brandy alexandre

I've made the decision that Kami and I will drive to the new
destination instead of fly. Flying and shipping the car just aren't in
the budget. Any good suggestions for us? I'm already preparing some
"get used to it" short trips, and I was thinking that since she
probably won't want to eat or drink, that I should have her sub-q'd
before we go, or learn to do it and give it to her for a couple of days
regardless. I'm also going to get some Feliway. Any further thoughts
(from those who actually contribute, not the diaper brigade)?

--
Brandy**Alexandre®
http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx
Well, would you?

maryl

How long is the trip? I know you posted the information, but I don't recall
the specifics. If it is overnight, travel with a supply of motel
directories. They will indicate whether small pets are permitted. Don't
wait until the last minute to get a room because it is sometimes difficult
to find accomodations that permit pets. Phone ahead and make reservations.

I always travel with water and extra food. However, I don't get out the
food until we reach the motel, and none of my cats have wanted water while
they were in the car. Still, you want to be prepared. I also keep an open
litter box (fresh litter!!) on the floor in the back seat. Again, none of
my cats used it until we reached a motel; but at least it is available.

Keep Kami on a harness and leash at all times if she is not in a carrier.
Don't take any chances that she might panic and jump out of the car. This
especially includes stops at toll booths, drive-through eating, or any other
place where you have to open the window.

I never leave my cats alone in the car except for the very shortest of
restroom stops. This means that I use drive-through for lunch and eat in
the car.

My cats have never caused any type of damage in a motel room, but I do
travel with a small hand-held vacuum cleaner and vacuum up any signs of cat
litter outside the box. I also leave an extra tip for the maid.

MaryL
(take out the litter to reply)

maryl

In addition to my last post: Get a health certificate and keep it with you
if you are going to cross state lines. I have never had anyone ask for
mine, but some states do require the certificate and proof of rabies
vaccination -- "better safe than sorry."

MaryL

alison perera

I can see disaster brewing. You're going to give a cat subcutaneous
fluids then close it in a travel carrier for hours? Yikes!

When I moved across country I offered water and a litterbox every 3-4
hours, driving 10 hours a day. They refused both, and Hektor peed
himself in the carrier every day, having to sit miserably in it. Tips
One and Two: Drive eight hours or less, and line the carriers with
disposable diapers.

My boys were already accustomed to two feedings per day, mostly of
canned food. They continued with this habit during the trip. I'm sure
this helped their hydration. Tip Three: bring paper plates for the cat
to eat off of and a fork to dish the food out with.

My AC went out during a heat wave through the middle of the country.
Before transferring the boys to the airconditioned moving van my husband
was driving, I spritzed them frequently with water. This kept their
temperatures down and was probably another good source of moisture as
they groomed it off themselves. Although if you're moving soon you
probably won't hit any heat waves, that's Tip Four: keep a spray bottle
of potable water on hand.

Enjoy your trip.
-Alison in OH

alison perera

I don't advocate leaving a cat loose in the car while you drive. Besides
the risk of the cat being thrown forward in the slightest fender-bender
or even an abrupt stop, they can distract the driver and cause a serious
accident.

I do want to emphasize your point that the leash and harness should be
on when the cat is OUT of the carrier. On my trip I tried to leave a
harness on my boys so they'd have ID in case of disaster, and Otis got
it caught in his mouth. No harnesses in carriers for my guys after that.

I used a AAA guidebook that indicated if pets were allowed. I think
Motel 6 and Super 8 have chain-wide policies to allow at least a single
small pet. So, I was able to drive a certain number of hours and get as
far as I could in the time alloted, because there always seemed to be a
motel for one of these chains near the freeway when I was ready to stop.

I did have trouble finding rooms after, say, 8pm. So stop early in the
evening if you're not going to have reservations.

-Alison in OH

brandy alexandre

That's why I asked. It was a thought to prevent dehydration, but if
she refuses to pee at rest stops, that could be a problem.


I already have some disposable bed pads for her carrier. They're comfy
and easy to change out.


There's an idea to get her to drink. Naw, that's mean when it's
not necessary. This will be mid-December, so heat isn't a problem.

--
Brandy**Alexandre®
http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx
Well, would you?

brandy alexandre

I had been thinking about that. I've taken dozens and dozens of road
trips and have never even been asked to stop the car at the borders,
but it will take just once.

--
Brandy**Alexandre®
http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx
Well, would you?

brandy alexandre

I agree. She's very unpredictable, even though once she settles she
usually stays in the carrier even if the door is open. The seatbelt
pulls around it quite nicely


I should probably start getting her used to a harness again. She wore
one all the time when she was little. I've seen some that look much
easier to work with than those old buckles.

Yeah, I don't need anything fancy. We'll only have one night in a
motel. I'm trying to determine the halfway point to see what's around
there. There are two possible routes and the halfway of one is smack
in the middle of a large city, but I was told that the other route is
faster even if it is longer. So I'll have to see.


--
Brandy**Alexandre®
http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx
Well, would you?

brandy alexandre

It should be two days. Without Kami I would probably drive straight
through (I'm prone to doing that), but I don't think she'd like that
very much.


Is there any other kind of dining? I was concerned about rest
stops when I was supposed to move last month, but now that it was put
off until December, I'm not so concerned. Maybe a little worried about
any snow or ice now. But at least she won't be hot.

Kami is good that way, too. As long as she doesn't get pewp stuck to
her bum fur... The digs require a pet deposit and pet fee. $150 just
for the privilege of having her and $150 to hold against any damage.
That's bigger than MY deposit. I'll just say whatever it is, I did it.


--
Brandy**Alexandre®
http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx
Well, would you?

joe canuck

One night in a motel and you put "long road trip" in the subject line!

2 days on the road hardly qualifies as a long trip.


--
"Its the bugs that keep it running."
-Joe Canuck