Don't Let Your Cat Drive You To Distraction In The Car

Cats are pretty independent and don't relish being told what to do

. So, to be forced into a cat basket and travelled around in a metal box is not generally something they look forward to. To make matters worse, they usually wind up at a place with unpleasant smells and an aura of fear, the VET. Their only reward being a sharp needle and having their mouth prised open.

So we need to try and help the experience pass as easily as we can for our cats.

To begin with, cats need to be put into a basket. Most of us will fetch the basket out of storage shortly before we intend to go, this can mean the cat will start to associate the basket with the trip to the vet. You can help avoid this happening by bringing out the basket out at few days ahead of time and placing it somewhere where your cat will see it every day. As cats like to hide in small spaces, they sometimes actually see it as a place of sanctuary, and it can be quite difficult to get them out of it at the other end! Having a basket where you can take the complete top off, for easy access, is certainly useful in these cases.

Like humans, cats have different ways of dealing with stress. Some might handle it better than others, some might crouch down and stay as quite as possible, whilst others will yowl for the whole of the journey. In a lot of cases, it's the motion of the car that upsets them, more than anything else.

In order to minimise this, it's best to make sure the basket is safely secured in the car with a seat belt. You will also need to consider your passenger when diving as well, anticipate junctions and roundabouts, getting past them as smoothly as possible to avoid any sudden stop/starts. A flow of fresh air is crucial as well, so keep the car windows slightly open and never leave a pet in the car unattended.

If your cats are car sick, and some do suffer, then it's possible to get appropriate medication from your vet. Under no circumstance use human medicines to try and treat your cat yourself. If your cat is highly stressed, there is a spray that you can use in the basket and car that gives the area an aroma of calm and tranquility for cats - Feliway. It's very useful stuff for applying in areas where your cat may be stressed, for instance cats living in homes with other cats, may get stressed and this can be a useful treatment for this, also if you've had building works or are thinking of going away on holiday, this can be used to help reduce the level of stress in your cat.

by: Rob Tyrrell

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