What you should know before taking a road trip with your cat: Video
A road trip with a cat could be the purrfect getaway…as long as your cat is ready to hit the road.
There are two important steps in taking a road trip with a pet: Making sure they can handle the journey and finding pet-friendly places to stay and stop along the way. In some ways, taking a road trip with a cat isn't too different from hitting the wide open road with a dog, however, some cats aren't as familiar with the world outside their windows as dogs are.
But with a little bit of preparation, and maybe some vet-prescribed medication, you and your cat can be cruising along in no time.
Watch this video for tips on taking a road trip with your cat.
Cat travel
Help your cat get familiar with your car before you set off on your journey. This includes letting them get comfortable spending time in their carrier, hearing the sound of the radio, the rumbling of the engine turning over and feeling of the road beneath the moving tires.
Start by letting them explore it while it's parked in the driveway and eventually work towards taking short trips around the neighborhood. To give your cat enough time to familiarize themselves with the car (or you enough time to figure out a new plan!), start the process at least a week before your trip starts.
You may want to also get your cat comfortable wearing a collar or harness and a leash. Your cat might hate you for it, but the extra precautions can make stops and emergencies much safer.
Some cats simply don't travel well at all. If this is yours, it might be safer for everyone to leave them in the care of a trusted friend, at a boarding facility or talk to their vet about medications that might help them tolerate the journey.
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How to take a cat on a road trip
The safest place for your cat while the car is in motion is in their carrier and on the floor behind the driver's or passenger's seat.
Some cats can get motion sickness riding in cars, sometimes caused by stress and anxiety. Consider having your cat travel on an empty stomach to reduce the risk. This could mean leaving early enough that you arrive at your destination around their usual feeding time, or delaying their meal by a few hours. But you know your cat and your travel time best, so keep that in mind.
Don't forget to pack:
- Food and water bowls.
- Enough food to cover the duration of your trip, plus a little extra.
- Their favorite toy.
- A towel to clean up any messes they make or clean their paws.
- A travel litter box and kitty litter.
- Waste disposal bags.
- Any medications they take.
As with any road trip, make sure you stop every couple of hours to let everyone stretch their legs. Never leave your pet unattended in a parked car, especially during the hot summer months.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What you should know before taking a road trip with your cat: Video
Reporting by Cody Godwin, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 10:24 AM.