Whether you’re going on a vacation, fall road trip, or moving to a new home, these pet travelling tips will help you safely move your pet from point A to point B.
Travelling has to be the single most stressful event in any pet’s life, it is for Buffer! Whether it’s a trip to the vets, a journey to the cabin, or a move cross country. It’s best to transport them as quickly as possible, reducing stress and frustration on your part.
Many dogs enjoy the thrill of the adventure, that would be our Bitly, but there’s exceptions to the rule, and 99% of cats would rather stay at home – and this definitely applies to Pressley!
6 Pet Travelling Tips to make the journey easier:
#1. Aldaron Essences have a line of natural remedies in drop-based form that can be snuck into your pet’s food or treats. Administer a few drops to your pets before their trip, to keep them calm during travel.
If you think the drops won’t be enough, your vet can prescribe a sedative. However, if it’s a long trip, you won’t want your pet to sleep for too long without eating or drinking water, particularly during summertime.
#2. A sturdy cat carrier or dog crate is a must. Be sure to go over it from top to bottom, checking for broken clasps or cracks. You don’t want your pet breaking out while in transit. After you place your pet inside its cage and into your vehicle, be sure to wrap the seat belt around the carrier as well. If that doesn’t work, use a rope to secure the cage. Keep the cage from bouncing around during travel and your pet will be much happier. Cats may appreciate a light blanket wrapped around their carrier, so they can pretend they’re in a kitty fort.
#3. Leave your pet carrier or dog crate out several days in advance so your pet can investigate it. Place some treats inside, or spray with catnip. You may find that on travel day your pet is already inside the carrier, ready to go. By making the carrier a retreat for your pet, they won’t be as freaked out on the day of travel than if you just grabbed them and stuffed them inside.
A traumatic pet carrier experience means that they’ll be terrified of their carrier the next trip, and we want to prevent that from happening.
#4. Once you’re in transit, stop for regular breaks. Include your pets too. Put your dog on a leash and let him run around for a few minutes. Depending on your cat’s personality, you may want to let them roam around inside the car for a bit. Just be sure to keep them on a harness, and keep all doors and windows closed when you do so. Put out food and water and give them a chance to use their litter box or let your dog go outside.
#5. During the journey, talk reassuringly to your pet. When they hear your voice, they’ll learn that it’s just another day. They’re not permanently leaving home, it’s just a journey, one that will soon end. If their human is happy, they are too.
#6. If your vehicle is so run down and the shocks are totally gone, it may be an unpleasant car ride for your pet. Make sure that you have a reliable vehicle before embarking on a road trip with your pet. Keep your car in good repair with regular scheduled maintenance at your local dealership, as you don’t want any surprises during your journey.
#7 You’ll need to consider storage, especially if you’re not traveling by car with your dog. For instance, if you’re going by plane or train somewhere, then you can’t neglect the fact that you’re going to have to deal with luggage. Not just luggage from your dog (such as a kennel) but your luggage too. One way to combat this would be luggage storage, which you can find everywhere in major cities. While yes, these do cost per hour, and per luggage, it’s well worth it so you can enjoy your trip.
When you implement all these pet travelling tips everyone will arrive at your destination relieved and happy that you had a great journey there.
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