Essential Tips for Travelling With Your Pets

Hi everyone,

As the summer months are when us humans tend to travel more we figured it would be quit good to recap on our top travel tips with your cat! Now we know that not all of our feline friends like to travel but likewise there are many out there that will travel with their human to EVERY place they go!

Great examples of cats that like to accompany their humans are A Street Cat Named Bob and Starina Esperanza Silvaz.

Because for many of us a holiday just wouldn’t be complete without our pets so if you’re planning on a summer break with them, there is no reason why your pets can’t join in the fun too! Taking an animal on long car journeys can be stressful so we have provided top tips on how you can travel safely together.

1.  Prepare your carrier

Ensure that the carrier you purchased when your pet was tiny is still roomy enough for them. Do they look comfortable in it? And do they have enough room to move around? You should always run these checks before attempting to travel with your pet.

In the vast majority of cases your pet will travel in the back of your car, not in the front with you. Us here at Katzenworld would especially recommend one of the various Sleepypod Cat Carriers. We have personally travelled a long 3 hours journey with our clowder using the mobile pet bed and atom version which are both brilliant choices for safe and comfortable travels. And they have car travel safety in mind as they can easily be strapped in with your seat belt.

2. Pack food and water

Just like us, our pets get dehydrated when they are travelling. A handy tip: freeze water before you leave home to ensure your four-legged friend has cool water for your journey. Our friends from Sleepypod also have some great travel bowls which are compact and can be used for both water and food simultaneously thanks to their unique design.

Possibly better to make sure your cat is in the carrier first too!

4. Keeping your pet calm during travel

Make sure you bring your cat’s blanket or their favourite stuffed animal, toy – any item which is familiar to your cat to help comfort and relax them. For a little extra help keeping particularly anxious pets calm, try Zylkene capsules or chews. Useful to help pets cope when facing unusual situations or a change from their normal environment. Starting several days before you are due to travel, open the capsule and mix the powder with food or their favourite treat. Or of course if you choose the tasty treats simply give them the chews!

Zylkene contains a natural ingredient derived from casein, a protein in milk. It is a molecule well known to promote the relaxation of new-borns after breastfeeding. Launched in April 2008, Zylkene has become a valuable support for veterinary surgeons, behaviourists, nurses and pet owners for use in helping pets cope when facing unusual and unpredictable situations or before occasions such as a change in their normal environment.

5. Prepare for the unexpected

Flexibility and patience are virtues that every traveller should possess. The same holds especially true when travelling with pets. Whether your car is stuck in traffic, your pet gets sick mid-journey, or your cat decides he can’t wait for the kitty litter – travelling with pets can be hard work.

In case of any emergencies  a pet first aid kit is a must-have for animals on the move. A kit such as the Pawly Pet First Aid kit helps provide aid and comfort to an injured or sick pet.

6. Protect your pet – vaccinate before boarding

Should you decide to board your cat instead of having them travel with you remember that Cattery facilities place cats in close proximity, increasing the risk of passing on infections. This makes vaccinations an essential part of preparing your cat for a cattery. Vaccinations help protect your pet by stimulating their body to produce antibodies to specific often contagious and even lethal diseases. If your pet should later come into contact with a disease they are vaccinated against the antibodies will protect them.

Vaccinations may be given over a two to three-week course and immunity may take days or weeks to develop afterwards. You should consult the boarding facility and your vet in advance to find out the requirements and timescales involved for vaccinations.

And make sure that if you do choose to leave them in a cattery that you pick a well-established cattery that has facilities in place to minimise the chance of spreading any potential disease.

Thanks,

Marc