Summer’s Fabulous Cat Life

Cat Model, Therapy Cat, and Cat Lifestyle Expert

  • Home
  • Diary
  • Kitty Wisdom
  • Catinees
  • Store
    • Cat Beds
    • Cat Stuff for Humans
      • Cat Calendars
      • Cat Gifts
      • Cat Jewelry for Humans
      • Cat Stationery
      • Cat T-Shirts
    • Cat Trees, Towers and Furniture
    • Designer Cat Collars
    • Interactive Cat Toys
    • Litterbox Furniture, Cabinets and Covers
    • Scratching Posts and Cat Scratchers
    • Special Items for Special Kittys
  • Advice
  • Book Reviews
  • About
  • Contact Summer
    • -Advertise Here!
  • Privacy Policy
  • Fan Club
You are here: Home / Kitty Wisdom / Do’s and Don’ts of Traveling With Your Cat

Do’s and Don’ts of Traveling With Your Cat

January 2, 2016 By: Summer Samba34 Comments

Somali cat, driver's seat, Mini Cooper

I’m in the driver’s seat of my human’s car today because I have lots of things to tell you kitties about traveling with your human! Today is National Pet Travel Safety Day, and I wanted to pass along some cat travel tips I’ve learned in the year and a half I’ve been going places with my human. I am wearing my first tip — a cat harness with an ID tag that includes my human’s cell phone number! That way, if there is an accident or I somehow get out of the car, it will be easier for someone who finds me to locate my human. Plus they’ll know my name! I am also microchipped.

somali cat, cat travel, cat car travel, mini cooper

Here is an important Don’t: Never let your cat move around freely in the car. Come with me and I will show you why!

Somali cat loose in a car, cat in a Mini Cooper

This is my favorite place to hang out in my human’s car… but it also where she needs to put her feet to make the car go, and more importantly, to make it stop! A lot goes on when humans are trying to drive, and it’s dangerous if they can’t fully concentrate on the road. As we cats know, we are very distracting! You will have lots of time to get your human’s attention when the car isn’t in motion, so let her focus on her driving.

Somali cat wearing a human seatbelt in a car

Here is another Don’t, but I doubt anybody would try this: Humans should never just put a seatbelt on their cat. Seatbelts only work on human adult and older child bodies.

Somali cat in a pet carrier in a car

Here is a combination of Do’s and Don’ts: Yes, we cats should be closed up in a carrier when we are in the car, and yes, the carrier should be secured with a seatbelt. But don’t put the carrier in the front seat! If your human is in an accident and the airbags are deployed, they could injure or even kill us kitties! So the front seat is actually a very dangerous place for us. Instead put the carrier in the backseat area, and secure it with a seatbelt there.

somali cat in a pet taxi, cat in a hard plastic carrier

I have a couple of things to say about carriers too. When my human is going short distances with me, like to the pet store, I go in my Sleepypod Atom pet carrier, which is the carrier I fly in. But it is a soft carrier, and does not really protect me all that well if there is an accident. It is really better for us kitties to travel in something more sturdy. This hard plastic Pet Taxi is very old, but a lot tougher. There are other, nicer carriers like the regular Sleepypod, and you can also find some really safe, durable pet carriers for less if you do some research. But I don’t think humans should skimp when it comes to keeping cats safe when they are in the car.

Pet Taxi, kennel for cat travel

If you are traveling in the car for several hours or several days, do consider getting a crate or kennel that’s large enough for a small litter box. To be honest, we cats actually prefer more closed in spaces — we feel safer. But if we’re cooped up for a long period of time, it’s nice to have somewhere to relieve ourselves. I read an article somewhere that says cats usually won’t use the litter box while they are in a car, but that’s not true for me! When I went to Las Vegas in 2014, and Livermore last November, I did use the litter box that was provided for me.

