How To Travel With A Cat In A Car Long Distance: 13 Useful Tips

So you’re planning to travel with a cat in the car?

I don’t want to tell you that travel with a cat in a car is going to be a breeze. It’s all about your cat and their needs. Every cat is different and will behave differently in the car – especially to travel with cats in a car long distance.

A cat may be fine for a few minutes to an hour in the car, but once you hit the 3, 4, or even 8 hour mark – you can’t really know how they’re going to be?

What about the different terrains you may encounter while driving with a cat? It may not be flat the whole way so you have to be prepared for bumpy and mountainous driving conditions.

Because there are so many unknowns when you travel with cats in a car long distance, you have to prepare for the worst. Here are my top tips for when you travel with a cat in a car long distance.

P.S. If you’re traveling with cats long distance and staying overnight, be sure to read my top tips for staying in a hotel with a cat.

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Travel With Cats In A Car Long Distance – My Experience

My experience driving with a cat comes from my long distance road trips from Montreal to Florida, which is a 26 hour road trip each way.

Plus, we’ve also done some shorter road trips over the years together.

The drives are typically smooth sailing, but sometimes the little guy surprises me with some new behaviours. So you should always be prepared for anything!

13 Tips How To Travel With A Cat In A Car

Here are the top tips I’ve learned from driving with a cat in the car!

1. Find A Carrier They Love (Don’t Let Them Wander Free!)

When you travel with a cat in a car, the safest place for them to be is in a car safe carrier (like this one on Amazon).

A free roaming cat in the car causes risks, not only for your safety but also theirs. Even the most well trained cat is risky.

There are so many carriers to choose from, from large to small. Originally I had the large carrier for him, like this one from Amazon. I thought this way my cat would be able to stretch his legs for a bit during longer journeys.

But, after a few road trips, I noticed he’s really in love with his Navigator cat backpack (see it on Amazon here) and he’s completely okay sleeping in there for 11 hours on the road.

So now I take whatever we have space for in the car, knowing that he’s good in both!

2. Get Them Used To Their Carrier Ahead Of Time

A cat’s carrier should be their safe space. You want them to be used to the carrier before ever bringing them into the car in it.

To do this, leave the carrier out in the house for your cat to constantly use. At the start, I left treats inside for my cat to find.

If you have enough time, I would also train your cat to be comfortable when the carrier is closed… this is where my cat starts to freak out.

Start closing the carrier, then give them a treat. Slowly keep the carrier door closed for longer periods of time before giving them their treat.

P.S. If you’re using a different carrier for the car and the hotel when you travel with cats in a car long distance, try to get them used to both. The car carrier is so large, we use a cat backpack to transport him from the car to the hotel.

3. Travel With A Cat In A Car – Get Them Used To Driving

The best thing you can do before you travel with cats in a car long distance is to get them used to driving as much as possible beforehand.

Driving is a lot to handle for cats: there’s a lot of motion, different noises, lights …etc.

You want them to be as used to the car as much as possible before venturing on a long road trip. Getting them used to their carrier at home is one thing, bringing it into the car is a whole other ball game.

When we first started bringing our cat in the car he would meow like crazy and rip out of his carrier. I would have to sit in the back with him to put him back inside. Eventually – he learned. I can’t stress enough that this process takes time, so if you have time before you leave, there’s nothing better you can do for your cat.

We started by taking our cat in the car as much as we could on short drives. Around the block, to the grocery store to pick up an online order…etc. Try going at different times of the day as well so they can be used to day time, and night time driving!

Eventually, our cat got used to it and now immediately falls asleep as soon as we get in the car.

4. Make Their Carrier Feel Comfortable & Cozy

I know, it’s a lot about the carrier so far, bit this is their tiny home on wheels!

So you want there carrier to feel like home as much as possible, not a barren cold carrier they’re stuck in for several hours.

There are a few ways to make your cat feel more comfortable in their carrier to travel with cats long distances.

