Hello!
My bf and I are picking up two lovely ragdoll kittens next week and, as I've never had cats in a car before, I'm looking for any tips for travel!
The owner seems to think that they'll be fine and most likely will go to sleep, but I'd like to do everything I can to make sure that the journey is as easy for them as possible.
We're going to get a medium to large carrier for them and line it with puppy pads (just in case!).
Is it better to make regular stops to check on them, or is it best to leave them so they can settle?

They'll have two journeys. One of about an hour back to a family members house where we're currently living, and another the following day to the house we're moving into which will be about 4 and a half hours.

Any advice very welcome!

This made me laugh because it reminded me of when my first 2 were kittens. Had to take them on car rides a few times back then a journey of about an hour and a quarter each time. Had them together in a carrier and the noise of them was unbelievable. They cried and whinged the whole way and I remember thinking oh they'll settle in a minute, they'll settle in a minute, but they never did. It was the same every time, all the way. 7 years later they still hate being in a car but the only place now is to the vets 10 minutes away, and the crying is the same only louder.

I don't think theres much you can do really but hope the journey is over a soon as possible. Some cats may be fine, others just hate it. 4 and a half hours is a long journey but if it has to be done it has to be done and they will hopefully sleep for that journey or at least some of it. If you're collecting the cats from their mother try to get a blanket with her scent on it for inside the carrier which will give them some comfort. Good luck and hope all goes well.

Be prepared for a lot of yowling! My Maine Coon yowled for 2 solid hours all the way home. He wasn't particularly scared, he looked absolutely fine, just didn't want to be in the basket! He still yowls 8 years later, but I'm better at ignoring him. My two moggies just settle down quietly, never have any problems with them.

Some cats do get car-sick (Maine Coon again!), so take some extra lining paper for the carrier. Also be prepared to stop for major accidents, you can't drive with THAT smell!

Raggies do often learn to ride in a car and enjoy it.

My experience of Raggie kittens is is lots of noise getting them into the car, carrying them around in the carrier but once you get going they will go to sleep. They are docile, but often vocal.

I've found that the older Raggies will calmly watch what's going on (and want to see you) but its best to cover the youngsters as they'll want to get out and investigate all they see.

Congratulations btw, hope you post piccies and I'm glad you've got two, Raggies love company and having two should help on you trip and after.

When I rescued a kitten and took it to the vets for ear mites she hated being in a box so I ended up carrying her in my coat on a bus! She was happy as anything and calm and just enjoyed the view. Kittens are young and adventurous. I'm sure a car would not faze them in the least.

When I brought M&M home they were so quiet I stopped to check I had them!

Suspect it depends a bit on the timing - if they are ready to wake up & play while they are in the car then it could get noisy, if they are ready for a sleep that's good.

Sometimes what (if anything) is on the radio seems to make a difference.

Putting them togeather in a big carrier will probably help.

My cat hates travelling in the car. I put the pet carrier to close in the passenger seat and she pawed me. Lucky I was wearing my coat and the claws didn't hurt so much. Keep it away and away from the gear stick as she kept going for my hand. She also yowls loudly, it's so painful to hear and I can't drive fast. Fastest I go on the motorway is 50mph.Slowler the speed then she is ok and no sudden moves as this upsets her even more. She likes to face me in the carrier and I try talk to her to sooth and calm her nerves. Do not open the window if the traffic becomes stationary, as the noise of traffic upset her even more. She never sleeps. She didn't sleep at all during the entire way to South Wales. It doesn't matter what time of day I travel with her she dislikes it. I kept a litter tray in the foot of the car in case she needed to go. I keep a cushion and blanket in the pet carrier to make it more soft and comfortable for her. I sincerely hope your cats are not a yowler!

I brought two Maine Coon kittens to France a few years ago and they survived a 9-10 hour drive with no stress whatsoever.

Have something dark to cover part of the carrier and they'll feel more secure. It will feel more like a nice, safe cave. Don't let the car get too hot.

Give them something to curl up in like a box with sides so they don't slip around too much when the car goes round bends. Put something like a fleece in there for them to lie on. Ask the breeder for a bit of towel or bedding so you can put it in the box for a familiar scent. If you can put a small litter tray in, so much the better but ours only pee-ed on the journey. Use the same litter type as the breeder.

About half-an-hour or so before picking them up, spray some Feliway (available from pet shops and vets) lightly around the outside of the crate.

Don't bother with stops - in my experience. Have water available if possible and a little dried food.

Make sure the driver remembers that there are animals in the car and drive so that you don't throw the cats around and slow down / speed up gradually, not like a rally driver!

Hope that helps.

Enjoy your kittens... and you must come back to this thread and post piccies!

