Advice on Driving with a Savannah Cat

[Pam Flachs]

I'd try her in your Sturdi cage for the trip; that is what I have done for drives longer than 3 or 4 hours. Make sure the zippers are all latched with something...in case she figures out how to unzip them...and use large puppy pads on the bottom of the Sturdi in case of accidents or spills. I just use a heavy crock for water, a hammock and a blanket with "home smells" on it, and a few favorite toys. Bring along a sheet or blanket to cover the entire thing if needed; usually that will calm them. And I've done the radio turned up louder than them, too lol!

 

[Trish Allearz]

See- Simon literally tore right through a mesh carrier on the way to the Annual one year... While we were on the freeway driving... One minute, all was quiet and the next- I see his big pink nose and giant ears pop up right behind me. Mom goes to grab for him, but I tell her to leave him be- maybe he'll settle down in the back (we're in a mini van- plenty of room). Oh NO- Simon darts up front, starts slinking on the DASHBOARD while I'm driving on the FREEWAY- Mom then goes to pull him down- he runs onto my MASTER CONTROLS for the windows- starts lowering the one on Mom's side (thank goodness it wasn't the window he was standing next to!). I scruff him, pull him to me, put on my blinkers and pull to the side of the freeway. Mom dumps a Sphyx out of a hard plastic carrier and I SHOVE all of Simon's BIG BUTT into a girly pink plastic carrier and THEN we all breathe a sigh of relief.

Moral of the story? Don't trust those cats to mesh. ROFLMAO. At least- I don't trust a lot of them with Sturdicages or anything like that in the car.

 

[Pam Flachs]

See- Simon literally tore right through a mesh carrier on the way to the Annual one year... While we were on the freeway driving... One minute, all was quiet and the next- I see his big pink nose and giant ears pop up right behind me. Mom goes to grab for him, but I tell her to leave him be- maybe he'll settle down in the back (we're in a mini van- plenty of room). Oh NO- Simon darts up front, starts slinking on the DASHBOARD while I'm driving on the FREEWAY- Mom then goes to pull him down- he runs onto my MASTER CONTROLS for the windows- starts lowering the one on Mom's side (thank goodness it wasn't the window he was standing next to!). I scruff him, pull him to me, put on my blinkers and pull to the side of the freeway. Mom dumps a Sphyx out of a hard plastic carrier and I SHOVE all of Simon's BIG BUTT into a girly pink plastic carrier and THEN we all breathe a sigh of relief.

Moral of the story? Don't trust those cats to mesh. ROFLMAO. At least- I don't trust a lot of them with Sturdicages or anything like that in the car.

OMG, Trish! Quick thinking on your part!

I once had a 4 month old F7 kitten tear apart a mesh carrier within 15 minutes of travel. It wasn't the best quality carrier, but had held up well prior to that trip. He broke most of the zippers before chewing a hole through and getting out. He rode the rest of the way to our destination on my shoulder, pleased as punch, the little brat

 

[Kronos]

You could try getting her more comfortable with the car for now. Kronos didn't like car rides much at first either. He would holler and looked in a panic. I kept calm and we went on many rides, short ones for the most part. Now he is such a good car rider, its cute! I leave him free in the car and he has learned he cannot climb in my lap or up on the dashboard. He likes to stand up and look out the window while we drive.

I think Zuri could learn to relax in the car too, with repetition they eventually figure out being in the car is not going to kill them lol.

For the long drive I would definitely bring along a large crate and a litter box, food water, etc. Also maybe making stops every two hours or so for a good stretch outside (she walks on a leash too right?)

 

[Patti]

See- Simon literally tore right through a mesh carrier on the way to the Annual one year... While we were on the freeway driving... One minute, all was quiet and the next- I see his big pink nose and giant ears pop up right behind me. Mom goes to grab for him, but I tell her to leave him be- maybe he'll settle down in the back (we're in a mini van- plenty of room). Oh NO- Simon darts up front, starts slinking on the DASHBOARD while I'm driving on the FREEWAY- Mom then goes to pull him down- he runs onto my MASTER CONTROLS for the windows- starts lowering the one on Mom's side (thank goodness it wasn't the window he was standing next to!). I scruff him, pull him to me, put on my blinkers and pull to the side of the freeway. Mom dumps a Sphyx out of a hard plastic carrier and I SHOVE all of Simon's BIG BUTT into a girly pink plastic carrier and THEN we all breathe a sigh of relief.

