnant ($1.00 each at most carpet stores- they use them as color samples) in the crate's bottom.
3) Purchase a plastic kitten-sized litter pan for each crate. Punch two holes, horizontally about 1/2" from the upper lip of each pan, on one of the lengthier sides of the pan.
4) Thread a plastic covered twistie (you can get from a box of lawn and leaf bags, or purchase separately). You may have to twist two or three securely together to give you the length you'll need.
5) Place a litter pan in each crate...position at the shorter width end, and using twistie, secure pan to bars of crate. -cover pan bottom with a thin layer of litter.
6) Put one kitty in each crate, put crates in car's back seat.
7) The crates are open wire, so you can thread the rear seat belt through the bottom of the side of them and then fasten it as you would around a child...to keep them from moving too much.
8) If kitties are nervous travellers, you can get Feliaway or another herbal cat calmitive and administer. Feliaway can be sprayed on rug in crate...or in car....the herbal....some kind of flower extract (Bach maybe...help me out here folks, perhaps someone else knows the name), can be rubbed in ears....Both work rather well. (If kitties get nauseous....don't feed three hours before begining travel).
9) Add to car, bottled water -room temp., two small bowls for water, (if you want to put in crate you can...just be certain to secure them to bars, and only add a very little bit of water b/c it'll slosh around), plenty of plastic bags, paper towels & a scooper (for removing cat hack or litter box waste), a handfull of extra towels...(incase kitty gets sick...wipe up rug as best as you can, and cover with terricloth towel...no one likes to travel messy, dirty or smelly).
10) Cover car seat behind secured crates with old beach towel or the like just incase of spraying or projectile vomiting...(not usual, but just in case).
11) Carry a copy of both kitties' vet records with you...just incase there is need (accident or the like- not usual of course...but I've found if you are prepared, you won't need it) to stop at an emergency vet along the way, there will be no need for second guessing or over testing. Its also a good thing to have your vet recommend, or someone from this list recommend a vet near where you are moving and fax the cats' records down there ahead of you....just in case you loose your copies on the move.
12) As you drive, play the radio...just not too loud...crack a window or two...but not too much, just enough for fresh air for everyone...
The new smells will keep them interested, your presence, and being able to see each other, will keep them calm...and once you've travelled for a few hours, they will realize that they are NOT going to the vet and settle down.
13) Pull over from time to time (rest stops and the like) to stretch your legs, and talk to your kitties. Offer a bit of food if they seem hungry...but only small amounts at a time...offer water. If there is too much sun, throw a towel over the tops of the crates, fasten with clothespins.
***NOTE: DO NOT OPEN CAR DOORS UNLESS YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT CRATES ARE LOCKED! Scared cats can bolt from car door or window when you least expect it. Before offering anything that you must open the crate for, make certain the windows are not open more than one inch and no one travelling with you will unexpectantly open the car doors.**
When I drove Simms and Sophie out to Anne, we shared a frozen yogurt at a rest stop in PA, and then everytime I stopped and came back with food...both looked on expectantly....so they had a little vanilla shake in Ohio too.
Traveling with another person is easier, because someone can go in and get food, or use the rest room while someone watches the cats. If its very warm, you of course don't want to leave the cats for long or even short times if its too hot...but if you have to use the restroom....Make certain you have 2 car keys....let your car run with the air-conditioner on, and the PARKING BREAK ON, and a back window cracked just a bit to let out the carbon monoxide from the engine, lock the car up...and run and use the facilities as fast as you can. Oh, and when you park, don't park in an isolated area, but don't park were the main flow of people have to pass your car on the way to the rest area either...or you will be explaining your travels to hordes of interested animal lovers...
14) I suppose this should have been number 1...but...if you are not going to try to drive straight through, call AAA for a listing of pet friendly hotels, motels, along your route. When you stop for the night, keep kitties in crates, but take crates in the room with you. It may seem confining, but these crates are large enough for kitty to stand up, stretch, turn around and stretch out long ways while sleeping. Better safe than sorry when traveling.
Others on this list can add to this with ideas for special care of Felv+ cats while traveling...this is just a bare bones start. You'll find it isn't as stressful as you would think, and is quite an adventure.
Last tip....when you get to your new home...make certain you don't let your cats outdoors at all for at least a month....even if you have a fenced back yard...Cat's are like homing pigeons...if they get scared and confused..they might run away....Keeping them confined for a good amount of time helps to reprogram them to the new home.
Good luck, let us know how it goes!
T
