Advice on Taking Simba on Vacation?

[wsugold]

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted advice on what you all do about vacations? do you take the cat w/you? i really don't want to board him....but nor do we have alot of friends here or family that i would trust to be on time w/his shots, etc.

Right now we are giving him 4 units, 2x a day.

I am nervous about the possibility of even taking Simba with us...we have never done this b/f. in the past it was easier of course when we didnt have to give him a shot...it was easier to get help. but now its different.

Everytime simba goes in the car he is afraid it will lead to the vet. i was thinking of just taking him on rides to get him used to a longer car ride...but how long can a cat hold its pee or poop? how does long travel work? i would never put him on a plain..but what have you all done in the past? what has worked/not worked, etc.

I want to make this as smooth as possible for him if i can..but just not sure how long to go and how do i let him pee since i can't take him outside like a dog?

any input would be great.

thanks in advance!

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

Yes, first, I would take him for short trips to be sure he will tolerate being in the car.

We have traveled with both our cats at separate times. We stayed in pet friendly hotels and at the destination got a pet friendly VRBO (vacation rental by owner) home. We put the litter box in the car and he would use it when we stopped. We took his favorite bed and toys, had water and food available. Some people set up a big crate and put everything in it. We let him sit on our laps or on his bed. Lots of people are concerned the cat would get loose in case of an accident and they use the crate. We always figured if we aren't likely to have a wreck. He is chipped with a license.

We took the insulin and the timed feeder so he could eat at regular intervals just like at home.

It certainly is possible to travel with a cat, if the cat is willing. :mrgreen:

 

[Dyana]

First of all I would recommend that Simba is confined in a crate if at all possible, and wears a harness and leash, along with a collar with your cell phone number, during the drive, and is micro chipped, just in case he gets out and gets lost. It can get pretty noisy in the car. I take my cats on a six hour trip, and they cry the first half of the way. I try to do rest stops after a couple hours, and take them out individually to see if they will use the little box placed on the floor behind the front seat, and to give them a snack. But make sure all car doors and windows are closed before you take him out of his crate. I use Rescue Remedy to help as much as I can with the stress. Once you get to your destination, make sure it is cat proof, and realize that Simba will probably hide for awhile, so I would confine him to one room for awhile if you can.
I put insulin in an insulated canvas lunch box, wrapped well in bubble wrap, and with one of those frozen ice packs next to it. You don't want the insulin to freeze, but you want it to stay cold.

 

[Lisa & Mary]

Often vet techs do pet sitting as a side job and they can do insulin injections and home testing. Ask at your vet and you may be able go find someone there.