I know they have different means to transport dogs in your car safely without their being confined. Is there a anything out there that would allow me to get my cat safely through a 2 hour drive without confining him to a carrier?
Those who say cats feel safer in a small, confined area should never have the pleasure of a cats company. When they hide in a confined area,a box, under a couch,they choose this area with the option to move when they want.Originally Posted by urbantigers
Putting a blanket over the carrier so that it's darker often makes a cat feel less anxious and many people say that cats actually feel safer in a small confined place than in a larger one. I wouldn't let your kitty free in the car - it's just not safe (for you, other motorists or kitty). Cats aren't usually great travellers so it may be that yours will always cry in the car.
Originally Posted by urbantigers
Well I'm not suggesting keeping them in a confined area under normal circumstances! But when they're in unfamiliar surroundings with unfamiliar smells and sounds (such as in a car) they can feel safer if they are in a smaller, darker space. That's why it's often recommended to cover a cat's eyes when they're stressed out or panicking when being restrained (just with a hand - not suggesting anyone ties a scarf around their cat's eyes!). When my cat was at the vet recently having a dental the vet said he was a bit stressed as he was coming around from the anaesthetic so they gave him lots of blankets that he could hide under. She (and the vet tech who saw him beforehand) said the same thing - that they tend to be less anxious if they can't see anything to be afraid of. when he was being examined before the dental the tech covered his eyes when he was stressed.
When I suggested a blanket over the carrier I didn't mean completely covered up - as most carriers have ventilation holes on all sides that can make a cat feel vulnerable. The cat can see it's unfamiliar surroundings but can't run away or fight (fight or flight) - so just gets stressed. Covering up the top and sides while leaving the front free so that the cat can see out can help. Obviously this depends on the type of carrier you have as much as anything - mine has a grill door that allows plenty of ventilation - I wouldn't cover up the top and sides of a carrier with a more solid door at the front.
this is exactly what my experience has been. As well I have traveled up to 5 hours straight thruogh with the litter box in the back seat.Originally Posted by rxysrfgrrl
I'm going to admit that my cat doesn't use her carrier, either (except when we go into the vet's). She just cries and cries the whole time and I decided to see what she would do without the carrier. I didn't want her roaming all over the car or jumping down to the foot pedals, so I put her on her harness and leash (which she doesn't really like, so it kind of freezes her in place) and as soon as I do that, she plops right down onto the passenger side and doesn't move a muscle. She just falls asleep. If anything, she'll lay down on my lap and fall asleep.
I suppose it might be dangerous but I drive extreeemely slowly and carefully when she's in the car with me and hold on to her if I'm making a turn or something. And the fact that she's on her harness and leash means she can't move more than a few feet.
A carrier is going to fly just as easily as a cat, then you get into the issue of weighting it down, not good, seat belt not good...we all could go on and on, but the simple fact is to each is own and maybe if you feel safer useing the carrier, you will just have to deal with the meowing...Originally Posted by emmylou
I would agree. In a crash (and, yes, you can't control for other drivers' behavior), a pet that is loose in the car turns into a 10- to 20-pound projectile. Not only can the pet get smashed into or through a window, but he may hit and seriously injure any human passengers in the car.
It doesn't really matter that the cat is unhappy in the carrier, relatively speaking. Safety is more important. The cat is likely to be unhappy about the car ride no matter what.
I don't have personal experience with this, but I've heard that some cats are less resistant to a soft-sided carrier.
That is what I use on new cats.Originally Posted by cheylink
They do have the large carriers that are very sturdy and even seperate into 2 parts,top and bottom, for easier storage. They look a lot like the litter box house.