Should You Bring Your Cat Along for the Ride?
As a cat owner, deciding whether to bring your feline companion on a trip can be a tricky dilemma. On one hand, the thought of leaving your furry friend behind may seem heartbreaking. On the other, travel can be highly stressful for cats, potentially jeopardizing their health and happiness.
Both options have their pros and cons. Leaving cats at home avoids travel risks, but requires reliable pet care and preparations to ease separation anxiety. Bringing them along lets you bond on the journey, but demands vigilance for their comfort and safety. With thoughtful planning for either choice, both can work out fine for certain cats and trips.
This article examines the key considerations around leaving cats at home versus bringing them along when you travel. We’ll explore how to minimize risks and maximize enjoyment for you and your cat, whichever option you choose.
Cats Prefer Familiar Environments
Cats become stressed when exposed to new environments outside of the home. Research shows that unfamiliar settings cause anxiety and stress in cats (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7909512/). When taken out of their comfort zone, cats can exhibit nervous or withdrawn behavior as they struggle to adjust. Their routines are disrupted and they no longer feel the safety and security of their territory. According to a 2021 study, 77% of pet cats show signs of distress when traveling or introduced to new environments outside the home.
The familiar scent, sounds, people and layout of their home environment provide cats with stability. Any major change from this, like traveling, causes insecurity and apprehension. Cats feel most relaxed and content when they can remain in the comfort of their known surroundings.
Risks of Traveling
Traveling with cats poses some risks to be mindful of. One is carsickness, as cats can experience nausea and vomiting in moving vehicles, especially on winding roads. Preparing with anti-nausea medication prescribed by a vet can help (source). Cats may also try to escape unfamiliar hotel rooms or vacation rentals. It’s wise to bring a travel carrier and keep windows and doors closed. Cats can become disoriented and get lost in new environments, so leashes, harnesses, and close supervision are a must outside the hotel. Kittens and elderly cats may become overly frightened by travel and new situations (source). Overall, the risks of cats escaping, getting carsick, or becoming lost mean close monitoring is required when traveling.
Benefits of Leaving Cats Home
One of the biggest advantages of leaving cats at home is avoiding the stress of transportation. Traveling can be very stressful and frightening for cats. The motions of the car or airplane can cause anxiety, nausea, and disorientation. Cats feel safest in the comfort of their familiar home environment. According to the article “Is it better to leave a cat at home and have someone check on them or take them with on a trip?” transportation causes extreme stress and territorial insecurity in cats (1).
Leaving a cat at home also allows them to stick to their normal routine. Cats thrive on regular schedules for feeding, play, and sleep. Maintaining their typical routine reduces stress and helps them feel comfortable. An article from Comforted Kitty mentions that staying home enables cats to follow their usual habits in their own safe space (2).
Additionally, leaving cats at home avoids the risks of them escaping or getting lost in an unfamiliar place. It can be challenging to keep cats safe and secure when traveling. At home, measures are already in place to prevent them from slipping out doors or windows. Cats may hide or try to run off when stressed in new environments. Paddock Park Veterinary states leaving cats home ensures constant monitoring and attention (3).
Securing Proper Care at Home
When leaving cats at home for an extended period, it’s crucial to arrange for proper care while you’re gone. There are a few good options for securing care for your feline companions:
Hiring a pet sitter is a top choice, as they can visit your home daily to feed, play with, and care for your cats. Sites like Rover.com connect pet owners with local sitters who can provide in-home visits and send photo updates. Ask for referrals and check reviews to find a reliable, cat-loving sitter.
Asking responsible family or friends to pet-sit is another option. Make sure they can fully commit to daily visits and are comfortable with any medications or special needs. Provide detailed instructions and emergency contacts.
Using a boarding service can work for some cats, but others may find it stressful. Tour facilities in advance and ask about procedures and staff experience with cats. Some vet offices also provide boarding services.
No matter who cares for your cats, be sure to leave detailed info sheets, with feeding schedules, medication instructions, emergency contacts, hiding spots, and Anything else sitters need to know.
Preparing Home for Absence
When leaving cats at home while traveling, it’s important to properly prepare the home environment. This involves stocking up on essentials like food and litter, providing enrichment activities for your cat, and getting approval from your vet that your cat is healthy enough to be left alone.
Before leaving on a trip, make sure you have enough cat food and fresh litter to last the entire time you will be gone. Calculate the right quantity based on how much your cat eats daily. Having an extra supply is also a good precaution in case your return gets delayed. You’ll want to leave multiple bowls of water around the house as well so your cat always has access to water. According to the ASPCA, cats should never go more than 24 hours without water.
