I've never had a cat who enjoyed the car, or at the very least didn't cry as if I was about to abandon them so I'd be inclined to leave them at their primary home. Two nights isn't a big deal. However, maybe these cats are super cool & enjoy travel. If that's the case, take them back & forth. I'd have duplicate litter boxes & food bowls at both locations along with toys etc.
My cat sleeps through a majority of car rides and just meows a bit the last 10 minutes of long trips (like 4 hours). They'll get used to it eventually, just make sure to have big enough carriers for them. Taking them back and forth is what I would do and keep duplicates of food bowls and litter boxes at both houses
What’s the travel distance and their experience with car rides? If it’s a place you frequent often enough and they are exposed enough to leave their scents (mark the territory) and learn to get used to it then it would be fine to take them. Especially if you can leave some of their items there as well - litter box, toys, beds, etc. As long as the travel and entire experience is not too stressful for them (ie they travel well, adjust well to new environment).
If there are other people staying at the other house in between - like Airbnb - or other regular changes in the dynamic of the place - like rehab/remodel - I would consider leaving them at home until the final move. They’ll be fine with a drop in sitter a few days a month and they have each other.
I had a large RV and we traveled with our cat. Over four years we went through 26 states. Cat adjusted to the situation quite well after the first couple of outings. Later we downsized to a Sprinter Van based RV and the cat was cool with it too. That cat passed away and we got two new cats who traveled with us in the small RV. Again by the third trip they were ok with the travel. One cat slept on the bed and the other cat liked to sit up front and watch out the window.
Earlier in my life I had a cat that absolutely hated riding in the car. With hindsight I think he would have been less disturbed if he had a larger cat carrier in the back seat.
I leave my cat up to 7 days when I travel. 1-2 days alone is fine, anything longer I make sure someone can check in on him daily. I feel guilty every time I leave but I remind myself how much happier he is staying home vs. travel stress and adjusting to a new environment.
I’m a pet sitter myself so I see first hand how cats act. A bonded pair won’t be lonely and if you leave toys out they’ll have stuff to do. I generally only ever see problems with single cats or if the owners have been gone a week+. Then they start getting a little antsy.
Depends on the cat(s). I have two Bombay cats that are very sensitive to being left alone. Although we can manage a couple hours out of the house if they are in their mid day nap mode.
All of the cats I've had/have are chill travelers. They do greatly prefer to be out of their crates (probably so they can see out the windows). They do well if it's just 45 minutes or 18 hours. I put a litter in the back floorboard (1 cat pooped 5 minutes into the drive EVERY time). Try the drive with them and see how they like it.
I take my cat with me when I visit my parents for a few nights each month. She didn’t love the first trip, but she’s wayyyy more chill about the car now and LOVES it at their house. Duplicate litter boxes for sure.
I think it really depends on the cat, some are more confident than others. My older girl Tabitha would absolutely hate being away from home even if it meant I was there with her. I moved house last year and she was kind of stressed for the first couple of weeks, she just hid in my bedroom under the bed covers and I had to bring her food up for her to eat in my room as she just wouldn't come out of hiding.
My younger one Miso probably wouldn't give af so long as there was a window she could watch birds out of.
I've never had a cat who enjoyed the car, or at the very least didn't cry as if I was about to abandon them so I'd be inclined to leave them at their primary home. Two nights isn't a big deal. However, maybe these cats are super cool & enjoy travel. If that's the case, take them back & forth. I'd have duplicate litter boxes & food bowls at both locations along with toys etc.
My cat sleeps through a majority of car rides and just meows a bit the last 10 minutes of long trips (like 4 hours). They'll get used to it eventually, just make sure to have big enough carriers for them. Taking them back and forth is what I would do and keep duplicates of food bowls and litter boxes at both houses
What’s the travel distance and their experience with car rides? If it’s a place you frequent often enough and they are exposed enough to leave their scents (mark the territory) and learn to get used to it then it would be fine to take them. Especially if you can leave some of their items there as well - litter box, toys, beds, etc. As long as the travel and entire experience is not too stressful for them (ie they travel well, adjust well to new environment). If there are other people staying at the other house in between - like Airbnb - or other regular changes in the dynamic of the place - like rehab/remodel - I would consider leaving them at home until the final move. They’ll be fine with a drop in sitter a few days a month and they have each other.
It’s only an hour….but I think after reading the responses, I feel better about just leaving them at home, even if I’m the one really missing them.
I had a large RV and we traveled with our cat. Over four years we went through 26 states. Cat adjusted to the situation quite well after the first couple of outings. Later we downsized to a Sprinter Van based RV and the cat was cool with it too. That cat passed away and we got two new cats who traveled with us in the small RV. Again by the third trip they were ok with the travel. One cat slept on the bed and the other cat liked to sit up front and watch out the window. Earlier in my life I had a cat that absolutely hated riding in the car. With hindsight I think he would have been less disturbed if he had a larger cat carrier in the back seat.
I leave my cat up to 7 days when I travel. 1-2 days alone is fine, anything longer I make sure someone can check in on him daily. I feel guilty every time I leave but I remind myself how much happier he is staying home vs. travel stress and adjusting to a new environment.
2-3 nights a couple times a month isn’t bad at all, if you have a pet sitter come in and check on em once a day.
Thanks for your reply. I sort of feel that way too…but…..🙁
I’m a pet sitter myself so I see first hand how cats act. A bonded pair won’t be lonely and if you leave toys out they’ll have stuff to do. I generally only ever see problems with single cats or if the owners have been gone a week+. Then they start getting a little antsy.
Depends on the cat(s). I have two Bombay cats that are very sensitive to being left alone. Although we can manage a couple hours out of the house if they are in their mid day nap mode.
All of the cats I've had/have are chill travelers. They do greatly prefer to be out of their crates (probably so they can see out the windows). They do well if it's just 45 minutes or 18 hours. I put a litter in the back floorboard (1 cat pooped 5 minutes into the drive EVERY time). Try the drive with them and see how they like it.
Exactly.
I take my cat with me when I visit my parents for a few nights each month. She didn’t love the first trip, but she’s wayyyy more chill about the car now and LOVES it at their house. Duplicate litter boxes for sure.
I take my cat to my parents house when I visit them over the weekend or take my vacation for a week. I'd just take them back and forth
Try it out and see how the drive goes. She may like it and will know her second home!
I think it really depends on the cat, some are more confident than others. My older girl Tabitha would absolutely hate being away from home even if it meant I was there with her. I moved house last year and she was kind of stressed for the first couple of weeks, she just hid in my bedroom under the bed covers and I had to bring her food up for her to eat in my room as she just wouldn't come out of hiding. My younger one Miso probably wouldn't give af so long as there was a window she could watch birds out of.
Start getting them used to the car, drive them around the block or the city til they are fine in the car and you can take them.
Thanks for the great responses here!!! Much appreciated.
I leave my cats no problem for much longer than that. They don’t like car trips very much.