Here are a few more Do’s for you humans:

  • Make sure the temperature in your car is comfortable for your cat, especially at the height of summer and winter. It gets hot here in the summer, so my human always blasts the air conditioning when I’m in the car. She likes it warmer, but my comfort comes first.
  • Pack a travel kit for your kitty, if you are going somewhere for the whole day or for more than a day. You should have pet first aid, treats, water, a litter scoop, and pet wipes and paper towels in case there’s an accident (not the car crash kind — the other kind).
  • Never, ever leave your cat in the car! Even if it seems mild outside, it can get hot enough in a closed up car for her to die of heatstroke. If you are traveling with your cat in a crate or kennel, you also need a carrier to bring her in and out of the car. My human always takes me into rest stop restrooms, the gas station convenience stores when she is buying snacks for herself, and she usually eats drive through meals when I am with her. If she wanted to stop at a restaurant and have a sit down meal, she would pick one with an outside patio so I could accompany her.

And here is one last Don’t:

somali cat behind the wheel of a car

Kitties, never try to drive your human’s car! You are not long enough to reach the accelerator and brake pedals and steer at the same time. Plus, you probably don’t have a driver’s license and you could get thrown in jail if you are caught.

* * *

Subscribe to my blog posts here!

2022 Somali Cat Starring Summer Samba Calendar
2022 Somali Cat Calendar Starring Summer Samba
See all of Summer’s merch at her her Zazzle Designercat Shop
Share182
Tweet
Pin11
Buffer
Pocket
Email
193 Shares

Comments

  1. Kjelle Bus aka Charlie Rascal says

    January 6, 2016 at 10:12 am

    VERY good advices , Summer !
    My mom-person does almost efurrything right when we travel 😀

    XOXO

    Reply
  2. Aimable Cats says

    January 6, 2016 at 5:03 am

    When I travel the 300 miles from here to my parents’ farm where Parker was born (and back), I stop off at the PetSmart about halfway there so I can use the restroom and take the cat inside with me. There are a couple of drive-thru lanes at that same strip mall, so I’ll get my food, drive over to the PetSmart parking, eat there, and then go inside.

    Reply
  3. Marty the Manx says

    January 3, 2016 at 8:42 am

    Great travel tips Summer. Thanks for the reminders. We had a lady from out of state who lost her kitties on the highway due to an accident this summer close to where I live. She didn’t have them in their crate even though she had it in her jeep. She never found them and was devastated. Thank you for your post and reminder!

    Reply
  4. Gattina says

    January 2, 2016 at 11:53 pm

    I have to confess that I never respected all this. Anyway from all cats I have now, I don’t travel with them only to the vet and the groomer. On the way to, they stay in the carrier, on the way back I let them free and they usually sit on the back seat or look out of the back window. None has ever tried to be near my feet.
    Arthur from time to time climbs in my car for a little tour, but then he sits in the back looks out of the window, washes himself and does a show and I have a line of cars behind me admiring Arthur ! But that’s only short distances of course.

    Reply
  5. Silver, Miranda, Harvey, Phoebe and Dusty says

    January 2, 2016 at 6:40 pm

    Well put, and I love the last picture. Summer as car driver? NOT!!

    Reply
  6. Cathy Keisha says

    January 2, 2016 at 5:41 pm

    HAH! That last one is a doozy. I used to be good furrends with Toonces the Driving Cat on Twitter. I hate riding in a car so much TW has to cover up my PTU with a towel.

    Reply
  7. Melissa, Mudpie & Angel Truffles says

    January 2, 2016 at 4:11 pm

    If any cat could drive, it would be YOU, Summer! I’m embarrassed to say I never thought of the air bag going off in an accident…I have always put my cats in the front seat so they’re closer to me and I can comfort them. Never again!

    Reply
  8. Flynn says

    January 2, 2016 at 2:35 pm

    Those are important points. I have a hard carrier that gets strapped into the back seat. I stress a lot in the car though, so dad usually drives and mum sits in the back next to my carrier. The last point is very important unless your name is Toonces.

