Cross country with kitties, any advice?

[CrackRabbit]

It looks as if I will be moving to the Portland, OR area from Houston fairly soon I want to take my two cats with me, but I dont know what the best way to do that with the apx 3 day drive to get there.
Some Ideas I have had is to get a large carrier meant for dogs and put both of them a small litter box and food and water while on the trip so I don't have to take them out or worry about putting them into smaller seperate carriers.
Any other sugestions?

 

[Strk]

Have either of them ever been in the car before? I know my cat would go crazy even for a five minute drive.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: Strk
Have either of them ever been in the car before? I know my cat would go crazy even for a five minute drive.

They had to spend about 8 hours in a single cat carrier durring the Hurricane Rita evacuation, but I don't want to do that to them again, plus getting them in is an ordeal.

 

[Mloot]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
Any other sugestions?

EDIT: Ok, I'm a doofus that can't read a post properly.

I think the larger carrier is the better idea, especially if these are kittens from the same litter. I'm not an expert on cats, but for the short time that my wife took care of a couple of rescue kittens, they seemed to be more at ease when they were able to be together. The trip may be a little stressful for them as it is, and being seperated might just exacerbate the situation.

 

[Poulsonator]

When we moved form Fayetteville, AR to Orlando, FL, my wife put both of our cats in her car, while I drove the U-Haul. She didn't box either of them up, and was able to drive the whole way (22 hours) with them basically free in the car. She put a food dish and water dish on the floor in the back (Honda Civic) and didn't really have much of an issue. Cats aren't the best travelers, but ours were OK for the duration.

Not sure if that helps, or even makes sense. Hope it helps!

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: Mloot

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
Any other sugestions?

Just one: Don't move to Houston. j/k (sorta)

I am moving FROM Houston TO Portland but thats not 100% for sure yet.
Both cats have been together since kittens but are from different litters.

 

[marvdmartian]

I recently helped a friend move, about 3 hours drive away. We were trying our best to do this "on the cheap", so used her dad's pickup towing a u-haul 6x12 trailer, and she drove her car down. This gal has 3 kids (2, 4 & 6 years old), 3 dogs, 4 cats & some other critters that all had to go down as well.

The 4 cats ended up in a wire cage in the bed of the truck, next to a dog carrier with one of the dogs in it (the rest of the critters & the kids ended up with mom in a chevy cavalier..... talk about stuffed full!! :shocked: ). The cats were just fine, but I got a kick out of the one. He's a long haired calico, and, while the other cats were hunkering down to stay out of the wind as much as possible, he'd get up in the cage and "wind surf". I felt a little sorry for him, but he actually seemed to enjoy it, and would do it over and over again!

As far as your question, OP, I'd say that a medium to large carrier with 2 cats in it would work just fine. Chances are they'll sleep most of the way. As long as you're taking care of their needs, they'll be okay. Just be glad if they don't carry on while in there, as my cat does (he HATES his carrier, and thinks he should have the right to roam wherever he wants, any time he wants.......typical cat, in other words!!

 

[spidey07]

Put them in a carrier with warm blankets. If it will be a long trip - a little food/water.

I like the "one large carrier"

They make small disposable litter boxes.

 

[TwinkleToes77]

i recommend sedatives.. i moved my cats between countries and lemme tell you, they didnt handle the ride well AT ALL. Unless you want 3 days of them screaming and yelping.. get sedatives from the vet!

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: TwinkleToes77
i recommend sedatives.. i moved my cats between countries and lemme tell you, they didnt handle the ride well AT ALL. Unless you want 3 days of them screaming and yelping.. get sedatives from the vet!

That isnt a bad idea, one of them likes to make alot of noise at the begining of a trip, but calms down as time goes on.