Recently, I received an email from a concerned pet owner who had adopted a stray cat named Ashton. The cat was showing persistent cold symptoms despite receiving medication, and the local vets seemed unable to help. The woman was also concerned about the stress Ashton experiences during car rides, which exacerbate his symptoms due to anxiety.
She mentioned the need to travel three hours to reach another veterinary center, which was a daunting prospect for both her and Ashton. I advised her to seek help from the distant vets if she felt they were more competent. To make the journey safer and less stressful for Ashton, I recommended training him to be comfortable in cars.
Once you’ve trained your cat to be used to cars, it will make life much easier for both your cat and you. If you’re like me and get anxious when your pet is anxious, this is especially important. I promise it’s not hard and can be done in under a week with a small effort.
Let’s start with the steps. Picture from post Cats Can Like Cages. Step 1: Train your cat to be comfortable in his carrier. As mentioned in the intro, it’s crucial to train your cat to be comfortable in a carrier before or simultaneously with training them to be comfortable in a car. It’s easy. Once your cat is happy in a carrier, car travel will be much easier. Half the fear of car travel for cats is being in a small space they don’t feel safe in. Get rid of this fear and turn the carrier into a safe haven. Step 2: Practice sitting in a still, turned off car with your cat. After getting your cat comfortable in the carrier, try to get them used to the car itself. Place your cat in the carrier, take them outside, open the back door of your car, put the carrier on the middle seat, and sit next to them. Don’t move to the front at first. Just sit for a while and make your cat feel it’s no big deal. Step 3: Spoil your cat rotten when you come back from a car trip. Do this every time you return from a car trip. Whether your cat was good or bad during the trip, when you enter the house, unlock the door, let your cat out of the carrier, and immediately spoil them with praise, attention, cuddles, food, treats, snacks, catnip, play, or whatever else they love.Congratulations on completing a successful car ride with your cat! As a reward for their patience, it’s important to spoil them immediately upon return. Initially, your cat may not understand the connection between car rides and the subsequent pampering. However, with repeated exposure to the car followed by a generous amount of affection and treats, they will eventually associate ‘car rides’ with being ‘spoiled rotten’.
This positive mental connection is what you should aim to encourage, so never skip a spoil session and ensure it happens right after you return home.Step 4: Practice sitting in a still car with the ignition on. Similar to the previous step, take your cat into the car, sit in the front seat, turn on the ignition, and wait for a few minutes before heading back inside. Remember to spoil your cat afterwards.
Whether you talk to your cat or sit in silence doesn’t matter; the key is to help them understand that being in the car is not a big deal. If your cat remains calm throughout these initial steps, they are likely already comfortable with cars and only dislike the movement. If they show signs of stress, repeat the process until they become more at ease with the car.Step 5: Take your cat on a quick trip around the block.
This will likely be the shortest car ride you’ve ever taken, but it’s an essential step. Drive smoothly and avoid any sudden movements or potholes. The goal is to complete a quick trip around the block and return home, followed by spoiling your cat. Regardless of your cat’s initial reaction, repetition will make this process easier. Continue repeating this step until your cat is comfortable with short trips around the block before moving on.Step 6: Gradually increase the duration of car trips. Extend the quick trip around the block to slightly longer trips, up to 15 or even 30 minutes at a time. Increase the duration of your car rides while maintaining a smooth drive and, of course, spoiling your cat once you’re back home. This gradual increase in duration will help your cat become more accustomed to longer car rides.
Repetition is key when it comes to training your cat for car rides.
