Top Tips for Traveling with a Cat: Your Complete Pet Travel Guide

Traveling with a cat has the bad reputation of being a daunting and uncomfortable experience for both cat parents and cats, but it doesn't have to be that way.

Five years ago, I started traveling with Mia, and I remember how stressful it was when I didn’t have a system. Since then, I’ve traveled internationally, within the US, and I take Mia (my bengal cat) on weekend road trips almost every other week.

Whether you're bringing your cat to the doctor or taking your cat home with you by plane for Christmas, I’ll share withyou my tips and tricks to try to make your upcoming trip as peaceful and stress-free as possible for both you and your cat.

First, because otherwise, it is exhausting and you will never want to do it again, but mostly because I know that the flexibility that you will gain by being able to take your cat with you is unmatched. No more travel guilt, on your next trip, your cat is coming with you!

I’ve separated this article in 4 big areas of learning from traveling with my bengal cat (Mia), from becoming our cats safe space to managing the unexpected.

Is it Cruel to Travel with a Cat?

I have yet to meet a cat that doesn’t like leaving the house (when the opportunity is right). However, cats that have had a full life indoors and never left the apartment will prefer to stay inside.

It doesn’t surprise me though…

I’m close to 40 and when I have to do new things, I, too get scared and over-cautious. It does not mean that I can’t learn how to wakeboard or kitesurf, but I’ve never done it and it does look scary!

The fact that a cat has been locked indoors and now is scared to go outside does not mean that cats are designed to be in an apartment.

What this means is that if your cat's only reality is the safety and the quietness of an apartment or the inside of a home, they can easily become overwhelmed when they first step outside.

Cats are athletes, little hunting machines engineered to be fast, agile, and great climbers. They are designed to make their territory patrol, hide, pounce, and kill. Indoors, we have offered opportunities to mimic that behavior with their scratching posts, toy mice, and cat trees, but they still would get much more stimuli outdoors, and when they face it for the first time, it can be overwhelming.

When Taking a cat on a long trip or vacation, we have to remove stressors and things that would make our cats uncomfortable and add things that will help our cats get comfortable (just like we did catifying our homes).

Continue reading to learn how to do long trips with our cats while keeping them comfortable and happy.

How to Safely Travel with a Cat

For the sake of your cat's safety, you should restrain or secure your cat in some way to prevent them from escaping and getting into trouble during your trip.

There are 3 ways to travel with a cat:

• Cat Harness and Leash - Always in combination with a carrier or a backpack
• Cat Carrier - For plane trips and vet visits
• Cat Backpack - For everything else

Choosing the right harness for your cat is important. A cat harness is the one adventure cat gear item that your cat is going to wear in every trip, I recommend you to spend a bit of extra time and money to get the one that works best for your cat. There's a more extensive list of things you'll need to travel with your cat later in this article.

The second piece of advice that I can give you is the process in which we make our cats comfortable with our choice of bringing them with us. I have developed a framework that will allow you to make every experience a positive one:

• Develop Trust
• Anticipate
• Start Slow
• Be Flexible

Let's get deep into each one of these:

Develop Trust with Your Cat

Let's face it, we are not cats. Our cat does not see us as a cat. We are a clumsy giant animal that seems not to be interested in eating cats.

A cat will stop being fearful towards their human as long as we respect their boundaries consistently and attend to their needs. With a little time of us feeding our cats, providing all kinds of luxuries, and proving to them that we are no danger, we will get a cat to stop fearing us.

That is just the beginning of a long process toward getting our cat to trust us. To develop trust, we need bonding activities, like playtime and clicker training.

Once your cat bonds with you, you become their safe space. As long as they are with you, they will feel brave and willing to explore. There’s a whole study talking about this that I find fascinating. Cats that display secure attachement use their owner as a source of security and comfort and are able to freely explore the room while the owner is present.

Read this article to learn more about increasing the trust of your cat.

Once our cat trusts us and we are a safe person/space to be with, we can move to the next step:

Anticipate and Plan your Trip with Your Cat

Cats after 16 weeks of age will approach new experiences with caution and care. This is because cats are both predators and prey and their curiosity peaks at 14 weeks and every experience that's new after that time, will be considered dangerous until proven otherwise. Training a cat from a young age is easier.

Anticipating what we want to do and getting our cat ready will be key. 

Create Habituation or Desensitization

Habituation is the diminishing of a physiological or emotional response to a frequently repeated stimulus. It sounds complicated but it's very simple. Here’s an example:

When you first learn to drive, everything feels new and requires your full attention—like how hard to press the pedals, when to use your turn signal, and check your mirrors. It might even feel overwhelming because you notice every little thing.

But after you practice driving a lot, your brain starts getting used to all the actions and sounds. For example, you might stop noticing the hum of the engine or the clicking sound of the turn signal because they happen so often. Your brain decides those things aren’t super important to pay attention to anymore. This allows you to focus on what really matters, like the road ahead and the traffic around you.

