Hi everyone,
With the easing of lockdown here in the UK we thought it would be a great opportunity to re-visit our tips for safely travelling with your pets.
If you think but cats don’t travel don’t forget that there are celebrity cats such as Starina Esperanza Silvaz who safely travel with their humans. 🙂
Weither it is an essential journey or you are planning to take your pet along on a shorthaul holiday once the tourism sector re-opens, for many of us life wouldn’t be complete without having our furry companions with us.
So what are the important tips you need to remember when taking your pet out and about?
1. Prepare your carrier
If you got your carrier a while back don’t forget to check if the carrier is still big enough. Ask yourself: “Do they look comfortable in it?” And “Is there enough room for them to freely move around? Especially on a longer journey?” You should always run these checks before attempting to travel with your pet!
In the vast majority of cases your pet will travel in the back of your car and of course you can’t keep an eye on them at all times. Thus it’s important to ensure that the carrier you are using can be safely strapped in. Us here at Katzenworld would especially recommend one of the various Sleepypod Cat Carriers who currently sponsors us. We have personally travelled a long 3 hours journey with our clowder using the mobile pet bed and atom version which are both brilliant choices for safe and comfortable travels. And they have car travel safety in mind as they can easily be strapped in with your seat belt.
I’ve included their instructional video for you which is great in finding out more about how to safely use the carrier, especially for the car journeys!
2. Pack food and water
Just like us, our pets get dehydrated when they are travelling. Especially so in the hot summer months and in a car with aircon! A handy tip: freeze water before you leave home to ensure your four-legged friend has cool water for your journey. Our friends from Sleepypod also have some great travel bowls which are compact and can be used for both water and food simultaneously thanks to their unique design.
4. Keeping your pet calm during travel
Make sure you bring your cat’s blanket or their favourite stuffed animal, toy – any item which is familiar to your cat to help comfort and relax them. For a little extra help keeping particularly anxious pets calm, try Pet Remedy which you can use either as Spray or wipes.
Their natural ingredients will help keep your pet much calmer and can safely be used on any carrier!
5. Prepare for the unexpected
Flexibility and patience are virtues that every traveller should possess. The same holds especially true when travelling with pets. Whether your car is stuck in traffic, your pet gets sick mid-journey, or your cat decides he can’t wait for the kitty litter – travelling with pets can be hard work.
In case of any emergencies a pet first aid kit is a must-have for animals on the move. A kit such as the Pawly Pet First Aid kit helps provide aid and comfort to an injured or sick pet.
6. Protect your pet – vaccinate before boarding
Should you decide to board your cat instead of having them travel with you remember that Cattery facilities place cats in close proximity, increasing the risk of passing on infections. This makes vaccinations an essential part of preparing your cat for a cattery. Vaccinations help protect your pet by stimulating their body to produce antibodies to specific often contagious and even lethal diseases. If your pet should later come into contact with a disease they are vaccinated against the antibodies will protect them.
Vaccinations may be given over a two to three-week course and immunity may take days or weeks to develop afterwards. You should consult the boarding facility and your vet in advance to find out the requirements and timescales involved for vaccinations.
And make sure that if you do choose to leave them in a cattery that you pick a well-established cattery that has facilities in place to minimise the chance of spreading any potential disease.
Thanks,
Marc
