Car journey with an older cat

I don't think 4 hours is too long a time to stay in a small kennel or pet carrier. She would be of course nervous, but feel more secure in a contained area. You can get harnesses for cats, stop and let her have a break mid-way if needed. But cats are so fast when nervous that I would be afraid to let her out.

I knew someone who did not have a pet carrier, and the cat ended up under the driver's seat refusing to come out.

I’d get a dog crate big enough to put a litter tray in. And use a feliway spray ( I assume they do a spray for cats as well as dogs). I’d be terrified of having a cat in the car, opening the car door and the cat running off if it wasn’t contained in some way. If the crate is covered she’ll probably go to sleep. My mum used to butter our cats paws when we moved home!

Maybe it would be worth asking your vet, he might be able to give her a mild sedative.

Our 20+ year old Burmese cat traveled all round Scotland with us. We used a smallish wire sided crate as he felt more secure and he didn’t like being able to see out of any windows.

A large cat carrier will actually be better than a crate, as it will make her feel more secure than being able to see and hear scarey things more clearly in a larger crate.

I agree with @humptydumpty - your vet will be able to prescribe a mild sedative for her so that she will suffer the least stress possible, and I also agree with @MayBee70 that a spray of Feliway in her carrier (and all around your new home when you arrive) will be likely to be very helpful. (It mimics the pheromones produced by a nursing mama cat, and represents safety).

Remember not to feed her anything at all from 9pm the day before your journey, as that'll help prevent her pooping or being sick in her carrier. In case she does either anyway, be sure to take a carrier bag, a towel roll and a packet of wet wipes as well as a spare blanket for the carrier. And be 100% certain that one of you scruffs her firmly - in a layby - and does not let go, while the other one cleans up around and under her.

Also, when you arrive in your new home, I'd consider confining her to one room, possibly your bedroom if you don't mind her sleeping on you, for a few days until she becomes a little familiar with the sounds and smells of her new home.

Good luck! And here's wishing you very happy in your new home.

A cat carrier is essential, cover with a cloth to help Molly relax and a sedative from your vet would not go amiss. In your situation I would not entertain allowing her loose in the space at the back of the car . I understand your thinking on this but IMO this may cause Molly stress and there is always the risk that she may make a bid for freedom , unlikely I know but a real possibility- how distressing that would be !! There are no plus points in allowing her out of the carrier , please don't do that . Grit your teeth , put her in the carrier or cage and keep her there until you are safely inside your new house. Good luck , Molly will be fine , don't over think this . She may complain on the journey, but she will be safe and you will have peace of mind . Don't worry, even if Molly is unhappy about her confinement she will recover quickly and forgive you !! I wish you happiness in your new home

It is now illegal to have a dog loose in a car without some sort of restraint so it may be the case with cats, too. And you’d only have to have to brake suddenly for some reason and the result could be awful.

I wouldn’t have a cat at the back of the car loose, it’s not safe! I’d put her in a secure carrier with a cloth over, I can understand how you would feel with her being contained for four hours, but it’s one journey and I’d ask for sedative from the vet and she would be calmer, hope the journey goes well and every happiness in your new home

I'd recommend a carrier - and a spare (in case of messes). She'll be far more settled and secure in a small space. I wouldn't allow her out at all - except into the spare if necessary. A small dish for a little water is all she'll need.

Years ago we transported two cats from Newcastle to Reading by van. Our Vet gave us sedatives for them which worked a treat, we had a trial run with the sedatives beforehand. The journey was about 6 hours. They were in a large wooden cage with a water bowl in it and a blanket. They weren’t let out until we got to my mum’s.

I volunteer for Cats Protection, and agree she must be kept in a carrier. It could be an extra roomy one. I would put down several puppy pads in there, and a comfy fleece or old towel. She is likely to have to go to the loo at some point, so you can just remove the dirty pad and replace. Keeping the car doors and windows closed as you open the carrier of course.

You could ask vet for a sedative, or try a spray as others have suggested. Perhaps use the spray a few times before, to see if it relaxes her. They seem to work on some and not others.

I assume you have aircon in the car if it is hot? If it's hot, a damp towel over the cage helps keep them cool. Or have a cool pad.

They often prefer a light cover over their cage, as it spooks them to see out.

Try and give last meal some hours before travel so they go to loo.

They probably won't want to eat on the journey, but have water available each time you stop. Good luck.

Most cats prefer to be in a cat basket when travelling in a car, especially if they have not been brought up to it.

How did Molly come home from the rescue centre and was there trouble with her then?

Please never travel with a cat loose in the car. A harness and a short lead is the absolute minumum if a passenger is to sit, preferably on the back seat with the cat on his or her lap.

A cat that becomes frightened in a car, and many do, can cause a fatal accident by either getting under the driver's feet or on top of them, or jumping up onto the dashboard.

Is Molly afraid of the noise of electric tools, the hoover, the sewing machine etc? If so asking the vet for a mild sedative is a very good idea and so is a cat basket or crate.

If you intend to try letting Molly out of the car, she really must be on a harness and lead, which you should preferably accustom her to before the journey.

Our late cat hated car journeys but they were sometimes necessary. We found that he was much calmer in a cat carrier and with me sitting next to him on the back seat with an arm over the carrier and talking to him. Like many cats he seemed to feel secure in a contained space.

dahlia, I thin you have your answer now. Good luck on your journey , Molly will be fine !

I believe it is illegal to have a cat loose in the car if you are alone. I didn't know it was the case with dogs. It's probably safer both for people and for the pet for the latter to be restrained.

When we were planning to leave France to return to UK we wanted to bring our Kat, aged 15. first asked the vet about a sedative but he said no - too risky.
We tried her in a cat carrier with her litter tray on a short trip. She howled and scratched the whole time so driver couldn't concentrate.
In the end we asked our buyers if she could stay and they agreed, she's very attached to the land and the house. Thank God it worked out ok. The new lady sends me photos, Kat still going strong.

ps if we had left her loose she would have been climbing all over the place.
I believe there are companies who undertake moving pets long distances.

Thank you all for your help and also for your kind messages for the future. We still have a few weeks before the move, and we are not considering letting Molly go free in the car. Your ideas about a spare cat carrier and for using puppy pads and sprays are those we will try. We have noticed on visits to the vet that Molly quietens when a thin blanket is put over the carrier, so we will also do this, and have a word with the vet about a mild sedative. Thank you all again.

If you don't want the vet to give her a sedative you could have a Felliwell in the car next too the carrier.

Covering the carrier is a great idea. I hope the journey goes well. You'll probably find she's more relaxed than you'll be because you're worrying about her.

Just to update all my helpers: the cat is absolutely fine, she slept throughout the journey in her comfy spacious carrier, there were no accidents and on arrival she promptly hid under the bed until the removal men had gone the next day. She has settled well into her new home and has simply moved all her routines to this house. A great relief for us - I only wish we felt more settled ourselves!
Thank you everyone for your help.

Glad it went well and the cat is happily settled. I'm sure you will be too. It's a hard time to be moving right now but once things open up a bit more and things are more relaxed I bet you'll feel much happier

Borrow a dog crate. Good luck with the move

One of my cats meowed for 150 miles, and settled quite happily when we arrived. Headphones? Ear defenders?

Chardy read the thread. They've now moved!!