We want to make sure that the first travel experiences with your cat are positive so that they learn to relax while traveling. To achieve that, we need to start slow, doing things that are easy and comfortable for them.

Select a carrier that provides enough space for your cat to stand, sit, lie down, and turn around comfortably. If your cat feels relaxed in the carrier indoors, they are more likely to feel secure when you use it for traveling.

Once you have the carrier or backpack, introduce it gradually. Place the carrier in a visible and accessible spot inside your home so your cat can get used to its presence. Encourage exploration by leaving the door open and adding soft bedding or treats to make it inviting.

Any new experience should be introduced step by step, with a modified version that gradually builds up to the real situation. This allows your cat to adapt without feeling overwhelmed.

Travel with Your Cat Wellbeing in Mind - Be Flexible

You should start making preparations for your vacation as early as possible since these things require time. The more prepared you are for a trip with your cat, the less stressed out both of you will be.

Plan for alternatives in case, your cat gets hot, there's a neighbor dog that makes your cat's life impossible or any other external factor that might make your cat not be as comfortable as they deserve.

If your cat is uncomfortable, move you your plan B, so that your cat does not link the bad experience with traveling. Be ready to stop, turn around and go home at any time. A traumatic experience will likely make it impossible to travel with your cat in the future.

Let's summarize what we've learned so far:

• Develop trust with your cat by training and playing with them
• Anticipate the type of trip you are taking
• Train your cat to be habituated to what they'll be facing during the trip
• Be ready to modify your ideal trip on behalf of your cat's wellbeing

Should You use Cat Sedative for Travel?

If despite your best efforts to prepare them for the trip, your cat still exhibits indications of worry or dread during the habituation practices, a cat sedative for travel may be necessary. As a last resort, cat sedatives may be necessary if your feline friend suffers from mild to severe anxiety about travel.

Using sedatives should be the last resort when traveling with your cat

Since there is no such thing as a completely risk-free medicine, your vet is the only one who can say for sure whether your cat is healthy enough to take sedatives. Because every cat is unique, you should consult your physician about which sedative would be ideal for your particular feline.

My advice is that if you go for a sedative, you try it upfront on your cat to understand how it affects them so that you don't have a major freakout if your cat starts doing things you never saw before because of the medication.

Traveling with a Cat Checklist

Bringing a pet on a trip nearly always adds extra stress. Paperwork, more things to carry, and making sure they'll be comfortable.

To make that process easier for you, I've put together a checklist of things you need to travel with your cat. I'll explain it below but you can also download it here:

Adventure cat gear:

• Cat Harness: I use the Houdini cat harness, it's escape resistant and lightweight, allowing Mia to explore freely and safely.
• Portable Litterbox: Getting a travel litterbox is a game changer. Knowing your cat cat use the litterbox whenever they need to will reduce the chances of a mess and helps your cat travel more comfortably.
• Litter Bag: Ziplog bags work but if they break they can make a huge mess. I use this litter bag instead.
• A Carrier or a Backpack: I generally use a carrier, as Mia rides well on my shoulder. The one we use is this one.
• High Value Treats: When outdoors, your treats will compete with other stimuli. Using the tastiest treats possible is the only way to go. We use Feastfuls.
• Wet Food: Because traveling is dehidrating and cats are not very good at drinking water, I prefer to give Darwin's to Mia as it's hydrating. 
• Food Bowl: Somewhere to feed the raw meat / wet food on.

Other things to consider:

• Get your cat microchipped
• Make sure vaccines are up to date
• Use anti-flea and tick medicine

You can always bring more stuff, but these are the minimums you will for sure need.

When to Travel with a Cat and When not to

You should select a mode of transport that will keep your pet both secure and comfortable. If you won't have much time to spend with the pet on the trip, it's best to leave your cat at home. Otherwise, taking them with you will prevent them from spending alone time while you are out.

How to Travel with a Cat?

Taking a cat on a trip can be fun if you and your furry friend are fully prepared for it. Whether you're traveling by airline, car, train, boat, etc., be sure you follow these tips for a stress-free and safe journey.

Long Distance or International Cat Travel

If you're taking your cat on an international flight, be sure it satisfies the regulations of both your ultimate destination and any stops along the way. The worst thing that could happen is that you arrive at the country of destination to learn that the hotel does accept cats but the bus or taxi that will take you there doesn't.

If you want to travel internationally with your cat, keep these things in mind:

• Check the regulations of the country of destiny
• Most will require at least the rabies vaccine up to date
• Look for an airline that allows cats in cabin
• Get a direct flight to cut down on your journey time
• Put a tag with your contact information on the cat's collar, including your phone number
• Your cat's nails should be trimmed before the trip so in case they escape, they can't hurt anyone
• Take a cat harness so that your cat can spend some time walking around the airport and getting tired

More tips in the video below:

We advise you to carefully consider the hazards before flying with your cat.

