Traveling with 3 cats

[Masson99]

Ok so I’m moving across the country in a month and I will be driving with my 3 cats. I have bought a carrier where 2 of them can be on separate sides with a litter box in the middle but the other cat will be riding in his own carrier. I’m wondering about potty breaks. I saw a pet play pen thing that I could set up at a rest stop and put him in there with a litter box (I’ve attached a photo) but idk if it’s even worth trying to. We won’t be driving for more than 8 hours a day. All 3 cats have taken car trips of about 4 hours so they’re ok with actually being in the carriers but I’m still worried. This’ll be their longest car trip.

 

[Kris107]

I think a larger kennel where they all have access to the litter box might be best. Any time you consider "transferring" your cats in a strange environment, you risk one freaking out and bolting. Imagine - you pull over at a rest stop and a huge semi rolls up behind you. YIKES. You know your cats best though - and their personalities. If they tolerate a lot of new things and don't spook easily... I just would hate one getting freaked out in the middle of nowhere Nebraska on the side of a busy highway.

 

[Masson99]

I think a larger kennel where they all have access to the litter box might be best. Any time you consider "transferring" your cats in a strange environment, you risk one freaking out and bolting. Imagine - you pull over at a rest stop and a huge semi rolls up behind you. YIKES. You know your cats best though - and their personalities. If they tolerate a lot of new things and don't spook easily... I just would hate one getting freaked out in the middle of nowhere Nebraska on the side of a busy highway.

Well the space in my car is limited. I’m having to also bring several boxes of clothes and daily essentials. Laying my back seats down and doing that was my first thought but I can’t tow a U-Haul for other stuff

 

[Kris107]

How about carefully swapping out a cat for the single-cat carrier so they at least all have some time in the one with the litter? Be sure to swap with all the car doors shut though!

 

[Masson99]

How about carefully swapping out a cat for the single-cat carrier so they at least all have some time in the one with the litter? Be sure to swap with all the car doors shut though!

That’s a good idea! I just need to make a system.

 

[happilyretired]

When I moved with one cat (many years ago), I'd read that the greatest danger was taking the cat out of the carrier at any time. We only had an 8 hour trip, and I did not have her use the litter box. She stayed in the carrier the entire time with no problems.

When we arrived, I immediately set her up with food and water and her litter box. I also read that the change in water can negatively affect cats, so brought several 2-liter bottles of water from home and gradually added the water from our new place.

She was 7 at the time and handled the move really well.

 

[ClumsyBear]

I have done about 6-7 hours with car rides and trains with my cat multiple times. And, honestly, it's always easier than expected.

Currently I have a nice soft carrier that extends on one side. It looks pretty cozy and he uses it as a bed at home too. If you can get them used to the carriers prior to the trip, they'll do really well. I hide treats in there throughout the week prior to our trips.
I'd look into the Feliway spray - I sprayed it last couple times and noticed he was far less anxious than usual. He settled and slept during the trip. I also put one or two favorite toys in his carrier for comfort.

I remove food about 2 hours prior to leaving and I also put him in his litter box right before. Sometimes he goes, sometimes he doesn't.

I don't have him go to the bathroom during the travels. We've never had any issues. Even when I had a litter available, he just wouldn't go while travelling.

I just make sure to set up a litter box, water and food right when we get to our destination.

On our most recent car trip I was able to put his harness on and take a quick walk outside to stretch his legs. But, he's fine without it.

 

[FriendofFerals]

I travel with three in the back of the SUV in carriers around 3-4 times a year on a 5 hour drive. Two can "hold it" but old man Squeaky has IBD and is on steroids so he drinks more. He sometimes poops and pees his carrier. I line his large, collapsible carrier (meant for medium sized dogs) with doggie pee pads. We stop 2.5 hours in at a gas station and I open the zip top of the carrier just enough to get my hand in, grab the poo/pee pads and try to stuff clean ones down. That cat usually needs a bath on arrival. Can't help it. I have a "playpen" just like that but would never use it en-route for fear of an accident where someone gets out. I use it to keep them safely away from the pool when we get to my parents' house. If you had a lot of room in the car, you could set up a small litter box inside a smaller version of that playpen so they could use the litter box as needed--just remember, animals don't understand 'potty breaks' on long trips as if they should know to pee/poo then. Most likely they will go when they need to. If they can't hold it until a good place to stop for a while where they feel safe and secure, maybe set their carrier up so they can go inside.

I have two of these big carriers that I line with pee pads for the two most likely to need them. One cat is younger and travels just fine in a smaller carrier and just does his business when we arrive.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0875YGRV9/?tag=thecatsite

Another thing that helps, I've found, is feed them good the night before so they pee/poo at dawn and are mostly empty. I pray before every trip that all 3 make a big deposit in the litter boxes because it means less chance of an en-route poo and all that's likely is the cat on steroids to pee on the pads and need a bath. Sometimes, even with the best strategy, they go anyway but the one thing I would advise against most is taking them out of their carriers at a stop, even releasing them inside a playpen. Cats freak out in strange environments and the likelihood of them feeling comfortable enough to go poo/pee at a stop like that outside would be doubtful at best and highly risky.

 

[Robyn5678]

I travel from CT to Florida with mine 2 times a year. Never once have any of my 4 cats used the litter box on the 10 hr drive. I stop at a hotel overnight. I do have one of those pens which I put 3 of them in with a bed. At the hotel there is room for a litter box and food.