In the large carrier, I put his bed and a blanket inside so he has a warm place to sleep. I even put a scratcher in there if he wants to use it- although I never saw him even look at it. You can add a toy or two if you want to as well.

We did once have a poop incident, so now I always line the bottom of the carrier with pee pee pads (like these on Amazon)… but more on cat bathrooms breaks in a bit!

If you see your cat is overwhelmed in the car, you can also put a blanket on top of the carrier. This will make the space feel cozier and warmer, and now they won’t be able to see outside or any light reflections.

5. Car Travel With Cat: Keep Your Cat Calm While Driving

If your cat is still uncomfortable driving, you may want to get them something to calm their nerves a bit.

I’ve used a spray that mimics cat pheromones to calm them down, see it on Amazon here. Spray this in their carrier 15 minutes before you leave and it lasts from 4 to 5 hours. Heads up: people are nervous that the spray can make the driver sleepy, we haven’t noticed any issues with it.

Another option when going on a roadtrip with cats is to buy calming treats (like these on Amazon).

If your cat needs something stronger, you can also speak to your vet about getting some medication to travel with a cat in a car.

6. Be Prepared: Cats Can Hold In Their Pee… But Accidents Happen

You can try to get your cat to use their litter before leaving, but you most likely won’t be successful. And you shouldn’t really worry, cats can hold their pee for up to 24 to 48 hours, but realistically shouldn’t hold it for more than 12 hours (read more here).

Of course, accidents do happen, especially if your cat is nervous.

With his in mind, plan for the worst. As I mentioned, after a poop incident one summer we now line our cats carrier with absorbent pee pee pads. That way, if our cat had an accident while driving, it’s an easy clean up. It’s also good to have in case your cat gets nauseous and throws up. See pee pee pads on Amazon.

You can still plan to offer your cat their litter box at every stop, but more likely than not they won’t use it… more on travel cat litter boxes soon!

7. Buy Cat Travel Litter Boxes & Use Your Normal Litter…

A big question when travelling with a cat in the car is what to do about the litter box? It’s not like a dog that you can let out to pee on the grass.

You want to buy a smaller litter box that you can close. There are small cat travel litter boxes, like this one on Amazon, or you can just buy a small plastic container with a cover (what we do).

This way, you can easily cover it up and not worry about it spilling it in the car. Or if your cat does use it on the road trip, you can close it up and not have to worry about spelling it!

Another cat road trip tip for the litter box is to use the same litter you’re using at home! And there are a few reasons for this…

If you buy a travel litter that comes with litter, it’s usually not quality litter that’s provided. It can be dustier and won’t mask the smell as well.

But the main thing is that your cat isn’t used to it. They’re already being introduced to so many new environments and changes – don’t change their litter on them!

Remember, you want to keep as many things as constant as you can. Using the same litter is one of the best ways to do that. Your cat is already used to it, you know they like it, why would you change it?

I even went as far as taking some old litter instead of a completely new bag (don’t worry I cleaned it out first!). But this way it already even smelled like him and he knew it was his!

8. What About Your Bathroom Breaks?

When you travel with a cat in a car, your needs often get overlooked. But they really shouldn’t.

Just like you you need to think about your cats bathroom breaks, you also have to think about your own. But unlike cats, we as humans can’t (and shouldn’t) be holding in our pee.

Depending on if you’re driving with anyone else when you travel with a cat in car, you may have to leave your cat alone in the car for a few minutes while you take car of business.

When you leave your cat in the car, make sure their carrier is closed, or they are attached to a leash. You don’t want to open the door to find them running out!

When we first started out driving with a cat, we didn’t leave him alone for a second. We were two people driving so while my partner would fill up with gas, I would use the bathroom. Then we would swap, I would stay at the car – seeing if the cat needed anything (water, food …etc.) while my partner used the bathroom. This way, it also never felt like we were ever waiting for the other person.

