Hi everyone,
With the end of lockdown restrictions in sight here in the UK we thought it would be a purrfect time to once again remind our readers about how to safely travel with their cats (or other pets!).
One of our favourite famous travelling cats is of course Starina Esperanza Silvaz who safely travels with their humans and most importantly, enjoys her pawesome adventures!
Whether it is a long-overdue holiday or a trip to the vet the most important thing is to keep your pet happy, comfortable and safe on this journey.
Hers and our own go to carrier is the Sleepypod Mobile pet bed, not just because it is super comfy but also because it is secure.
For example, if your cat wears a harness (like the one Rennie is wearing above) you can attach a lead to the harness and secure it to a special holder within the Sleepypod mobile pet bed.
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 long 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. We here at Katzenworld would especially recommend one of the various Sleepypod Cat Carriers by our Sponsor Sleepypod. We have personally travelled a very 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. Car safety is most definitely one of the highest priorities for Sleepypod and thus they are ideal for staycations in the UK.
I’ve included their instructional video for you which is great in finding out more about how to safely use the carrier, especially for car journeys!
Sleepypod has conducted extensive crash tests (using dummies of course!) on all of their products to ensure that your pets are safe regardless of what happens on a journey. You can see examples of their crash testing here.
2. Pack food and water
Just like us, our pets get dehydrated when they are travelling. Especially so in the warmer summer months or in a car with aircon/heating turned on! A handy tip for the warmer months to come: 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. We have been using one of their travel bowls for close to 3 years now and it is still in purrfect working order so it gets five paws from us!
3. 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. Of course, if you have followed our tips on how to make your cat enjoy their carrier during the lockdown, you may not even need to do any of this as they will be super happy relaxed in their carrier already!
Should your cat not quite be there yet or be an especially anxious pet we would recommend trying Pet Remedy which you can use either as a Spray or wipes to help relax your pet on the journey. Their blend of natural ingredients will help keep your pet much calmer and can safely be used on any carrier!
4. 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.
5. 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