In addition to the basics, be sure to provide your cat with sufficient play and enrichment items to keep them busy and prevent boredom while you’re away. Rotate different toys so there’s always something new and interesting to interact with. Food puzzle toys are great for mental stimulation and slowing down mealtimes. Places to scratch, climb, and perch help cats engage in natural behaviors. Providing a window view of outdoor activity can provide passive entertainment.
Before any trip, the ASPCA recommends getting your cat examined by your vet to rule out any underlying medical issues that could worsen while you’re gone. Make sure their vaccines are up to date as well. Discuss with your vet how long it’s safe to leave your specific cat home alone based on their age, needs, and health status.
Benefits of Bringing Cats Along
Bringing your cat along on vacation can have several benefits, including increasing bonding between you and your furry companion. Spending additional quality time together in an exciting new environment can strengthen your relationship with your cat.
By having your cat with you, you avoid any stress they may feel from staying in an unfamiliar place like a boarding facility while you’re away. Very few cats actually enjoy boarding, so bringing them along spares them that anxiety.
You also get to provide constant supervision and care for your cat. At home, you need to rely on pet sitters or neighbors to check in periodically. But when traveling together, you can monitor your cat’s needs around the clock.
According to Pet Travel – Why Travel with a Cat? — siberian_reinhardt, some key benefits of cat travel include increased bonding, enrichment/exercise for the cat, and less worry about your pet’s care when they remain by your side.
Traveling Safely with Cats
When taking cats on trips, it’s important to ensure their safety and comfort throughout the journey. Proper carriers and restraints are essential for safe car travel. Hard-sided carriers that can be secured with a seatbelt are recommended over soft carriers that can collapse in an accident. Carriers should be large enough for cats to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Placing a familiar blanket or toy inside can help reduce stress.
For long car rides, plan to stop every 2-3 hours so cats can use the litter box and get a reprieve from the carrier. Bring along litter, litter box, food, medication, grooming supplies, and other cat essentials. It’s advisable to keep cats in the carrier when stopped and only allow them to exit in a secure, enclosed space. Limiting duration of drives to 6-8 hours per day can help reduce travel stress.
Cite: https://www.petmd.com/cat/care/8-tips-traveling-cat
Proper planning and preparation allows cats to travel safely. Their needs must be met throughout the trip to keep them healthy and comfortable.
Making New Places Cat-Friendly
When traveling with your cat or moving to a new home or apartment, it’s important to make the new environment feel welcoming and safe for your feline companion. Here are some tips for cat-proofing new spaces:
If staying in a hotel, inspect the room thoroughly before letting your cat out of their carrier. Look for potential hazards like open balconies, small spaces behind furniture where they could get stuck, toxic houseplants, or loose cords and blinds. Keep balcony doors closed and secured. Consider bringing a collapsible cat fence or exercise pen to block off unsafe areas.
Bring familiar items from home like their bed, toys, litter box, scratching post, and blankets or clothing with your scent. Having familiar textures, smells, and objects around will help ease their transition.
Try to stick to your cat’s normal routine as much as possible. Feed them and play with them at the same times each day. Designate a quiet space or corner just for them to retreat to if feeling overwhelmed.
Use synthetic pheromone diffusers and sprays designed to reduce stress and anxiety in cats. These can make new environments more welcoming.
Give your cat plenty of affection and playtime in the new location so they associate it with you and positive experiences.
Go slowly with introductions if you have multiple cats, and give them separate spaces at first so tensions don’t escalate.
With preparation and patience, you can help your cat feel right at home in new and unfamiliar places.
Conclusion
When deciding whether to bring cats along on trips or leave them at home, there are pros and cons to weigh for each option. On one hand, leaving cats at home avoids the stress of travel and keeps their routine consistent in a familiar environment. Making arrangements for proper care and securing the home for their absence are key. On the other hand, bringing cats along allows you to still enjoy their companionship and not displace them to an unfamiliar place and caregiver. Traveling safely with cats involves planning and cat-proofing new destinations. Overall, while each cat and situation is different, the research indicates that in most cases, leaving healthy cats at home with a responsible caretaker tends to be less disruptive for the cat.
The decision should be based on an individual assessment of the cat’s personality, needs, and lifestyle. Bold and adventurous cats may adapt well to new environments and travel, while anxious cats prone to stress may be better off staying put. Kittens, seniors and cats with health issues also tend to do better staying home. Preparing adequately for their care and providing a safe, enriched environment is key. With proper planning for their daily care and keeping home surroundings familiar, most healthy adult cats without behavioral issues can be left at home without problems when owners take occasional trips.