Taking your Cat to the Vet - Traveling
with a Cat
Regular visits to your veterinarian are critical for maintaining your cat's optimal health. It is fairly easy to get a dog in the car because they have been accustomed to car travel and often see the car as a chance to accompany their owners on what might be a fun and exciting outing. Cats, on the other hand, rarely leave the confines of the house and usually see travel as a negative experience as they often end up at the vet, groomer or boarding facility.
Cats are creatures of habit and they like being in control of their surroundings. They do not enjoy being enclosed in small spaces like the cat carrier and often have a healthy dislike of the noise and motion of the car. When they see the cat carrier come out they often make a mad dash for the nearest escape and this is the last you will see of your cat for hours.
Traveling with a cat in a car or any other form of transportation can be a stressful experience for a cat but there are several tips on how to travel with a cat that can ease the anxiety of the cat cage and leaving the house. First, get the right size cat carrier. If your cat dreads going into the small confines of a carrier, consider getting an over-sized, top-loading cat carrier so your cat doesn’t need to squeeze through a narrow door.
More on Going to the Vet
- Angel or Devil? There’s No Telling Which Pets Will Act Best at the Vet
- Don't Dread the Vet. Cat-Calming Strategies to Make Visits Easier on Everyone
- Make Visits to the Vet Easier on Your Pet
- Low-Stress Ways to Get Your Very Feisty (Claws-Out) Cat to the Vet
- Tips for taking your cat to the veterinarian
- Cats & Carriers: Friends not Foes
