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Advice on Kitten and long car journey


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Old 23-06-2009, 09:49
Jolene
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I'm picking up my new edition soon and wanted as much advice possible on the long car journey.

I have a two and a half hour journey on the M4 and want to make it the most comfortable I can for the 13 week old kitten.

I have a large cat box and will take towels, but can you recommened any thing else? Should I make a pit stop for him to drink etc?, what if he pees in his box?

I was planning to go on my own but wondering now if I should take some one with me to keep him company.

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated
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Old 23-06-2009, 09:55
stud u like
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If he pees,he pees and he probably will if he is not used to it! From experience, he might do more than pee!

This weather, the heat is nasty and you should keep the car cool as the heat is just as bad for cats as well as dogs.

He will probably sleep but there may be a lot of mewing too which can be distracting.

I would bring some food and drink. They don't tend to drink much.

I think you should take someone with you to put his mind off things if he gets stressed easily.
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Old 23-06-2009, 09:59
RAINBOWGIRL22
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If he pees,he pees and he probably will if he is not used to it! From experience, he might do more than pee!

This weather, the heat is nasty and you should keep the car cool as the heat is just as bad for cats as well as dogs.

He will probably sleep but there may be a lot of mewing too which can be distracting.

I would bring some food and drink. They don't tend to drink much.

I think you should take someone with you to put his mind off things if he gets stressed easily.
Yep - I totally agree!!!

I would also sugesst getting the little one home as soon as you can as he'll be pretty stressed out, bless him!! Stopping to let him out of his cat box may just add to the stress so make sure he has some dry food and some water accessable...

If you could get someone to accompany you then that might help....

He'll probably wee and pooh - don't worry it can all be cleaned - maybe line his cat box with something you can throw away after...

Keep the car cool and don't take his protest too much to heart.

When you get him home I would say stick him in the one room to begin with until he settle and starts to get used to his new surroundings.

Oh and congrats by the way
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Old 23-06-2009, 10:34
wilhemina
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The way I would undertake a journey of this length would be to see if I could borrow the biggest crate I could fit in my car (perhaps put the back seats down if you can to make as much room as possible?). Then put a cat carrier or cardboard box inside the crate lined with towels or blankets & a blanket or covering on the floor of the crate. Attach a travel water bowl to the side of the crate with just a little water in so it doesn't spill out. Put a small dish of food in the crate as well ~ use the same food that he's currently being fed. If possible put a small litter tray as far away from food/water/box as possible. This way the kitten has the security of the small, darkened enclosed box/carrier to hide away in as it will be very scared but it will also be able to move around to eat/drink/toilet. The crate will keep it secure from escaping when you open the car doors. If necessary you could always drape a blanket over the whole crate to try to keep the kitten calm but make sure there is enough ventilation, especially if it's a warm day.

I would definitely take someone with me. Young kittens can be very loud & distracting when you're driving. You need to concentrate on the road so the other person can keep an eye on the kitten for you. Plus, what would happen in the case of an emergency, e.g. breakdown, or even just for a petrol stop or break for yourself ~ it's much better to have company just in case!

Good luck ~ I hope you have an uneventful journey & your kitten settles down happily.
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Old 23-06-2009, 13:16
Puffle
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When we bought our eight week old kitten back from Bournemouth a few years ago (a 2.5hr journey) we fed and watered her before we left, put her in a normal cat carrier with a nice comfy towel in it and drove home. Yes she mewed but she was perfectly fine and was quite comfortable.

All I would really suggest is that you try to get him/her to have food and water before leaving the place you are collecting them from and take someone with you as the mewing can be a bit distracting.

Perhaps advisable to take a bottle of water/dry food with you and a dish just incase the worst happens and you break down but other than that I'd just get home in the least possible time and with the least fuss for the cat.
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