Tips for traveling?

[MaryB & Chester]

My dad is in the hospital in another state, very ill. We are going to go up and see him this weekend. My friend Sam isn't comfortable yet with Chester's injections and may not be available at all the times he'd need to be for the schedule. We can't afford a petsitter or boarding. So it looks like Chester is coming with us!

Any tips to traveling with a diabetic cat?
I've been part of rescue transports before, but that's only about an hour or two at a time. This is a five hour drive up and five hours back. We'll be staying at my sister's house, keeping Chester shut in the basement (away from the dogs). Need to pick up a "travel" litterbox of some kind (any suggestions)? Bring the canned food and bowls for food and water.
I know the insulin has to be kept cold while it is out of the refrigerator - we have a little travel insulin "wallet" that should be perfect. I don't have any travel "sharps" containers - can I just buy those at the drugstore? Tester, strips, lancets...Anything else?

Anything you can share on traveling long distances with diabetics, or just cats in general would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[BJM]

Pack your hypo kit!

Pack ketone testing supplies.

Be prepared - where are the vet offices and emergency hospitals along your route? Make sure you can find them and know who is available 24 hours, preferably with good reputations.

Have a medical history and proof of vaccinations just in case a vet visit is needed

Leaseh or harness train; you want to be sure escaping and getting lost is difficult to do.

Desensitize to the carrier by leaving it out, with some Feliway sprayed in it or some catnip sprinkled or a favored toy.

 

[rhiannon and shadow (GA)]

give him your pj's or something that smells like you for when he needs to be in a crate. And if he scares easily, take something to
drape over the carrier , it can help calm them not to see it all.

If the dogs bark a lot, maybe a portable cd player or radio to give him some white noise. new smells and noises are the worst in unfamiliar
surroundings.


and someone I know who has a cat who loses it with all orifices actually puts pee pads on the bottom of the crate just in case, one taped over another so she can rip out the top one and dispose of it.

 

[Maggies Mom Debby]

For a travel litter box, maybe try putting the litter in a plastic storage box with a lid. That way you can snap the lid on after use and keep the odors from filling the car until you can clean it out. Pee pads in the carrier are a great idea, too.