Note that animals with "pushed-in" faces, including bulldogs, pugs, and Persian cats, are at increased risk of injury during flight and they are banned from air travel. Flying with your cat if they have a flat face is not adviced and irresponsible because due to the limited airflow via their tiny nostrils, they are particularly susceptible to heatstroke and oxygen deprivation.

Most airlines will allow you to bring a cat or small dog inside the cabin with you for an additional fee. However, there are limits on how many pets may travel in the cabin, so it's best to check with the airline ahead of time.

How to Travel with a Cat on a Train

Trains are becoming my favorite means of transportation. They are ecologic, less noisy than a plane and you avoid all those security checks. Additionally, your cat will be able to walk on a leash up and down if they desire and that for me is worthelss.

Make sure your cat is comfortable in its carrier weeks before your trip since it will be kept there for the entirety of the train ride. Put in their favorite blankets (because they are impregnated with their pheromones) and toys so they may feel at ease and use it as part of their routine.

If your cat is acclimated to the carrier's scent and temperature, your next trip seem more like being at home and your cat will be able to relax more.

Be careful because in trains there's also dogs. Try to be in an area where there are no dogs around and if they are, ensure they are properly leashed and muzzled.

How to Travel with a Cat on a Boat

Sailing with cats has been one of the best experiences of my life.

Cats have been sailing for centuries and they are one of the best sea companions one can dream of. They have great balance, they are quiet and don't get dizze plus they get rid of any mice or insect that could be on board.

Despite cats' great sailing skills, only a small number of cruise lines—and often only ocean crossings—allow pets, and even then, only service animals are allowed. Many cruises only allow pets in designated areas, such as kennels.

If you want to sail with a cat on your own boat, keep reading to learn how, but if you plan on bringing your pet with you on your cruise voyage, it is important to contact the cruise line in advance to find out more about its pet-friendly policies and which ships provide kennels.

If you own a boat and want to sail or motorboat with your cat note that there are 2 very important things to consider safety-wise:

1. Cats have great balance but they cant grab onto the deck of a boat
2. Cats are great swimmers but can't swim forever

There are other considerations but that would make this article too long. Learn more about sailing with cats in this other article.

 How to Travel with a Cat on a Car

Your cat should ride in a carrier that is secured to the car with a seat belt or other method to ensure its safety. Restraints and seat belts for cats help keep them from wandering the car and distracting the driver, but they aren't effective in protecting cats from harm in accidents.

Said this, some cats will hate the carrier and having the cat on your lap will be a good way to sooth them. Note that every country regulations are different regarding pets in cars so check out what's permitted and what not in your country.

Never let your cat out of the car without a harness. If your cat were to run towards a road, they could be exposed to serious trouble.

If your cat doesn't like car rides, follow these steps to help create some desensitization:

• Introduce the stimuli slowly, at levels that your cat can accept and digest.
• Reward every time that stimuli are presented at a level that your cat can tolerate.
• Increase the intensity of the stimuli as your cat builds desensitization.

Traveling with Cats Hotels

Finding a hotel that allows cats is possible, but it will cost you more than one that allows dogs. Although they may advertise as pet-friendly, not all establishments allow felines.

Most hotels will tell you no, and you'll end up paying an additional 30% to 40% on average. Although it may be inconvenient, it is best to reserve a hotel room or other accommodation well in advance of your trip and don't trust those hotels that say pet friendly because most are only dog friendly.

Some big chains that allow pets are the following:

1. Marriott Hotels (more than 1,500 hotels that allow pets)

This chain has several chains that will allow cats. Make sure you call them before making a reservation because polices change all the time: Aloft Hotels, JW Marriott, Residence Inn, The Ritz-Carlton, or Sheraton Hotels.

2. Kimpton Hotels

They have fame of being very good with cats and other pets. They are some of the first cat-friendly chains going back to their founding times in 1981.

3. Comfort Inn

The Comfort Inn & Suites is a no-frills cat-friendly hotel chain. There is a fee for checking in a cat but beds and common off-limits to pets.

4. Quality Inn

Quality Inn allows two pets per room, with weight and possible breed restrictions (large dog owners should call beforehand to get approval from the specific hotel). No pets allowed on beds or in common areas. And there’s a pet fee.

5. Four Seasons

I bet this one comes as a surprise! There are many Four Seasons properties that allow pets and even provide upscale accommodations, like a special dining menu, grooming services and complimentary pet supplies. Expect a pet fee.

Traveling with Cats final Tips & Tricks

Bringing a cat on a trip is a major hassle. The key is to make sure they feel safe and comfortable the whole time. Taking care of a pet while traveling may be a pain, but with the tips we've shared here, you can make the journey more comfortable for both you and your furry buddy. If you plan, both you and your kitten companion will arrive at your destination in good moods.

As always, remember to Stay Wild and Stay Safe!

We will see you outdoors!

Albert & Mia