Herding Cats

Tw4win

Not really herding but transporting and not really cats, just one cat...

In anticipation of moving in with my girlfriend I'm moving my cat into her place this weekend, at least that's the plan. Problem being that it's about a 90 minute drive from my place to her place and previous times I've had my cat in the car for longer than an hour he's taken a poo in his carrier. I don't think it's car sickness because he doesn't get sick. He just does his business like he normally would.

Question - Can I do anything to prevent this? Should I take his food/water away from him before the trip? If so, how long before?

Aurin

I've never had my cats in the car for over an hour, but, if you keep the food away from the cat for a couple hours, it should be enough time for him to get everything out of his system.

Nerissa

I'd go with at least 4 hours, just to be safe. If you're going to be leaving in the morning, you might even make it the whole night before.

Also, I'd put an old towel or some newspapers or something in the carrier, in case he does have an accident. (Of course, maybe it's not an accident, I know one of mine uses that particular activity to express displeasure with me.)

Everywhereasign

Yup, mine does the exact same thing. Sometimes he couples it with vomit, just to add to the smell and let me know that he's really really not pleased with what is going on.

My method works well for me, maybe it will help.

I take away food half a day before leaving. An hour or so before leaving, I clean out his litter box and put some fresh litter on top. He doesn't like this, he likes his litter to have his smell in it. This usually prompts him to empty his bladder and bowels just to make the litter smell right. Assuming I ignore the comstant complaints that will then come from him insisting that he is starving and will die. I usually get to my destination with a clean cat carrier. I also hold off on giving him food for a little when we arrive, because he has done the "revenge vomit" in the past.

EDIT due to inability to use proper vB Code

Tw4win

The litter thing is good advice. Thanks!

Krummith

I recently had to fly my cat from Ohio to Georgia. To prevent him from having an accident, I did much like Everywhereasign, but I also used diapers. At Petsmart I found doggie diapers, and the small ones fit my cat. He HATED it, but it worked well. I also used one of those cat calming sprays. He was actually very calm during the flight. I was pleasantly surprised.

aesir

tilt it slightly backwards on the seat so it doesnt slide through the front grate.

DrZiplock

I've got two cats that I travel with once or twice a year.

It's a 5+ hour drive.

One of them has no problem and will just curl up and fall asleep in his carrier. The other (who never shuts up even at home) just kinda talks and meows his way through it until he passes out.

As for dropping a deuce in the cages? They're great about not doing anything.

The method is simple, when I go to bed the night before the trip, I pick up the food and water bowl (which is usually empty anyway). I don't refill them both like I normally do in the morning, get in the car and go.

That means they've had an entire night to work it out of their system. Works like a charm. Anything longer than 5 hours and I'd let them have water though...

Wezoin

I've taken a cat on a 9+ hour trip in my van (moving) He meowed the whole way, but didn't soil himself. I was kinda surprised. So I dont have so much a reccomendation as maybe just an example of when things went well.

Captain Awesomeftw

This thread does not deliver!

Shadowfire

Honestly?

It's a 90 minute drive. I hate to be a dick, but let him crap. Put a towel down in the carrier, have it wrap up against the edges, and if he craps, he craps. No big deal... the towel is washable.

When I brought my two kittens home, it was an almost 2 hour drive. They both got car sick and I had to give them baths when we got there (if you get my drift). I felt bad, but at the same time.. it's only a couple hours. No big deal.

Aurin

Some people don't like to torture their animals by making them sit in that for two hours.

Or ruin the seats in their cars.

Or smell it for two hours. <.<