I drove cross country with a cat. I got some form of meds from the vet- I gave the dosage recommended and it was too much. She was so out of it---the next day I gave her 1/2 and she was fine---relaxed enough but not howling away.
My kitty now (a different one) sits on his mommy's lap (me)---doesn't say anything as he rids 1.5 hours to grandmas while we go on vacation. He won't sit on my boys or hubbys lap. Spoiled.
Meds for the cali are a must - she's a nervous wreck just sitting around at home. The blue should be fine with travel. He think's he a puppy anyway.
Have you considered flying them with you?? I flew my ds's cat down to him and it worked quite well. Only problem may be that the airline only allowed so many cats per plane. And some don't allow any.
I flew Delta and it worked out fine. The cat was in it's carrier, under the seat, at my feet the whole time. Of course, the cat was my carryon, so no other luggage went on with me.
Flying is a definite possibility,
(with the cali medicated of course) but we're booked southwest coming home (no pets) To change flights the prices are too high on the other airlines that do allow animals, and then then there's a fee on top of that for them - if they haven't already reached their cabin maximum that is.
Most cats need to be caged in cars. They have a tendency to get nervous when the "ground" starts moving, so they bolt for where they feel safest -- under your feet. That's not such a good spot when you are driving at the time. (Can you say "BRAKES?! NO BRAKES BECAUSE THERE IS A CAT UNDER THE PEDAL!")
On the other hand, some cats are fine with driving and will drape themselves around the headrests or snooze on the back deck. If you've never driven with them before, I'd take a few short test drives to see how they do. Bring passengers to wrangle them if they do the footwell-dive.
I'm sure I'd need a special cage for them in the car. I'll run out this weekend and size/price out several types to see if I can find anything big enough for a small litter pan and a second level. Like a small ferret home LOL. I'm obsessing.
I almost tossed the blue into a carrier for a quick jaunt to the school, but couldn't bring myself to do it to him. I did have a kitten we had found back when I was a child, and she did exactly as you described. She darted for under the driver's pedal
But then, she had a death wish from the moment we found her up in our wheel well right until she passes away from climbing into a neighbor's engine.
Not sure where your from, but around me we have a ton of pet sitters and/or kennels that will take care of cats. Have you thought of that? Call and get prices, then compare how much it will cost you to cancel your flights (there's always a cancellation fee) and to gas up the car for the trip, plus any other added expense if you stop for food. If it's cheaper to board them, then that is what I would do.
The other area pet sitters are from several towns away and they all seem like I'm bothering them attitude wise (they also charge $20 per visit including the key pickup and drop off!). There are teens here who I might be able to talk to the parents and have take care of the kitties, but my concern is I'm so afraid of the cats getting out or just neglected it's hard for me to trust people with my babies (I can picture one girl here who I know would take the job up & stopping her visits because she "didn't feel like it", or if one cat gets out she's be like - "oh whatever, it'll come back tomorrow" oiy). All the kennels I know around here are awful and aren't even proper care for a dog. I will call the cat vet we use and see if she has any suggestions... UPDATE - she had one name the next town over... keeping my fingers crossed on this one.
I always have two cats. Of the two I have now, one is a great traveler and doesn't say a single meow in his cage. The other needs to be tranquilized for our 6 hour trip north every June to a cottage. You have to know your cats. One I'd be able to take 1200 miles without batting an eyelash. The other would be a big problem without drugs. Also, I never give even close to the dosage that the vet says I can give her. I find as cats get older, it takes much less of the drug to knock them for a loop. (I've had two other cats before these two and they were both bad at traveling, too.)
You sound like a seasoned cat-traveler. =^.^= Thanks for the mention about using smaller dosages than prescribed. The one who would need it is 11... Hey - how do you give a pill to a cat anyhow?
