Most kitties are not lining up to take a car ride like the cutely curious cat pictured. Leaving the house way less frequently than canine counterparts, home is definitely where their hearts stay.
Relocating with a pet that hates cars is not easy but I've never stopped to consider the litter problem for trips including several days of driving. When advising about what to do with pets and movers on Thursday, I spotted this bathroom break question in the comments — peep it when you read more.
TeamSugar user Jabbadoo says:
I'm moving cross country by driving my car out over three or four days. I'm concerned about the logistics with two cats — they yowl like I'm torturing them on the way to the vet one mile away so how will they do for hours in a car? Yes, they have a big crate but do I put the litter box in there, too? It's not like a dog where I can pull over at a rest stop and let them out to run around a little so if anyone has any tips on this, please let me know!
Since I've never driven long distances with a feline friend, I'd love to hear your suggestions or solutions to the all-important potty problem in the comments below.
See by Chloe
Graeme Black
Earnest Sewn
My original comment to her question:
First, it's really unsafe to drive with your animal unsecured in a moving vehicle. (Trust me, I almost had an accident once because of my cat.) Don't consider letting your cats roam.
Second, I would talk with your vet and see what they suggest. Maybe they can at least tell you how often you need to stop to let your cat use a litter box.
PS - The cat in the pic is too cute!
1I'm curious too if anyone has an answer to this. I have a cat and a turtle, and hope to move cross country in the next year or so. This is also a concern for me. I once drove 4 hours with my cat. She didn't mind the car, but when we got to the destination, she was so scared of her new surroundings that she didn't eat or use the litter box for a whole day. I'm afraid she'll just try her best to hold it on a cross country trip, and I can't imagine that will be very healthy.
Also, cats (at least mine) aren't like dogs, where you can just stop the car, whip out the liter box, and expect them to just try to go on command.
2Thanks so much Pet! I'm just dreading trying to move them.. but i'd never leave them behind!
3i moved across country with my cat. i had a small travel litter box that i put on the bottom of the backseat. I varied between letting her roam around the cab of the car to leaving her in her crate. she seemed happier out of the crate and just slept on the floor of the car. you can also give your cat a light sedative to help keep him/her calm. there are some natural ones you can buy at the pet store.
4I moved from DC to CA with my cat. He was fine for 8-10 hours of driving each day and would use the litter box in the hotel. Towards the beginning he was really scared and held it for like 2 days but that was more the move out of the apartment then the driving.
On the road, he slept at the foot of the passenger seat because he liked the A/C and hated the carrier of course. I talked to the vet before moving and they said you can put litter in the car for them but most of the time they are uncomfortable using it and just wait for the hotel.
I had friends who drugged their cat driving cross country but only because he was old and had anxiety. It's usually not necessary and as long as your cat is healthy and well-adjusted they adapt pretty well during the trip.
5I suggest you talk to your vet. When I took my first road trip with my puppy, I talked to the vet and asked her what she would suggest. She told me that if she is okay with short car rides already she would be okay. She suggested that if she did not ride in the car alot to start taking her on rides..first short and then going futher and futher until she was use to it. you can also try giving your cat a pet friendly drug to help them relax from the pet store..it would prolly be best to get something from the vet, safer and they know best. I hope you have a safe trip and your pet has a happy trip.
6after taking a myriad of cross-country trips with my cat, i think potty time all depends on the individual cat. my 3 year-old female cat does fine roaming freely around the car with a covered litter box on the back seat floor though she appears to prefer waiting till i've stopped somewhere for the night. i generally use a small tupperware container with a minimal amount of litter inside of her large cage though. limiting your cat's diet prior to being on the road helps. don't give your cat a full meal right before leaving but be sure to have plenty of water before, during, and after the trip. when in doubt, ask your vet!
7As one poster mentioned, it really does depend on the cat. On a cross-country move to Boston, one of my Himis would yowl like a banshee if she couldn't ride on my lap. I even gave her a tranquilizer from her vet, but that just served to create a very stoned, still shrieking Satanic lump of blue-eyed fur. Out of desperation, I let her ride part of the way on my lap. But I certainly wouldn't recommend this!
My other Himi, unlike the previously mentioned demon spawn, was a champ in the car on that trip. Not so much as a peep.
On the whole, it worked well to keep them in their carriers, stopping every few hours to let them out of for potty breaks in the litter pan. Bring along some small zippy bags for the after pan party! And, of course, if it is anywhere near warm weather-wise, leave the car running with the AC on. Good luck!
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