    Reply
  9. Ellen Pilch says

    January 2, 2016 at 2:32 pm

    Those are all great tips. I think my kitties like to be in the front with me, but I wonder if they would be safer in the back seat.

    Reply
  10. Pipo/Minko/MrJackFreckles says

    January 2, 2016 at 2:21 pm

    Great tips, Summer!
    We enjoyed reading them and learned something too. We travel in hard carriers, but they are belted in the front seat…and meowmy *can* turn off that airbag, else we would be in the rear.

    She once had a kitten who did exactly the wrong thing…got in the driver footwell…OMC!
    That was the end of free travel…and um…it was a long time ago, too…meowmy is older and wiser!

    Reply
  11. Christy paws says

    January 2, 2016 at 12:53 pm

    This is a very cute post, Summer, with some great advice from the voice of experience.

    Reply
  12. FuzzMother says

    January 2, 2016 at 12:35 pm

    Mom usually puts us in the front seat BUT she has disabled the airbags. She always uses a seatbelt (she was in a terrible accident a long time ago and the belt saved her) and buckles our carriers in as well. Our human is short and sits very close to the steering wheel–she says if the airbags don’t break her neck then the powder in which they are packed will probably trigger a fatal asthma attack!

    Reply
  13. Grace says

    January 2, 2016 at 10:44 am

    It’s all good common sense but then you know how many humans don’t have any of that! Fabulous photos BTW…

    Reply
  14. Kitty Cat Chronicles says

    January 2, 2016 at 9:19 am

    These are all great tips, Summer! I don’t like to use the litter box in the car at all. On the way to BlogPaws, we stopped several times for me to be let out of my Sleepypod to use the litterbox, but I wouldn’t do it.

    Reply
  15. Dma says

    January 2, 2016 at 8:25 am

    All great tips, especially the last one.

    Reply
  16. Diane Ricciardi Stewart says

    January 2, 2016 at 8:21 am

    shared on facebook, Summer. . . this is always great info to know!! ♥♥♥

    Reply
  17. Random Felines says

    January 2, 2016 at 8:21 am

    Good advice. Mom gets pretty nuts when she sees pets (mainly dogs) wandering in moving cars….and worse on drivers laps with the windows all the way.

    Reply
  18. SavannaH's Paw Tracks says

    January 2, 2016 at 8:20 am

    You taught two things Mom L has been doing unsafe. I often ride in the front seat…I also,have a hard carrier so I will always been in back now. And Mom L didn’t know how to strap my carrier in and now she does. Thank you Summer

    Reply
  19. mariodacat says

    January 2, 2016 at 7:45 am

    Sweetie,those are excellent tips. M says now days they have so many different types of safety products for pets. When she had her first kitty (a hundred years ago) they didn’t have all these nice carriers. She just left Pepper roam in the car, but he was never allowed in the front seat by the driver for the very reason you indicated. He would sit up in the back window so he could survey the world. But M always worried about having to stop quick and he’d go flying. Fortunately, that never happened. Now i ride in a hard sided carrier like you showed, and it is strapped in. Good post Summer.

    Reply
  20. Lola and Lexy says

    January 2, 2016 at 7:14 am

    What a great post, Summer! I have to go into a hard,sturdy carrier because I’m an escape artist. (I’m better than Houdini!) One time Mommy was driving through central park and I poked my head through the carrier!) Lexy is OK in a softer carrier. You’re the cutest chauffeur ever!

    Reply
  21. Madi says

    January 2, 2016 at 6:42 am

    SUMMER WHAT GREAT ADVICE AND FOR SURE YOU ARE IN THE KNOW ABOUT TRAVELING!
    THE ONLY TIME I GET IN A CAR IS FOR MY VET VISITS. MOM ALWAYS HOOKS THE SEAT BELT AROUND PTU.
    HUGS MADI YOUR BFFF

    Reply
  22. Brian Frum says

    January 2, 2016 at 6:22 am

    Those were some mighty fine tips pretty Summer and we totally enjoyed your pictorial!

