Have Savannah, Will Travel. How to Travel in Safety and Comfort With Your Cat.
I have a confession to make; I’m a massive Harry Potter geek. (Well, I guess that isn’t a very well-kept secret since I named my two Savannahs after creatures from the Harry Potter Universe, “Niffler” and “Kneazle.”
As such, I spend an inordinate amount of time traveling to meet my “Potterhead Squad” at Universal Studios Orlando and visiting our beloved Wizarding World.
Kneazle, my F3 girl, is our “Squad” mascot, and no trip is complete without her. In her two years of life, she’s traveled with me on at least 20 trips to Orlando and elsewhere, and she has become an expert traveler.
So, for this month’s article, being hopeful that regular travel will resume as the COVID vaccine becomes readily available, we decided to share our tips on how to plan your adventures with your kitty.
Kneazle, getting her Halloween Horror Nights. Kneazle again, repping her Hogwarts House, Slytherin
Before we start, here’s a COVID caveat:
At this time, it looks like our feline friends are susceptible to contracting COVID 19. So far, it seems the virus is self-limiting in cats and usually causes only mild to moderate symptoms. However, there’s currently no vaccine available for kitties, and social distancing is as crucial for them as for us. Don’t allow other people to handle or hold your kitty and maintain 6-feet for them as well.
If possible, avoid commercial flights with your cat (for now), and choose hotels you trust to maintain proper COVID protocol. The Lowe’s hotels at Universal, for instance, aren’t offering housekeeping services during your stay and are letting the rooms remain vacant for 24 hours before housekeeping enters to clean between clients. They also require all guests to wear masks anywhere on the property, and guests must have their temperature taken daily.
TIPS FOR STRESS-FREE KITTY TRAVEL
Before leaving home:
—Create a “home away from home.” Choose a comfy carrier weeks before your trip. Leave it out in your home so the kitty can investigate. Start offering super high-value toys and treats inside the carrier, as well as a soft, inviting blanket to ensure a carrier is a happy place that smells and feels like home, providing a haven on your trip.
For cats under 15 pounds, I love the Sleepy Pod. The top can be unzipped and removed, creating a kitty bed that cats love to nap in at home. When you’re ready to travel, zip the top on, and the kitty has a safe travel bed that belts into your car seat.
A second option Kneazle and I love is the HPZ Luxury 3-in-1 Pet Rover Deluxe Pet Stroller. This sturdy and heavy-duty carriage has a large, roomy carrier compartment that holds pets up to 50 pounds. It snaps in and out of the stroller and becomes a separate carrier or car seat that buckles securely into the car. Kneazle loves wheeling around the beautiful grounds of the Hard Rock Hotel in this Cadillac of strollers, and I love not having to carry all 15 pounds of her! The stroller also gives Kneazle a comfortable, happy “room” in which to experience outdoor adventures.
—Contact any hotels or airlines you will be using and ask what documentation they require, as each is different. Most will require proof of a rabies vaccine and a Health Certificate from your vet. It’s important to note that the length of time a Health Certificate is valid varies significantly between companies, so be sure to call ahead.
Also, it’s imperative to ensure the hotel you book is specifically cat-friendly. Many hotels advertise as “pet-friendly” when, in fact, they only allow dogs.
NEVER try to sneak your kitty into a non-pet-friendly hotel. Not only is it against the policy, but you must be very transparent with the front desk if you have a kitty in the room. I always request “no housekeeping,” and I make sure that this is on record to ensure no one will come into the room while I’m gone. Should I need the room cleaned, I call the front desk to schedule service for when Kneazle and I are exploring.
It’s often helpful to take an overnight trip or two (close to home) with your kitty to see how she does before jumping into a more extended, farther away vacation.
Plan a Trip to the Vet
Be sure your kitty is healthy and up-to-date on his vaccines and obtain any needed documentation for your trip.
Ask your vet about anti-anxiety medication, such as gabapentin, to have on board if your kitty should need it (and be sure to get enough to do a “trial run” before you leave to see how the kitty reacts). Ask about anti-emetic medications, like Cerenia, if your pet gets motion sick in the car or plane. Be sure to stock up on any other medication your pet takes so you have plenty for your trip, as well.
Have the receptionist print out any essential medical history records, especially if the kitty has any ongoing medical conditions.
Finally, ask your vet for recommendations about vet clinics and emergency clinics in the city you’re traveling to if you might have an issue.
How and What to Pack
I use these convenient bags to pack in; they come with travel bowls that collapse and pack flat and soft food containers.
https://www.chewy.com/mobile-dog-gear-weekender-backpack/dp/188173
I usually pack two bags: a small one for the car or airplane and a larger one for the hotel.
I always include:
Her regular food and lots of her favorite treats make her happy and comfortable as we travel. Churu Purée is her most adored food. Should anything start to make her concerned, a quick taste of this will make it all better!
https://www.chewy.com/inaba-churu-grain-free-chicken-puree/dp/169569
—A few of her favorite toys
—Puzzle/food toys to keep her occupied while I’m gone.
https://vetfocus.royalcanin.com/en/scientific/feline-feeding-toys
—A bed that also serves as a “hidey-hole,” where she feels safe. Her favorite is the Cat Cave wool felt dome that also packs flat to save space.
—Trash bags for used food cans, dirty litter, etc.
