Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Plan Your Trip
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More Next
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2020. Read More Next
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More Next
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture and Design
  • Plan Your Trip

    Plan Your Trip

    • Travel Guides
    • Flight Deals
    • Travel Deals
    • Ways to Save
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Attractions
    • Amusement Parks
    • Disney Vacations
    • Festivals + Events
    • Airlines + Airports
    • Buses + Trains
    • Ground Transportation
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow us

  1. Home
  2. Trip Ideas
  3. Pet Travel
  4. 13 Tips For Traveling with a Cat (Plus Adorable Kitty Pics)

13 Tips For Traveling with a Cat (Plus Adorable Kitty Pics)

By Jordi Lippe and Jordi Lippe-McGraw
May 20, 2016
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Ganddygram via Instagram
It’s becoming abundantly clear that traveling animals are the toast of Instagram. Honestly, what else makes a picture of a destination more alluring than sticking an adorable creature in the middle of it? While we’ve previously written about the cutest dogs and how to travel with a canine, we figured it’s only fair to cover the felines as well.

We’ve already introduced you to Amelia aka the “tropicat” who is sailing around the world with her owner Captain Liz Clark and Jesperpus, a three-year-old mixed breed who loves (cross-country skiing). But, there’s also Bolt and Keel, who enjoy outdoor activities like kayaking and hiking, and Gandalf, who has checked off two countries and nine states already.

And since cats are notorious for having it be their way or the highway, we decided to reach out to some of these adventurous feline owners and find out their tips on how to travel with a cat.

Check out what they had to say, along with some adorable cat pics.
Start Slideshow

1 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

1. Let Them Acclimate to Their Surroundings

Credit: Bolt and Keel via Instagram

"Be patient," said Bolt and Keel's owner Kayleen VanderRee. "It takes them a bit to figure out their surroundings before we get going."

1 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

2. Make Your Cat Feel Safe

Credit: Bolt and Keel via Instagram

"We often put them in a backpack or our jackets and that makes them feel much more protected," added VanderRee.

2 of 13

3 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

3. Be Smart About Feeding

Credit: Corbis Documentary

"It is very easy for your cat to become sick during travel," said the experts from Camp Bow Wow. "Providing time for food to digest lessens the chances of your pet becoming ill."

3 of 13

Advertisement

4 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

4. Familiarize Your Pet with its Crate or Carrier

Credit: Getty Images/Moment Open

"Pets like familiarity," added the Camp Bow Wow expert. "If you plan on keeping your pet inside a carrier or crate while traveling, make purchases at least a month before travel to allow your pet ample time to get comfortable with the new environment. Place him or her in the carrier and provide treats. Gradually lengthen the time your pet is in the crate or carrier until your pet seems at ease in its new space."

4 of 13

5 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

5. Be Up to Date on Your Immunizations

Credit: Getty Images/Moment Open

According to the experts over at pet sitting site DogVacay, it's important to ask the airline if it has any immunization requirements. You will likely have to show the records before you board the flight.

5 of 13

6 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

6. Find the Right Harness

Credit: Bolt and Keel via Instagram

While Bolt and Keel wear extra small dog harnesses, it's important to make sure you find the perfect one so your cat is comfortable doing anything...like skiing.

6 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

7. Book a Non-Stop Flight

Credit: Getty Images/EyeEm

Traveling can be stressful for your cat, revealed the experts at DogVacay. To minimize the anxiety, it's best to reduce the number of transfers and handlers.

7 of 13

8 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

8. Pay Attention to Their Needs

Credit: Bolt and Keel via Instagram

Unlike most cats, Bolt and Peel are comfortable in the water, but it's important to keep their needs in mind. "We often have to slow down for them to enjoy it," noted VanderRee.

8 of 13

9 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

9. Don't Give Your Pet Any Medications Before a Flight

Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

It may be tempting to make your kitty a little drowsy for a long trip, but it's not the best idea on a plane. The changes in altitude can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

9 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

10. Bring a Litter Box

Credit: Bolt and Keel via Instagram

Just like you'd bring a leash to walk your dog, it's important to bring a litter box on the road with you to keep a certain routine for the cat.

10 of 13

11 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

11. Traveling Cats Must Be Healthy Ones

Credit: Ganddygram via Instagram

"Insects and other animals can carry harmful diseases," the owner of @gandygram told us. "Having a up-to-date medical record is more of a requirement some places as well as a teeter test."

11 of 13

12 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

12. Use Plastic Baggies And Doggie Bags For Cat Needs

Credit: Ganddygram via Instagram

"Travel sized meal bags can be measured out and tucked away for later when it is feeding time," added @gandygram. "When traveling litter can be a mess and smell, so using doggie bags to scoop litter into to be thrown away makes it much easier. Even a days worth of litter can be put into zip bags for when it's time for a fresh littler box."

12 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

13. Keep Your Cat Hydrated

Credit: Ganddygram via Instagram

"Finding what a cat likes to drink from can be important to make sure they drink the water they need," noted @gandygram. "Also knowing the signs of what cat dehydration look like ahead of time."

13 of 13

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Jordi Lippe and Jordi Lippe-McGraw

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 13 1. Let Them Acclimate to Their Surroundings
2 of 13 2. Make Your Cat Feel Safe
3 of 13 3. Be Smart About Feeding
4 of 13 4. Familiarize Your Pet with its Crate or Carrier
5 of 13 5. Be Up to Date on Your Immunizations
6 of 13 6. Find the Right Harness
7 of 13 7. Book a Non-Stop Flight
8 of 13 8. Pay Attention to Their Needs
9 of 13 9. Don't Give Your Pet Any Medications Before a Flight
10 of 13 10. Bring a Litter Box
11 of 13 11. Traveling Cats Must Be Healthy Ones
12 of 13 12. Use Plastic Baggies And Doggie Bags For Cat Needs
13 of 13 13. Keep Your Cat Hydrated

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Guide Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
Travel + Leisure is part of the Travel + Leisure Group. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel + Leisure Group All Rights Reserved, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com

View image

13 Tips For Traveling with a Cat (Plus Adorable Kitty Pics)
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.