Moral of the story? Don't trust those cats to mesh. ROFLMAO. At least- I don't trust a lot of them with Sturdicages or anything like that in the car.

I had a very similar experience except I was alone and I didn't have an empty carrier handy. Believe me, it was a bit dicey getting my girl from the car into the hotel room without her escaping. That was the last time I used a soft-sided crate to transport cats.

 

[admin]

I'd try her in your Sturdi cage for the trip; that is what I have done for drives longer than 3 or 4 hours. Make sure the zippers are all latched with something...in case she figures out how to unzip them...and use large puppy pads on the bottom of the Sturdi in case of accidents or spills. I just use a heavy crock for water, a hammock and a blanket with "home smells" on it, and a few favorite toys. Bring along a sheet or blanket to cover the entire thing if needed; usually that will calm them. And I've done the radio turned up louder than them, too lol!

Thanks Pam! I don't have much time, so am going to dig out my sturdi show shelter and start taking her out again...I took her to the vet last Friday and she was ok...then I took her to the TS store the next day and she howled the entire way there and back...she always figures out how to get out of whatever carrier she is in

Heavy crock is a good idea...I am going to take some trial runs with her...I do also have a big soft crate I can leave in the back for her...and she can stay in there or roam in the back if I put one of those dividers up in my truck, so she cannot access the rest of the truck...

 

[admin]

See- Simon literally tore right through a mesh carrier on the way to the Annual one year... While we were on the freeway driving... One minute, all was quiet and the next- I see his big pink nose and giant ears pop up right behind me. Mom goes to grab for him, but I tell her to leave him be- maybe he'll settle down in the back (we're in a mini van- plenty of room). Oh NO- Simon darts up front, starts slinking on the DASHBOARD while I'm driving on the FREEWAY- Mom then goes to pull him down- he runs onto my MASTER CONTROLS for the windows- starts lowering the one on Mom's side (thank goodness it wasn't the window he was standing next to!). I scruff him, pull him to me, put on my blinkers and pull to the side of the freeway. Mom dumps a Sphyx out of a hard plastic carrier and I SHOVE all of Simon's BIG BUTT into a girly pink plastic carrier and THEN we all breathe a sigh of relief.

Moral of the story? Don't trust those cats to mesh. ROFLMAO. At least- I don't trust a lot of them with Sturdicages or anything like that in the car.

LOL, Trish...this happened to me on the way to and from Philly, even though the carrier was locked!!! Somehow Zuri opened the lock and did the same thing Simon did - slunk up on my dashboard and almost caused me to have an accident. Then she was down by my feet and all over the place...and I was alone, so a 2 hour trip took 4 hours...

 

[admin]

You could try getting her more comfortable with the car for now. Kronos didn't like car rides much at first either. He would holler and looked in a panic. I kept calm and we went on many rides, short ones for the most part. Now he is such a good car rider, its cute! I leave him free in the car and he has learned he cannot climb in my lap or up on the dashboard. He likes to stand up and look out the window while we drive.

I think Zuri could learn to relax in the car too, with repetition they eventually figure out being in the car is not going to kill them lol.

For the long drive I would definitely bring along a large crate and a litter box, food water, etc. Also maybe making stops every two hours or so for a good stretch outside (she walks on a leash too right?)

Thanks Alisha! I used to take her out quite a bit and then stopped for the winter...I can see where a 7 hour drive is going to be much longer yes, she walks on a leash, so that is a good idea as well...I'll make some practice runs...

 

[Trish Allearz]

LOL, Trish...this happened to me on the way to and from Philly, even though the carrier was locked!!! Somehow Zuri opened the lock and did the same thing Simon did - slunk up on my dashboard and almost caused me to have an accident. Then she was down by my feet and all over the place...and I was alone, so a 2 hour trip took 4 hours...

EEK!

 

[Wyldthingz]

EEK!

My vet always tells the story of the client who's cat crawled under the break peddle and the woman crashed the car and was killed!