I will be getting a Maine Coon kitten in the near future and would appreciate any comments any of you have on car travel. I have two residences 4 hours apart by car (my son is a figure skater) and want to try to have my new cat travel with us home most every weekend if it works out safely and happily for all. Do those of you who travel to shows by car have any hints? Does this breed adapt well to car travel? I will not do it if the cat has to be medicated or gets too stressed out. Are there certain types of cages I should look for that will work better for regular travel? I have a feeling the answer may be that it depends on the individual cat, but thought I'd check with you folks first. Thanks very much.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2000

Answers

Afraid your feeling was dead right.....it DOES depend on the individual cat. Having said that, MCs are generally fairly quiet and non-freaky cats so seem to do better with travel than many other breeds I have known. We have several MCs and they vary in their "enjoyment" of car travel. One simply will not stay in a carrier and gets so panicky in there that a passenger has to hold him on his lap or, if there is no passenger, the cat will sit quietly on the passenger seat. Others will stay in their carriers and go to sleep almost at once. It is, of course, safer to keep the cats inside their carriers while travelling in case of car accident, but I think you have to balance that chance against the stress which some cats can experience when being in carriers. For a cat who gets really stressed out, I believe it is better to leave it out of the carrier and take the (thankfully small) chance of an accident occurring. Of course, the cats are blocked off by bags and things from the driver so they cannot get around my feet or near the windshield. You might want to start getting your kitty used to being in a car as soon as possible. Firstly, put it in its carrier and take it out to your car and make a big fuss of it there (without driving anywhere). Then take the car out for a drive around a couple of blocks and then home (again, making a big fuss of the cat). Increase the time the cat is out in the car until they get used to it. If you make the cat associate the car with pleasure and treats, it will not freak out. Unfortunately, too often we only put our cats into cars when we are taking them to the vet and so they associate the car ride with a potentially traumatic event! Good luck.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2000

Lady B, Thank you so much for your helpful hints. The ride around the block with treats and lots of loving had never occured to me but makes perfect sense. I don't have my kitten yet as I'm just starting to look, but I will be better prepared because of your suggestions. And I thought I was the cat lover who knew most everything!

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2000

Thank you for your kind words, Susan. Believe me, if I ever begin to think I know everything about cats, look for me to be taken away and locked up! I hope you find the perfect kitty. If you would like to discuss any ideas on where to look and maybe some leads to good breeders, please e-mail me privately at ladybrit@hotmail.com

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2000

I have three cats (2 MCs and one mixed breed) that I regularly take to Ohio (a five-hour drive from my home) several times a year. Each is safely in its own carrier. My one MC and my mixed breed generally just go to sleep, while my youngest male MC gets very vocal after he's been in his carrier for a couple of hours. I think he just has a lot of nervous energy and doesn't like to be confined. In general, though, travelling by car with my three cats isn't a big deal. They get very used to it, and I'm sure this will apply to my vocal male as he gets older and is a more experienced traveller. That said, however, you may have some problems with car sickness. My one MC has a tendency to vomit if she's eaten a good meal before travelling. I encourage you to take your MC along on trips. Who knows, it might even keep him/her from getting bored, particularly if the cat is an indoor only cat (and I hope it is.)

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000