Used Car For Sale

Cats are pretty independent and don’t relish being told what to do. So, to be forced into a cat basket and travelled around in a metal box is not generally something they look forward to. To make matters worse, they usually wind up at a place with unpleasant smells and an aura of fear, the VET. Their only reward being a sharp needle and having their mouth prised open.

So it’s up to us humans to make this experience as comfortable for our cats as possible.

To start with, cats need to be transported in a basket, unlike most dogs that are unrestricted. Although, your cat runs the risk of associating the basket with the vet if, the only time they see it is ten minutes before they’re dragged off to the vet. A much better ploy is to bring the basket out a few days before you go so the cat has some time to get used to it before making the dreaded journey. More than this, my cats actually got to view it as a place of sanctuary, making it more of an issue to get them out at the other end! Because of this it’s better to have a basket with a top that comes completely off, making it easier to access.

Cats can have different ways of handling stress. There are cats that will go quite quiet and withdrawn, however, others will start howling as soon as the car starts rolling. On the whole, it’s the sensation of movement that’s beyond their control that upsets them most.

In order to minimise this, it’s best to make sure the basket is safely secured in the car with a seat belt. You will also need to consider your passenger when diving as well, anticipate junctions and roundabouts, getting past them as smoothly as possible to avoid any sudden stop/starts. A flow of fresh air is crucial as well, so keep the car windows slightly open and never leave a pet in the car unattended.

Some cats will suffer motion sickness, if this is the case get the correct medication from your vet. Whatever you do don’t use human medicines, as these will harm your pet. If your cat does get quite stressed when travelling, you can use a spray called Feliway in the basket and car to help calm your cat. It’s can also be used anywhere where your cat may be stressed, cats living in homes with other cats, building works or going away on holiday, all can be major causes of stress in a cat. Cats are happiest with a routine, anything that disrupts this can cause stress.

Rob Tyrrell is a cat owner and specialises in pet portraits if you’re interested in commissioning a pet portrait from photos visit his site at www.robtyrrell-petportraits.co.uk