hey there, so it looks like I may move to Kansas of all places. have any of you move your cats half way, or all the way across the country? how'd you do it? I'm sure this topic has been covered before sorry. I'm inclined to drive but dread 8+ hours of them whining every day and then sneaking them into motels and having to recapture them each morning..... I know drugs help but two of them are feral and getting a pill down their throats is harder than catching them.
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Philadelphia
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Been there, done both methods.
Fri, January 14, 2005 - 2:28 PMMy mother and I drove to TX from San Jose, CA over a period of 2.5 days with two cats and a bird. Sadly, my bird was already ill and died a couple of days after we arrived. Still, I'd NEVER do that again. It was angst x 1000.
For the felines, we had bought a very large cage that *just* fit into the back of our rented SUV. They were tranquilized every morning and slept it off every evening. While there ARE pet-friendly m/hotels available, we didn't know where we'd be at any given time, so we ended up sneaking them in... no fun for any of us. Our cats at the time were about 15 & 16 y/o and I was definitely concerned about flying. I'd heard horrible things about animals in cargo areas.
A few years later on our return FLIGHT to (thank GOD!) sunny California, we were one kitten and one bird richer. The oldest and most frail cat (he's now 19) and the bird rode under the seats in front of my husband and I and the other two were in the cargo space. $80 per animal no matter where they rode. Everyone landed healthy and happy except my husband and I who were absolutely frazzled with worry over the cargo travellers. (They looked like they'd had a nice nap!)
If you intend to fly with pets, know that you can only have one per human traveller and they must be in a carrier that fits completely under the seat in front of you. Always check in advance with the airline because you can't simply walk up with your pets and expect to board without advance prep. There's information online about state requirements for bringing animals in, (vaccinations, etc.), so be sure to check that as well. You don't want any last minute surprises with your pets!
Good luck to you and if I can help further, please email me.
-Sandi -
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Re: Been there, done both methods.
Sun, January 16, 2005 - 4:46 PMThanks, I'm not going to fly with them. I have 4 and woudl be a basket case about them suffering and god forbid anything happened to any of them! No, it's best that I be the only person I can get mad at. Looks like we'll be driving. I may need a sedative too. :) Too bad amtrack doesn't make some accomodation. -
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Re: Been there, done both methods.
Mon, January 17, 2005 - 9:43 AMKeep us posted on how this works out! I hopefully will be moving out of the San Diego area - to Northern Cal....in June or July, after I graduate. 3 Cats and a largish dog. Moving WS down here 5 years ago was hell, no sedatives - he pooped and peed the whole way! He must have been storing it up for me....little bastid. I'm thinking about making the back of my old volvo the animal area - lining it with plastic and sheets and letting them all hang there. behind a dog barrier....litter box included.
Mrrrreeeeeeoooooooowwwwww
How much Melatonin can I take while driving before it's dangerous???????
You are the test subject - Let me know Grl!!!! -
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Re: Been there, done both methods.
Mon, January 17, 2005 - 10:06 AMLooks like we may be moving around the same time, I'll be doing the trip with them late june / early july.
I drove Buddy and Zora from Philly to NH and back under sedatives, in carriers and zora whined the entire time and drooled in such a way as to cause me to think she was having a bad reaction and buddy was so quiet I thought she died- (I worry.)
I think carriers might be a good idea laura, they aren't going to stay put in the back you know? I think the carriers may provide some sence of safety - like they get from curling up in little cardboard boxes - though they woudl never admit it. I'm thinking about getting a big ugh, cage, that buddy and zora can both lay in, big enough for them to stand up and stretch in for the move.
Since I have time I think I'll plan my route via pet friendly motels and ask ahead of time if they have the kind of beds you can't hide under. That will make it a little easier to do.
all of the travel info on the web is about dogs and is pretty much common sense. -
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Re: Been there, done both methods.
Mon, January 17, 2005 - 10:15 AMYou're right about a carrier. I was just thinking with the dog gate down, they could lay in the sun and walk around....But they are cats (lol) and will want to hide. So I'll use a medium size dog carrier and let Pinita and Burroughs have one and Winslow have a small one. But I will leave their gates open so they can get out and use the litter box. But I will fasten clothes over the doors of their kennels so they feel hidden. It's an old (86) volvo station wagon with this metal dog gate that comes down. Gus never goes back there unless he is nasty, mucky icky and with another dog friend. I figure they can have that area.
I discovered during my last move that the mountians were the area that were most upsetting. Burroughs Yowled during our trip over the Grape Vine - ARgh I felt so bad for him. And I thought I was going to die of a migraine!
Maybe we should get Walkie Talkies and discuss our progress and let the felines complain to one another!!!!! -
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Re: Been there, done both methods.
Tue, January 18, 2005 - 8:19 AMThat's a great idea!
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Re: lond distance move
Fri, November 18, 2005 - 8:15 AMI have created a new profile under the name laurabora, which goes with a new e-mail acocunt so I'll remember to log on more. I'll cancel the Grl one and resend friend request to you bitches.
