Traveling with cats can be quite an undertaking, but with good preparation, it can be done.

Today is the third anniversary of our arrival in the Pacific Northwest after a cross-country trip from Maine, so the cats have graciously let me take the helm in this week’s post to share some advice on how to undertake such an odyssey with your feline friends.

Try to stay calm

The most important thing to understand is that your cats are going to be at least as stressed out as you are in the days leading up to your move. Watching familiar things disappear from their home and an upset in their routine can be a major anxiety producer for them. If you can manage to keep your own stress under control, it will help them. Try deep breathing, meditation and so on. Also, talk to your cats. Let them know what’s going on. They understand more than you think.

Get your cats vetted and have their records handy

Before you leave on your journey, take your cats to the vet for a checkup and any vaccinations they need. If you’re traveling to another country, be sure you have all the health certificate forms you need. Get your cats microchipped, if they’re not chipped already–that way, if somebody does get lost, whoever finds them will have a way to contact you.

Bring your cats’ medical records, and photos of your cats, with you and keep them in a convenient place. Don’t bury the records in the trunk with everything else you’re bringing; keep them near the front seat.

Make sure your car is in tip-top shape

You don’t want to break down in the middle of nowhere with your cats in the back seat. Before I left, I had a mechanic do a hood-to-trunk inspection of my car to ensure that my steering, brakes, emissions control equipment and other things were completely ready for a long road trip. I also had them change the oil, flush the radiator and put in fresh coolant. My mechanic actually found that there was a squirrel nest in my air filter! Needless to say, the air filter was replaced.

Siouxsie, Thomas and Bella did pretty well. Here you can see they’re on the bed and relaxed.

Plan ahead for hotel stops

Arrange for your stops to be at pet-friendly hotels. I knew from my research that La Quinta hotels are pet-friendly and, when I traveled, they didn’t charge an extra fee for pets. I chose a La Quinta every 500 miles or so across the duration of my trip because it was just as important for me to stop and rest as it was for them. I also made my reservations ahead of time so I knew I’d have a room waiting for me at each stop.

The only place I had to choose a different hotel was halfway through Montana, at which point I stopped at a Super 8 (they charged an additional pet fee, but at least pets were welcome).

Bring canned food and water

Before I left Maine, I bought a case of canned cat food that had pull tab openers so I didn’t have to bring a can opener with me. I also brought water from our home because I knew the water quality and taste would vary greatly from stop to stop. I also wanted to be sure they weren’t drinking chlorinated water, but that was just my personal preference.

When traveling with cats, bring at least one litter box

When I started my trip, I brought my cats’ largest litter box with me. I also brought a bag of the cat litter they were used to using, so I could put it into the box as needed. You can bring portable litter boxes if you wish, but I felt that bringing a familiar box of an appropriate size, despite the inconvenience, would minimize their stress.

Siouxsie traveled like a champ. Her 17 years of life helped her stay relaxed.

Comfy carriers are a must

Invest in some good carriers, or at least line the bottom of the carriers you do have with towels and other things that smell familiar to them. If you use puppy pads as part of the lining, you’ll have easier cleanup in the event of an accident.

Feed your cats at least an hour before you leave

By doing so, you’ll allow them some time to start digesting their food and use the litter box before you set off on the day’s journey. This can also help to prevent carsickness.

Be prepared for your cats to eat less than usual while they’re traveling. While we were no the road, Siouxsie, Thomas and Bella ate about half as much as they usually do.

Be prepared for some protest

Siouxsie, Thomas and Bella cried and carried on as I was making my way through city streets, but once I got on the highway and started cruising, they curled up in their carriers and went to sleep. Speaking of carriers, be sure to buckle them in so that if you do have an accident, the carriers don’t go flying all over the car!

Thomas did well, too. He typically explored the hotel rooms as soon as we settled in.

Once you’re driving, ensure that your cats are comfortable

I personally love to listen to loud music when I’m doing long highway drives, but for my cats’ sake, I kept the volume at a reasonable level. Cats have very sensitive hearing and loud music can be downright painful to them.

If you smoke, don’t smoke in the car–it’s bad enough for you, but it’s worse for your cats. Besides, stopping every few hours for a pee and smoke break (or to stretch your legs, if you don’t smoke) will make your part of the trip easier.

Give them treats when you stop for the night

By rewarding your cats for their bravery, you’ll help them have a sense of positive reinforcement.

When you arrive at your new home, tell them that this is the end of the trip

As soon as I settled into my new apartment, I took out their cat beds and set up their dishes, water and litter boxes. I told them “We’re home now; this is our new home!” They visibly relaxed when I told them so.

Do you have any other tips for traveling with cats? Please share them in the comments!