—A small broom and dustpan
—Spot cleaner, in case of any accidents; Anti Icky Poo is my favorite.
https://www.chewy.com/mistermax-anti-icky-poo/dp/177849
—A travel, no-spill bowl
https://www.orvis.com/p/no-splash-travel-bowl/2r2j
—Bottled water because cats will often be suspicious of water that tastes different than their normal water. I use bottled water in Kneazle’s bowl for a week before we leave, so her water tastes like “home.”
—Travel thermos, for offering water on-the-go
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/good2go-stainless-steel-and-black-silicone-dog-drinking-bottle
—Feliway® spray and diffuser. These pheromone sprays and diffusers make any new environment seem more like home to your kitty.
—A blanket that smells like home
—Litter box and litter; for smaller cats, a collapsible litter box with lightweight litter works well. For larger cats, I use disposable boxes that come with litter in them.
https://www.chewy.com/cats-pride-kat-kit-litter-trays/dp/112677
https://petcomments.com/travel-litter-box/
—Health certificate and documentation
—First Aid kit
https://www.preventivevet.com/cats/how-to-easily-put-together-a-pet-first-aid-kit-for-your-cat
—Harness, collar, and ID: Kneazle is happy and comfortable in her walking jacket. If your pet is not, I highly suggest acclimatizing her to one. Here’s a link to the process for that. Kneazle wears her walking jacket whenever we’re out in her stroller, which has a leash that clips her in.
https://www.adventurecats.org/backcountry-basics/train-your-cat-to-walk-on-a-leash/
Before each trip, I go to my local pet store, where I print out 2 I.D. tags with the information for where I will be staying and my cell number. I attach one to her walking jacket and one to a safety/quick release collar, which she wears in the room when I leave her, just if the worst should happen, and she was to get out.
I also use this pet tracker attached to her safety collar.
https://www.amazon.com/NEW-Loc8tor-Handheld-Finder-Locator/dp/B005N0PGVK
Traveling to Your Destination
Kneazle and I are lucky in that her daddy has a small plane. So, we either travel together in the car or with Daddy on the plane.
—Be sure to lock all windows in the car; you don’t want kitty stepping on any controls and rolling them down when she’s in the car.
—I set up spill-proof bowls with food and water, a litter box, and a hidey-hole type car seat in the car or plane.
—Keep kitty confined in her carrier or buckled into her car seat; I generally let Kneazle out, walk around, visit the litter box, and check out her food and water bowls for a few minutes every two hours or so.
—If your kitty gets travel sick or anxious, be sure to give her anti-nausea/anti-anxiety medication at least two hours before getting into the vehicle to leave.
—Temperature regulation: cats are highly temperature-sensitive; they get cold and hot very quickly and can’t regulate body temperature as well as humans.
Our plane gets very hot in the summer and cold in the winter before takeoff, so I invested in this portable air conditioning unit to keep Kneazle cool:
And this portable, USB powered, heated blanket
https://www.amazon.com/Okngr-Portable-Constant-Temperature-Resistant/dp/B081JVH6DR
—Be sure the kitty is confined in her carrier at each stop before any doors open.
Setting Up the Hotel Room for a Home Away From Home
—I always check-in and get Kneazle set up in the room before anything else.
Ensure the front desk has your cell number on file if they need to contact you while you are away.
I spray the room with Feliway® and plug in a diffuser.
I arrange her hiding areas, toys, and feeding station and place her litter box in an area away from food, water, and the bed. Leaving the hotel room closet open can offer kitty an additional hiding area, as well.
Kneazle loves to look out the hotel windows, as she’s always hoping a lizard friend will show up to play. I put a comfy chair or her bed in front of a window to give her a happy perch for her viewing pleasure.
However, other cats may be intimidated by unfamiliar sights and people. For those cats, be sure to close the blinds and offer perches away from the windows.
Look around the room for any potential dangers. Block access to any heating or cooling vents your kitty could access. Unplug and put away any cords that might be chewed, and remove any potentially dangerous items kitty might eat (put those coffee samples away in a drawer). Many toiletries can be hazardous if ingested, so put those away, as well.
Before Leaving
—Be sure to leave ample time to chill in the room with your kitty before leaving her alone in the room; overnight is preferable.
—Give any anti-anxiety medication at least two hours before leaving
—Leaving the T.V. on in the room can help block out any scary ambient/hallway noise.
—I always stuff a couple of food toys with very high-value items for Kneazle to snack on while I’m away
—If the hotel’s prepared for a remote camera, these can provide a way for you to check on your pet while you are away.
Pet Cubes
https://www.chewy.com/petcube-cam-hd-monitoring-vet-chat/dp/287736
When these cameras are active in your hotel room, they allow you to view your pet while away, and specific models will enable you to toss a treat remotely as well.
They allow me to look in on Kneazle without leaving the parks. If she’s asleep somewhere, she’ll quickly come out when she hears the noise associated with a treat.
It’s important to note you’ll need a password from the hotel, as well as their permission, to set these up. Call ahead to your hotel to see if this is possible.
Here’s to happy traveling!!!!!
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Kneazle and me exhausted and happy after a day at Universal Orlando
BEFORE YOU GO, WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MOVE UP THE RANKS ON GOOGLE!
Help SAVANNAHGANS® Grow and Reach Every Savannah Cat-Owning Household! All support is humbly appreciated (visit the clickable underlined links).
Subscribe (free) (by visiting the banner on our home page) and receive each quarterly issue to your inbox.
Share this article on your own social media platforms.
Leave a Comment. (this is VERY helpful to our growth and Google recognition)
Follow on Instagram.
Follow on Twitter.
Follow on Pinterest.
Follow on Youtube.