By the end of the trip, the cat was more used to staying in the car by himself so now we are able to leave him alone briefly.

If you’re alone driving with a cat, try to train them ahead of time to be okay in the car alone. Or another option is to use a duffel or cat backpack to bring them inside with you. We love the Pecute cat backpack for this.

9. How To Keep A Cat In The Car Hydrated!

If you’re packing water for yourself, make sure you have extra for your cat and a bowl to give it to them (get a collapsible bowl on Amazon for this).

Our cat didn’t want to drink water during the drive at all. Whenever I offered it to him he was too interested in what was happening outside.

It’s okay if they don’t drink during the day, but make sure they drink enough at night. Dehydration in cats is a real thing.

To make sure my cat stayed hydrated on our road trip I bought chicken in water from Purebites. You can also buy wet food to give them when you arrive at your destination to make sure they’re getting enough water.

10. Pack A Quick Access Bag With Your Cats Necessities

You’ve packed everything for your cat and maybe even have a separate overnight bag for them.

But you’ll also want to pack a quick access bag. This bag will keep everything you may need for your cat while you’re driving. You can either keep it in the front with you or have it accessible in the back seat.

It should carry all your cats necessities and what you’ll either need in the car or when you stop. I packed a small bag of treats (two kinds for a nice variety!), food, his harness and leash, collapsible bowl, Feliway calming spray, and a toy.

You should also keep any medication that your cat has here as well as his proof of vaccination.

11. How To Travel With A Cat: Don’t Just Ignore Them For 8+ Hours!

This may sound obvious but depending on your cat, they may just sleep in the car the whole time, so they can be easy to forget about.

I noticed that towards the end of the day, our cat did get lonely. He would start meowing and pace in the carrier.

Every stop even if I didn’t take him out, I would go around to give him some pets and offer him food and water. But he was often too distracted by what was happening outside to even care about me.

So, instead, while on the road I would open up the carrier when he was calm and just stick my hand in to pet him every once in a while. He really appreciated this to know that we were still there and give him a bit of human touch. Normally he doesn’t go this many hours without sitting on our lap.

This is also where sometimes I would take him out of the carrier to sit on my lap if he was really agitated. This is really about listening to your cat and their needs.

12. Don’t Go Too Long Without Stopping With A Cat In The Car

Even if your cat doesn’t get out of the car when you stop, or you noticed they still don’t drink water, it’s still important to take a break.

You don’t want to go too long in the car without stopping and giving them the option to get out.

I would plan to stop max every 3 hours but also listen to your cats needs. If they’re getting restless stop earlier for them. Give them water, food, and maybe even offer them the litter box.

My cat never wanted to go out in the end, he felt safest in the carrier in the car. So I did stop taking him out and offering him water by the end of the trip – I knew he didn’t want it. But I would still visit him in the backseat and give him some much deserved pets!

13. Roadtrip With Cats: What Are The Best Places To Stop?

Depending on where you travel with your cat in the car, there may be road side rest stops. On route from Montreal to Florida rest stops right off the highway.

They had bathrooms and typically a large grassy area with picnic tables.

I found I could take my cat out to the grass on the leash and harness here (like this set on Amazon). It’s a good spot to set up a bathroom break for your cat and offer water and food outside the car.

The only downside is that they may not have a gas station to fill up at. So you’ll still have to make another stop for that.

Quick Links – What You’ll Need To Travel With A Cat

Read More Related Posts

• What You Need To Travel With Your Cat In A Car Long Distances
• 15 Important Cat Road Trips Tips For Staying In A Hotel With A Cat
• Honest Cat Backpack Review: Pecute Cat Backpack
• Everything You Should Know Before Travelling With A Cat: Is It Worth It?
• Top 50 Long Distance Road Trip Tips For A Safe & Easy Drive

Pin To Save Or Share This Post

Last update on 2024-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API