Pet-friendly holidays are more popular than ever. And this comes as no surprise. After all, we’ve spent months in lockdown, and we grew closer than ever to our furry friends. And they’ve grown closer to us while we were more at home than away!
However, taking Rover on a family holiday is a lot easier than taking Whiskers. Dogs love to explore, but in the life of a cat, familiarity is the number one priority for a happy, stress-free, and healthy life.
Cats are very territorial creatures and spend lots of time setting up their territory. They do this through marking behaviors (those scratches on your couch or moldings aren’t just a critique of your style) and by other ritualistic behaviors—studies show cats generally have places where they can predictably be found at various times of day, like a schedule. As such, taking them out of this well-honed territory can be very stressful.
Cats are very territorial creatures and spend lots of time setting up their territory. They do this through marking behaviors (those scratches on your couch or moldings aren’t just a critique of your style) and by other ritualistic behaviors—studies show cats generally have places where they can predictably be found at various times of day, like a schedule. As such, taking them out of this well-honed territory can be very stressful.
They love routine, and it’s seldom easy to stick to his/her routine while you have many places to see and things to do while on holiday.
However, if you’re still set to take your fluffball on a road trip, the following few pointers will go a long way to reduce the holiday anxiety for your cat.
Besides a reliable carrier, portable litter, and plenty of food your cat will need comfort items.
And no, I’m not referring to “mice-cream”!
Let’s have a look at the do’s and don’ts of traveling with your cat on a long-distance trip.
Bring your pet's bed, favorite blanket, and some engagement toys to help make the trip a more enjoyable activity for all.
Stress is not only bad for the human race, but it is just as bad for Whiskers. And unfortunately, traveling is a common trigger for stress. Mind you, in some humans too!
We even squeeze in some shopping before we go. Don’t we just love to shop for our upcoming holiday? But in this case, it’s not a matter of how one size fits all. Shop for yourself, but not for Whiskers.
Whiskers will be far more comfortable with his/her everyday belongings from home than fabulous new mouse toys or any other newbie. S/he will feel less disrupted on the road. Familiar smells can help to keep Whiskers calm.
Many people have asked us how we've gotten our cats so comfortable with road travel and being in a vehicle in general. Watch this video for our top 6 tips for preparing your cat for a road trip. These steps are not only helpful before a move or vacation, but also before a trip to the vet.
A stressed cat is more prone to health issues during your travels and even once you are safely back at home.
Happy Holidays!
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