My Maine Coons are fine in the car but our little tabbies...

We book an 08.30am appointment and institute a nil by mouth regime from 10pm the night before.

It takes two of us and one large crate big enough to take a litter tray plus an area for them to curl up. It also takes disposible gloves, a supply of plastic bags and a roll of very absorbent kitchen towel. I sit in the back of the car facing the doors to the carrier - which are longways enabling me to access the whole carrier.

By the time we get to the top of the drive the first one will have been sick. By the time we get to the next village (4 kms) one or both of the others will have done an incredibly noxious heap (hence disposible gloves and plastic bags) and this goes on until we get to the vets - about a 20 minute drive. Going back home is never a problem - they're empty!

It really helps not feeding them from the previous night.

I feel quite fortunate now!

Totally agree about not feeding them before they travel, at least that way, all the Maine Coon does is dribble!

My cat is a nightmare she refuses to get in the cat basket and it turns into a proper fight with her actually whacking me and then hiding behind the curtains, once in she will try and get out and when in the car she meows although a little bit of 80's music seems to calm her a bit

That was a part of why we wanted two. Most of the time there will be someone in, but I'd like them to have some kitty company as well. The other reason was that I've only had two cats together from the same litter. They're such lovely company for each other (most of the time)!


The first journey will be in the evening, the second late afternoon. Hopefully both will be deemed decent nap times!
I'll definitely let them share a carrier, hopefully they'll be comforting for each other


That's a good idea, I didn't think of covering part of the carrier. I'll definitely do that. We'll ask the breeder for something that has a familiar scent to it as well

Heheh, I'll be keeping very close tabs on the driver! And I will definitely post some piccies! I promise you they're very very cute. And so tiny! My last 2 cats reached the grand old ages of 16 and 18 so it's been a long time since I had kittens. I forgot how tiny they are!



I think I'll pack a bag of "just in case" cleaning materials! I was saying to my boyfriend last night that if they're going to be sick then, knowing our luck, they'll walk up to the door of the carrier and throw up through the bars!

We're picking them up next Thursday and we'll all move in to our new home together the next day. They were just such darlings! The little girl nuzzled right in and just watched everything and the little boy climbed all over my bf! He had a good look at his shirt, then his shoulder, then eventually had a wander down his back I can't wait to see what mischief they'll get up to!

Does anyone think it's wise to keep checking on them as we drive or is it most likely best to just let them try to relax? They'll be in the back seat (I WILL find a way to make the seatbelt go around the carrier!) and I was thinking of sitting back there with them to make lots of soothing sounds.
Poor little things will be wondering what on earth is happening to them!

If you can position them so that you can see into the carrier, that's best as you don't need to keep checking them by stopping. I would travel in the back seat with them - unless that makes you car sick.

Also, do you squinge?! This is when you look at a cat and squeeze your eyes together. Cats do it to each other and it's a sort of "I'm alright, you're alright, we're all alright..." thing. It defuses a stressful situation. One of my Maine Coons is a sensitive soul and scared of strangers. When he's in the fight / flight stage (and it's flight because he's a wimp) if the visitor squinges at him, he visibly relaxes and stays where he is.

So if you can see them, squinge at them. They'll appreciate it.

I do that to the cat that lives at the house we're currently in, although I had no idea that that was what it was called! Thank you for the reminder to do that. It's so easy to forget these things!

Is that what it's called? When I talk to our Simba in a soft voice, asking if he's alright and just talk to him like a baby, he does this to me as long as I keep talking. It's so lovely cos I actually know he's listening to me for a change.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine with some great advice here.

And piccies please as soon as you can. Ta muchly

It's what a friend of mine called it - the word was probably her invention! But in the absence of a better word...

My two hate travelling. When I last moved hone it was a 3-4 hr journey. I cannot deal with the stress of trying to get them into carriers. Not that I recommend this or anything, but I just threw them in the van, let them find a hidey-hole and trucked on. I didn't do a refreshment stop for them. They were settled and quiet, so no need to disturb them. When you get to your new house, shut them in a room with their litter tray, food, water and let them calm down. They'll be fine

i put mine on the roof, the cool air soothes their temperament and you cant hear them anyway. obviously dont put water down or anything because it goes all over the roof of the car.

Well, we made it through the first leg of the journey! A little bit of mewing at first but then they went to sleep. There was a slight poop incident but besides that it was fine!

They're nil by mouth now since we're leaving around 5. They've had a good breakfast which they finished off at lunchtime so they shouldn't get hungry, and they'll have water with them.

Here's a pic of them (finally!) sleeping!

Kittens!

Thanks for all your help guys!

They are adorable!

Awwwwwww! I want one!!

They're gorgeous

I'm in love ♥♥♥♥♥