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| Traveling with cat? Car vs. flight | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 19 2012, 11:12 AM (415 Views) | |
| hijumpin1 | Oct 19 2012, 11:12 AM Post #1 |
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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I will be moving from Indianapolis to Denver in the next few weeks. I plan to drive with the dog. The cat however, will freak out. I'm trying to decide if it would be worse for him in the car with an 18 hour trip, or if I should have him flown with a 4 hour trip. Has anyone here ever flown a pet? |
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| jn4jenny | Oct 19 2012, 05:45 PM Post #2 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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I've flown and drove, although not with the same cat and not for that long. Honestly, neither is a super big deal. If you drive, talk to your vet about a safe dose of tranquilizer to knock the edge off and keep them in a container. Cats are den animals and when they feel stressed, they prefer to be somewhere small and safe. The last thing you need is a cat crawling all over your car, or freaking out when a truck driver blows its horn, etc. Cats in high-stress situations can go up to 48 hours without eating, drinking, or peeing and they'll be just fine as soon as they get to the other end. My cat is a very sheltered indoor-only type who is very vocally expressive, and it only took her an hour in the car to shut up and doze off. If you fly and take your cat in the cabin with you, that's a pretty smooth trip too. The most traumatic part is actually getting through security. You have to take your cat out and walk it through while your cat carrier goes through the x-ray machine, so make sure you've tested the harness/leash system you buy or else you could be chasing your cat through an airport. But if you can get through that part, most cats are really chill and quiet on the flight. As with driving, most of them shut up and doze off after an hour or two of complaining--and if you count from the time you leave your house, it's usually an hour or two before you got on the plane so that all works out. The one potentially traumatic situation is an airline that's going to put your cat in the cargo hold. It's loud down there, potentially very hot or cold, air flow can get restricted, bags can shift around during turbulence and scare the cat, etc. My childhood cat Waldo had to fly in cargo from Germany to Virginia because there was no alternative, and he was none the worse for wear, but we worried about him the whole time. |
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| gunnar | Oct 19 2012, 06:31 PM Post #3 |
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You're BANNED!
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My cats never shut up on the 3 hour drive when I just moved. No way would I expect my cats to go thru a metal detector! They would be gone! Given that I would drive! |
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| hijumpin1 | Oct 20 2012, 11:24 AM Post #4 |
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Ugh, either way this is not going to be pleasant. There will be a lot of squalling and white hair flying around... |
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| gunnar | Oct 20 2012, 06:59 PM Post #5 |
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You're BANNED!
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Betty Lou got away the day I moved. The carrier was not good. Lucky me Al got her back. Then I bought a new carrier and carried it upright. Be careful. That was the worst day. I lost it! Don't let that happen to you! Good luck! |
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| jillincolorado | Oct 21 2012, 06:12 AM Post #6 |
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You're BANNED!
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I vote drive, crate and small tranq if necessary. I also use a towel to cover the top and sides of my crated kittehs to help block out some of the visual and buffer noise. It's stressful but everyone will survive! I did not know you were moving to Denver. What area? |
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| jn4jenny | Oct 21 2012, 08:30 AM Post #7 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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PS, some tips if you decide to drive (via my vet friends): You can't explain to the cat that you're going on a trip and everything's going to be fine, but you can get the cat acclimated to that idea by --buying a new carrier that doesn't look or smell like your normal cat carrier, which will break some of the cat's associations with "carrier = trip to a yucky place like the vet's office" --take the cat on short trips in the new carrier, always ending the trip back at your house. You can start with really short trips, like spinning around the block. The cat will start to see that trips in this carrier aren't so bad. --of course, continue using your old carrier for trips to the vet and other unpleasant destinations. You don't want to undo all your hard work. |
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| hijumpin1 | Oct 21 2012, 01:34 PM Post #8 |
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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We sold our house, and have to be out on Nov. 10. Jill we'll be neighbors We are looking at temporary housing until we get established. We are looking at the Glendale/Cherry Creek area. I would like to be reasonably close to Parker, it seems like that's were most of the H/J stuff is. |
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| naters | Oct 21 2012, 06:10 PM Post #9 |
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It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure!
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my cat yowels for about half an hour, then pukes, then hollers some more, then eventually goes to sleep. if I was going to do a really long trip with her I would probably get a large dog crate, to put her & a litter box in. but always always always use a crate in the car for safety reasons. I also always have on hand a roll of paper towels and a couple of plastic grocery bags for things like vomit or poop, even if we are just on a short trip |
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| jillincolorado | Oct 22 2012, 07:50 PM Post #10 |
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You're BANNED!
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Well let me know when you're here and I will meet you for some eats and chat.
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| vxf111 | Oct 22 2012, 08:56 PM Post #11 |
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You're BANNED!
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Driving is BY FAR easier and I think a little easier on them. I've both flown and driven multiple cats back and forth from Philly to Atlanta many times. And from Philly to Pittsburgh. Get a traq for them (practice once at home to ensure no side effects), cover the crate with a towel, and put it in the backseat. Don't take them out until you get there, and when you do confine them to the bathroom/single bedroom for a day to acclimate. |
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| hijumpin1 | Oct 24 2012, 11:01 AM Post #12 |
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Yay! What side are you on? We may be getting a duplex to rent near Wash Park. |
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| jillincolorado | Oct 24 2012, 01:05 PM Post #13 |
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You're BANNED!
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We're actually up in the mountains now but I have a good friend in Wash Park and it takes me about 40 minutes to get there. Pretty straight shot. I'm in Conifer/Evergreen. Good luck on your move!!
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