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You are here: Home / Kitty Wisdom / Keeping Cats Safe in the Car – 7 Tips

Keeping Cats Safe in the Car – 7 Tips

January 3, 2022 By: Summer Samba22 Comments

Since she is a travel expert, as far as cats go, Summer offers 7 tips for keeping cats safe in the car, and carrier safety.

I travel a lot in the car. In fact, I don’t think a week goes by without me going somewhere in my human’s Mini at least once. So you might say I am kind of a cat expert at car travel. My human is big on keeping me as safe as possible when we are on the road, so why not share some of these tips? Nearly all cats need to go somewhere at some point, at least to a veterinary clinic, and I want all my kitty pals to be safe too.

Note: These tips are specifically about car safety. Acclimating your cat to a carrier with less stress is a big topic that needs its own blog post.

Somali cat with harness and id on

Tip #1 Always have an ID on your cat.

And this means a physical ID, attached to a collar or a harness. Microchips are important and all cats should be chipped. But you want people to have access to your contract info right away if your cat somehow winds up outside of the car.

Somali cat on passenger seat of car

Tip #2 Never, ever allow your cat to roam free in a moving car.

Most cats dislike car travel and will behave unpredictably inside a car. They could get under your feet while you are driving, or at the very least hide in a space that will be difficult to reach when you arrive at your destination. Even if you have the most well-behaved cat in the world, it’s dangerous. If there is an accident, your cat can be thrown from the car, or escape in a panic, possibly injured, never to be seen again. My human’s heart races just thinking about it.

Tip #3 Safety starts with the carrier.

Your cat should have a sturdy carrier that is also comfortable. There are a lot of opinions on which ones are best. Many experts recommend hard sided carriers, but there are also well-designed soft sided carriers that are safe too. We like the Sleepypod mobile pet beds because they’ve actually been crash tested and it is documented that they hold up brilliantly in accidents. Plus they are comfy! They are not cheap, but worth every cent.

Tip #4 Don’t ever strap your cat’s carrier into the front passenger seat.

There are two reasons for this. First, if you are in an accident, the force of a deployed airbag could severely injure or even kill your cat, even while protected by a carrier. Secondly, the passenger side is one of the most vulnerable spots in a car accident.

Sleepypod carrier in back seat

It’s much safer to strap the carrier in the backseat, with the help of the seatbelt. Most carriers these days have extra tabs to secure your cat’s carrier even better.

Tip #5 Prepare for extreme weather conditions.

It is important to keep a comfortable temperature in your car. Usually cold isn’t that troublesome, since you will likely have the heater on for your own comfort. Just add extra blankets to the carrier and make sure the heat vent isn’t blasting directly on your cat.

Hot weather, however, can be very dangerous. The temperature inside a car in summer is much higher than outside, and cats can easily get heatstroke and die. Even when outside temperatures read 75 or 80, inside a car, the thermometer can rise to potentially deadly levels. Always have your air conditioner on if you are driving somewhere with your cat on warm days. My human keeps the car a little colder than she would like when she is traveling with me.

If you can do it, always park your car in the shade when it is hot out so your car is not a complete furnace when you are getting ready to leave. My human always runs the air conditioner with the door open for a few minutes before fastening my carrier in the back. Even if the car is parked in the shade. She wants the worst part of the heat to dissipate.

Sleepypod carrier in front of passenger seat

The one exception my human makes to the carrier in the back seat rule is during hot weather, when she is worried that too much sun will be hitting my carrier. Then she puts the carrier in front of the passenger seat. It’s actually very secure there because the car is so small, and my carrier is fairly large. It’s got more shade, and there is an air conditioner vent there.

A couple more hot weather tips. On summer days when you are traveling with your cat, freeze a small bottle of water the night before. This serves two purposes. You can wrap it in a blanket or towel in the carrier to help keep your cat cool. And you can bring a small bowl so that as the ice in the bottle melts, you can offer your cat a drink if she is thirsty. Another thing to consider, if you live in a hot climate is getting a cooling mat for your cat’s comfort and safety.

Tip #6 Fill the bottom of your cat’s carrier with towels or blankets, both for comfort and to add security.

Stuff enough blankets or towels in the bottom of the carrier so that they don’t move around. This will help keep your cat from being jostled about while driving. It makes for a better ride for your cat, and if there is an accident, there is less of a chance for the cat to be violently thrown around in the carrier.

Tip #7 Never leave your cat in the car unattended.

There isn’t enough room to list the reasons your cat should never be alone in the car. Here are just a few things to consider. What if your car gets stolen? What if your car is hit by another vehicle? What if it gets too hot or too cold? What if something happens to you, and your cat is stuck in the car without you? And my human’s biggest concern: what if someone breaks into the car and steals me? Really, it could happen to any cat.

When we are traveling, where ever my human goes, I come along. That is non-negotiable. She eats at drive thrus, and takes my carrier into gas station mini marts. I’ve even been in a bank while my human was signing documents once. If someone is traveling with her, one of them will have to stay in the car while the other person shops or has an appointment. She will never, ever leave me alone. Period.