    Reply
  23. prancer pie says

    January 2, 2016 at 5:51 am

    Great post! We think the last Don’t is the most impawtant one. MOL!
    Happy New Year, Summer.
    XOXO

    Reply
  24. katie Isabella says

    January 2, 2016 at 5:46 am

    I loved the pictures and the advice and mom actually did learn a couple of things while she knew some other of your points, Summer. She would not have thought to take me into a rest stop as she is in and out within a couple of minutes. Her legs still feel used to the car she is gone so short a time… but why takes chances ? Excellent advice and she knows she would never leave the widows open due to theft…taking me would be even more of a great idea! If that comes up, she will take me with her. It also didn’t occur that I should also have a hard bodied carrier for trips.

    Good blog and yes, you did look strange all buckled into your seatbelt! MOL

    Reply
  25. Mr. Chivers, Greyson, and Tabitha says

    January 2, 2016 at 5:29 am

    These are some really good tips. We didn’t stop to think about the airbag deployment possibly hurting us. We will let mom and dad know. Your humom seems to be the purrfect companion. Thz for these informative life saving tips Summer. Happy Caturday. Purrs

    Reply
  26. The Florida Furkids says

    January 2, 2016 at 5:22 am

    Good tips – especially the last one!!!

    The Florida Furkids

    Reply
  27. Mickey's Musings says

    January 2, 2016 at 4:50 am

    We are not fans of riding in the car, but mom does do the safety tips you suggest.
    She wants us to be safe too 🙂
    Happy New Year!
    Purrs Georgia and Julie,
    Treasure and JJ

    Reply
  28. The kitties of purring pines says

    January 2, 2016 at 4:11 am

    Excellent advice, Summer! Happy Saturday!

    Reply
  29. Marg says

    January 2, 2016 at 3:39 am

    Those are some mighty good suggestions and we have written them all down. We don’t go in a car very often thank COD because it is usually to the vet.

    Reply
  30. Pawesome cats says

    January 2, 2016 at 1:19 am

    Great advice Summer – YOU and your safety are too important to risk taking chances in the car.

    Reply
  31. Poppy Q says

    January 2, 2016 at 12:58 am

    Good advice sweetie. You make a great model.

    Reply
  32. toby & leia says

    January 2, 2016 at 12:29 am

    Huh. Maybe we should campaign for kittehs’ driving licenses… something to think about. Anyway, thanks for the advice! You do know a lot about traveling.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How to Travel With Your Cat on an Airplane - SparkleCat says:
    January 2, 2017 at 12:53 am

    […] is National Pet Travel Safety Day. Last year, I had some tips on how to take your cat on a car trip. This time I wanted to tell you how to travel with your cat on an airplane. I travel by plane […]

    Reply
  2. My First Car Ride in Over a Year - Christy Paws says:
    January 13, 2016 at 10:05 pm

    […] did this right after she had shared posts like Sumner’s Do’s and Dont’s of Traveling With Your Cat. She didn’t want me to tell you what a stupid thing she did (her words, not mine) but I told […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow Me Here!

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Our Sponsor

Get Summer’s Newsletter!

Stay up to date and get subscriber-only exclusives!

Sign Up For Summer’s Weekly Newsletter!

Follow me on Flipboard!

My Zazzle Store!

Buy from Sparkle's Zazzle Store
T-Shirts, cards, mugs and more!

Summer on Video

Tweets by @sparklecat
Powered by Dealspotr
Read my blog on Kindle
Winner Best Cat Blog Dogtime Petties 2014 Winner Best Cat Blog Dogtime Petties 2010 I won Best Blog Post!
BlogPaws 2016 Nose-to-Nose Awards Finalist badge

Copyright © 2022 ·