Traveling with Your Cat

By car (road trips)

• Acclimate to the carrier weeks ahead — see our carrier training guide.
• Don’t feed within 4 hours of departure to reduce nausea.
• Secure the carrier with a seatbelt on the floor behind the passenger seat.
• Use a sunshade or light towel over the carrier — visual stimulation increases stress.
• Stop every 3–4 hours to offer water (do not let the cat out of the carrier in the car).
• For severe motion sickness, ask us about maropitant (Cerenia) or gabapentin.

See also our carrier training guide.

By plane

• Book direct flights only — layovers exponentially increase stress and loss risk.
• Confirm the airline’s in-cabin carrier dimensions before purchasing a carrier.
• Get a USDA-accredited health certificate within 10 days of travel for domestic flights (international varies — start 6+ months ahead).
• Skip sedation unless we specifically recommend it — sedatives at altitude can affect breathing.
• Pack a carry-on with documentation, food, leak-proof water dish, and any medications.

Staying in hotels or rentals

• Confirm pet policy and any cat-specific restrictions in writing before booking.
• Bring a portable litter box, familiar bedding, and a Feliway diffuser.
• Hang a "Do Not Disturb" sign — unexpected housekeeping is a top cause of escapes.
• Use the carrier when leaving the room, even briefly.

Moving to a new home

• Pack the cat’s room last and set it up first in the new home.
• On moving day, confine the cat to a single room with food, water, litter, and a hiding spot.
• Transport in the carrier — not loose in the car.
• Update microchip registry and tags with the new address within 24 hours.
• In the new home, start in one room and expand access gradually over a week.