I hope these tips are helpful! Did any of them surprise you, or do you have more suggestions? Let me know in the comments.

Other posts you’ll enjoy:

  • Successful Traveling With Your Cat – the Preparation
  • How to Travel With Your Cat on an Airplane
  • Do’s and Don’ts of Traveling With Your Cat
Keeping Cats Safe in the Car - 7 Tips
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Comments

  1. Katie Isabella says

    January 4, 2022 at 4:33 am

    We would love to have a sleepy pod but they don’t make them large enough for a 14 1/2 pound Empress! Must ne the Company’s way to cut down on cat plumpness.

    Reply
  2. Lone STar Cats says

    January 4, 2022 at 2:25 am

    We follow all these tips when I travel too. I think I need my own SleepyPod though – it’s a lot more stylish than my current hard carrier.

    Reply
  3. Meezer'sMews&TerrieristicalWoofs says

    January 3, 2022 at 11:33 pm

    Great tips and info! Some of which applies to us pups as well.

    Reply
  4. Cathy Keisha says

    January 3, 2022 at 7:33 pm

    Very helpful tips. You are the expert.

    Reply
  5. Sasha says

    January 3, 2022 at 6:53 pm

    What a lot of valuable tips, Summer. My human doesn’t have a car, so has taken me in a taxi, gripping on to my carrier so I don’t get jostled. She covered the carrier with a big towel to stop me getting frightened. But I was always stressed by these trips so she gets a Vet to visit me at home, now. This Vet likes me, although I am good at hiding. He said it was amazing that I held out my paws to get me nails trimmed. But I must say that Lynettea was gripping me at the time. Travel safely dear Summer! Sasha

    Reply
  6. Marv says

    January 3, 2022 at 5:50 pm

    Excellent tips Summer! About your Tip #1, Not only do we wear ID, if we are travelling a great distance Mom adds those cardboard tags with the metal rims, with our destination contact on one side and her cell number on the other. (Avery 11025). These come with a split ring that can be added to a collar. If we are staying in a motel, she writes a new one with the hotel name and room number on it. (Nellie Bellie travelled a lot and was an escape artist).

    Reply
    • Katie Isabella says

      January 4, 2022 at 4:30 am

      Fascinating, Marv! Glad you added this.

      Reply
  7. Ellen Pilch says

    January 3, 2022 at 4:08 pm

    I need to stop letting them ride shotgun.

    Reply
    • Katie Isabella says

      January 4, 2022 at 4:32 am

      IT’s better for them to be in their carrier. I wasn’t even thinking of safety waaaay back when Robin was allowed loose. She got under our feet– and that took care of that.

      Reply
  8. Raven Indulgedfurries says

    January 3, 2022 at 3:56 pm

    Great tips. We put towels in the bottom of the carrier just in case there’s a different type of “accident”.

    Reply
  9. Melissa & Mudpie says

    January 3, 2022 at 3:09 pm

    These are fantastic tips, coming from a pair of pros!

    Reply
  10. Memories of Eric and Flynn says

    January 3, 2022 at 2:09 pm

    Good and important tips, Summer.

    Reply
  11. The Swiss Cats says

    January 3, 2022 at 12:10 pm

    Those are all great tips, Summer ! We have plastic PTU, and Claire would love to get us Sleepypods, but some big black cat in our house is known for having, hem… pee (and poop) accidents after 5 minutes in the car. Are the Sleepypods easily washable ? Purrs

    Reply
  12. Brian says

    January 3, 2022 at 10:27 am

    Those are excellent tips sweet Summer, I wouldn’t have thought about the airbag going off.

    Reply
  13. Catscue says

    January 3, 2022 at 8:44 am

    Wonderful information, thank you Summer!

    Reply
  14. pat k says

    January 3, 2022 at 8:25 am

    Good ideas. Some of these things shouldn’t even need to be said.

    Reply
  15. The Poupounette Gang says

    January 3, 2022 at 7:31 am

    Lots of great advice, as always, Summer! It is important to travel safely!

    Purrs,
    Tama and Benny

    Reply
  16. Eastside Cats says

    January 3, 2022 at 7:02 am

    Summer, this is good information!
    When I drove to the vet’s office with both of Da Boyz, their two carriers in the front seat actually hit the gear shift at one point!
    When I picked them up after their dental procedures that afternoon, they went behind, as you suggested.

    Reply
  17. The Florida Furkids says

    January 3, 2022 at 5:34 am

    Great tips!

    Reply
  18. Ernie the Island Cat says

    January 3, 2022 at 5:12 am

    Good tips, Summer. I never go in the car unless I’m in my carrier.

    Reply
  19. Charles Huss says

    January 3, 2022 at 3:50 am

    Those are all good tips. When we traveled, as an added precaution, I put a tile tracker on each of our cats.

    Reply
  20. Mickey's Musings says

    January 3, 2022 at 1:13 am

    Excellent tips Summer!!
    Being safe inside a car is very important.
    Purrs, Julie

    Reply

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