I’ve only had to travel long distances with cats a couple of times. Once when we moved from Tucson up to Phoenix and we relocated Sneakers with us. The next time was hauling Mr. Meow up here from Jacksonville, and then for our family road trip to Denver for Christmas 2005.
The reason we chanced the road trip to Denver with both Murphy and Mr. Meow was because he traveled so well on the nine hour drive from Jacksonville to Nashville. I was really worried about him and had even gone to the vet to get him a knock out pill, but he didn’t need it. He was content sitting between Wayne and I or on my lap if he wasn’t curled up in his carrier. (I ended up giving him a half of the pill before we set out, though. It didn’t even take effect until two hours before we got here. Mr. Meow’s first impressions of his new digs were loopy ones for sure.)
The Litter Box Dilemma
I don’t know which I fretted about more when we were preparing to transport him: how the pill would effect him or how we’d handle the potty situation. It’s not like traveling with Murph where he lifts his leg when we make potty stops for ourselves. Mr. Meow uses a litter box, which is a bit bulky to travel with. So where would it factor in?
We made space for it in the back of the truck and made it easily accessible to retrieve when we stopped. While the three of us were out and about Mr. Meow had privacy to tend to his needs if he had any. That worked well.
The Long Drive
The seventeen hour drive from Nashville to Denver caused me some concern too. But we had just moved to Nashville and didn’t know anyone. Our trip to Denver was a last minute decision, so all pet sitters were booked.
But not all minivans were. I figured if we rented one and loaded up both pets we’d have more than enough room for them, our stuff, and the litter box. Which we did. Murph had the second row, Kitty took the back, the litter box was on the floor in back and Mr. Meow accessed it a couple of times en route. (He also ended up sharing the second row with Murph half the trip and my lap the other half.)
Mr. Meow’s the Exception
Most people are amazed Mr. Meow traveled so well and such a long way. Time and again people have shared horror stories of traveling with cats who freaked out in a moving car. It’s been the rare story I heard of a cat who enjoyed going for a ride.
If Mr. Meow had been stressed on the way up from Jacksonville then I never would’ve chanced the trip to Denver. But I’m glad we did that with him. He loved Grandma Dorothy’s house! (And she loved having him!)
Question to Readers
Have you ever traveled with your cat(s)? How did they do?
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