Get Recall AlertsShould I Travel With My Anxious Cat? A Realistic Guide
Traveling with an anxious cat can be stressful for both you and your feline friend. This guide offers practical tips to recognize anxiety signs, prepare your cat for the journey, and explore kinder alternatives when travel isn’t ideal.
With summer around the corner and vacation coming, perhaps you’re wondering, “Should I travel with my anxious cat?”
Adult cats thrive on routine, and even confident felines get their tails in a twist over minor changes and become stressed cats. Travel can trigger extreme stress, especially for an anxious cat.
Does your cat hide when strangers visit? Tremble, vomit, or vocalize a lot (or typically loud cats go silent) when traveling to the vet?
Anxious cats may display one or more of these signs during travel. Some cats show no distress and may enjoy traveling. But for an anxious cat, here’s how to reduce their stress so you can safely travel together.
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Should You Travel With an Anxious Cat?
Sometimes you can’t avoid traveling and must take your cat for the ride. Moving to a new home means relocating your feline family, too. Emergencies unexpectedly arise when you won’t have access to alternatives.
Cat lovers always want the best situation for their cats. Yes, we miss them while they are away on vacation, and some develop separation anxiety behaviors when left alone. Most cats prefer staying in familiar surroundings, though.
You make the kinder, most compassionate choice by putting yourself in your cat’s paws. Ideally, anxious cats shouldn’t travel when you have appropriate alternatives and can avoid the disruption.
Signs of Travel Anxiety in Cats
All cats may suffer from stress occasionally, with meowing or temporary hiding being common behaviors.
Cats with travel anxiety show more severe signs of anxious cat behavior:
- Hiding or “freezing” without movement
- Panting (cats rarely pant!)
- Usually quiet cats yowling
- Usually vocal cats are silent
- Shaking
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Urinating/defecating (outside of litter box)
- Refusing food
How to Prepare an Anxious Cat for Travel
How to calm an anxious cat depends on preparation, both your own and the cat’s. You’ll want to:
CARRIER: Choose a comfy carrier. Cats should always ride inside carriers for safety reasons. Choose one that can double as a cozy bed and a familiar safe spot. Soft-sided bags with zipper screen-like sides offer ventilation.
PREPPING THE CARRIER: Cats identify safe places that smell like them. To signal safety, include a blanket or toy they love inside. You can also use pheromone products like Feliway to spritz the blanket, which signals “safe cat territory.”
ADDITIONAL HELP: If you know your cat has exhibited extreme anxiety previously, ask your veterinarian for medical recommendations. While sedatives are not usually appropriate, antianxiety prescriptions like Gabapentin might be recommended. How to calm down a cat sometimes includes calming music. For example, harp music “entrains” brain waves, heartbeat, and pulse to a slow, steady rhythm that relieves anxiety and may help cats sleep during the travel.
DESENSITIZATION: Begin practicing carrier/crate training at least three weeks in advance. Make the carrier part of the furniture, with toys, catnip, and/or treats inside. Once your cat goes inside routinely, close the carrier and carry it for short distances before releasing it with praise, treats, and games.
Helping your cat accept the carrier naturally decreases anxiety. Eventually, carry the cat to the car. Run the vehicle for thirty seconds, shut off, and take the cat back inside. Repeat several times a week, eventually driving the cat-in-carrier around the driveway, then down the road, and always returning to release and reward with treats or something the cat loves.
Travel Day Tips for Anxious Cats
Follow these tips to plan your day on the road. After your desensitization practice, you’ll know what works best for your individual cat.
- If your cat tends to vomit when stressed, avoid food before travel. Cats don’t suffer motion sickness as often as dogs, but may feel ill from the stress. Wait until the day’s travel finishes before offering a meal.
- Use calming sprays in the carrier before leaving.
- Follow your vet’s advice for the timing of any medication administration
- Some cats do best when they can see out of the carrier. Others do better when they can’t see outside. For those cats, cover the carrier to reduce visual stimulation.
- Keep the car quiet and cool. Play calming music if it helps your cat; it may also relieve your anxiety.
- It’s safest never to let your cat roam free in the vehicle. Wait for litter box breaks once you’ve reached your destination. Read more car travel tips for cats here.
- For flights, call in advance to learn the carrier’s specific pet policies and vet-clearance prep. Always take your cat in the cabin (DON’T check them as extra baggage).
Alternatives to Traveling With Your Cat
With few exceptions, with “adventure cats,” most felines are homebodies that prefer your house’s comfort, familiarity, and safety. There are cat-friendly alternatives to traveling with your cat.
Hire an in-home pet sitter or a trusted friend. Your cat doesn’t have to love—or even like—the visitor cleaning the litter box and filling the bowl. But an anxious cat feels more secure in a place where it knows all the good hiding spots, and that reduces the emotional stress.
Short-term or cat-specific boarding facilities are an option. Very anxious cats probably won’t do as well in these situations since they’re placed in an unfamiliar (scary) environment once again. Cat-specific facilities know how best to keep your cat as calm as possible.
You can introduce your cat to the caregiver well in advance, so they don’t feel like the home has been invaded while you’re gone. Ask your sitter or friend to visit at least a week in advance, so you can go over written instructions of what/when/how much to feed; favorite treats/toys; any medication needed (vet techs are great at this!); and any other specifics.
If you always watch a specific TV program each night and offer tasty treats, ask if your sitter can do the same. It may take a day or two, but you might be surprised that your scaredy cat loses the anxiety long enough to make friends with the bearer of yummies!
Besides having peace of mind that your cat is in great care, you also know your home has a trusted person there to turn lights on/off and watch out for your interests.
When to Talk to Your Vet
If you suspect your cat may suffer from extreme anxiety, and travel is unavoidable, consult with your veterinarian before planning travel with your cat. Dangerous cat anxiety symptoms include prolonged panting, drooling, anorexia (refusing food), aggression, or sudden elimination away from the litter box. Your veterinarian may offer anxiety meds for cats to relieve the angst when traveling to the vet or longer distances.
Gabapentin might be an option for the short term. You’d need to administer the proper dose about 2-3 hours ahead of the travel event, and it will last 8-12 hours. Trazodone also may help as a short-term medication, but it can also result in digestive upset. Consider whether “pilling” your cat may cause additional stress before discussing options with your vet.
For cats with extreme anxiety, consider working with a veterinary behaviorist or certified behavior consultant to help. A vet can prescribe longer-term medication options to reduce your cat’s fear.
Traveling with an Anxious Cat Wrap-Up
Cats are individuals; you know your friend’s feline foibles best. You also know your strengths, so if travel isn’t necessary, or you don’t feel comfortable spending weeks preparing and worrying, cut yourself a break. Trust yourself to make the right choice for your circumstances.
When you must travel with your anxious cat, you now have tools to plan ahead and prepare to keep it safe, calm, and comfy. Your vet offers the best advice. It’s okay to ask for help.
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