Dear Sinéad, Siouxsie and Thomas:
This is KiKi from Michigan. I am a handsome 4-year-old super size (almost 19 pounds) cat. I have a brother and a sister. They are both 3 1/2 years old and on the large side, too -- 16 pounds and 12 pounds. I was shocked when I overheard Mommy talking to her friend about our big trip in July. We are moving to LA, it is 2,300 miles away from here. Daddy said it's gonna take us 5 days by driving his black monster. I am so worried. I love to be with my 16-pound brother, but Mommy said there is no way we can be in the same cage because we are too fat.

Mommy is wondering if she should get a bigger cage for both of us, or put each one of us in three individual cages. Can mommy put a tiny litter box in the cage just in case I have to go? Are we going to be able to stand driving for 8 hours a day? How often does daddy have to stop for us to take a break in the motel?

Thank you! We wish you the best and we hope that one day,your daddy & mommy will take you to the all you can eat restaurant very soon!

Purrs,
KiKi

Sinéad: Well, KiKi, it sounds like you and your sibs are in for quite an adventure. We've never gone on a trip that long before, but we've talked to a few other cats who have.

Siouxsie: I hate getting in the car and going for a ride! But it's not so bad once I realize I'm not going to the vet.

Thomas: I just hate going for rides altogether, and I cry and wail the whole time I'm in my box in the car!

Sinéad: You are in kind of a special situation, since you are all quite large. But we do have some ideas about how your mommy and daddy can help you to have a comfortable trip.

Siouxsie: We're guessing that your daddy's Big Black Monster is an SUV or a station wagon. If so, and if they're not carrying any of their stuff in the back section of the SUV, they could purchase a dog screen (a contraption people use to put a divider between the back of the car and the part where the humans sit) and place it between the back seat and the way-back section.

Thomas: If they do that, they should get a screen designed to restrain small dogs. It would be dangerous if you and your sibs were in the front part of the car and crawling around under the humans' feet while they're trying to drive.

Sinéad: And then, if you have your own special part of the car, your humans can put towels and bedding, and even a small litterbox (anchored in such a way that it doesn't tip over, hopefully) in there for you. They could even put a water bowl so you could have a drink once in a while. We suspect you won't be much in the mood for eating while you're on the road, since road trips usually give kitties an upset stomach.

Siouxsie: Of course, if your mommy and daddy give you your own traveling area, they should make sure that each of you has your own carrier and that when they stop for the day, they put you all in your carriers before they open the doors of the vehicle.

Thomas: They should also make sure it stays cool enough in the back of the car to keep you from getting overheated. That means that when you're on the road, they need to get their food through take-outs and keep the air conditioning on. This is especially important for you all since you're fat kitties (hey, you said so yourself!) and you can overheat much more easily than skinny kitties.

Sinéad: If it isn't possible for your humans to outfit the back of their vehicle just for you, then there are a couple of options, carrier-wise. Your humans could get a larger carrier, and then you and your brother can share a carrier. They just need to get one that says it's designed to hold a 40-pound dog, since the two of you together would weigh almost 40 pounds. The carrier would be big enough for both of you to be comfortable, and it wouldn't break under the weight as a smaller carrier might.

Siouxsie: Of course, if your mommy and daddy decide to put you and your brother in one carrier, then you can both have lots of fun when it's time to go. They'll capture one of you and put you in the carrier, and then when they get the other one and put him in, then the first one ducks out and runs away. Sinéad and I used to play this game when Mama put us both in the same carrier. It was so much fun to watch Mama curse and fume when she was trying to get us to the vet and we kept escaping! Tee hee hee!

Thomas: Your humans might think it's more convenient to put each of you in your own carrier. And you'll be fine that way, even without a litterbox. Trust us, you won't be in the mood to eat or pee while you're traveling. You'll probably spend most of the time sleeping.

Sinéad: Your mommy and daddy can help you be comfortable for your trip by feeding you at least an hour before it's time to get on the road. That should give you time to have some breakfast and do all your business before you need to spend the day in your carriers.

Siouxsie: Mama says that if she were traveling cross-country with us, she'd feed us the minute she wakes up. Then she'd take a shower and have her own breakfast, and by the time she got back to the room to pack all of us up, we'd be ready to go.

Thomas: Your humans should make sure to bring food, water and litter that is familiar to you. That will keep you from getting constipated and stressed during this long trip.

Sinéad: Your mommy and daddy should also make sure that the motels or hotels where they stop will allow feline guests. There are a number of Internet resources available for finding pet-friendly accommodations on your route. Check the Pet-Friendly Hotels Directory and the Pets Welcome Database for more information on these.

Siouxsie: All of you will be fine through long days of driving. As we said, you all will be doing a lot of sleeping! Your humans should bring a few of your favorite toys along in the truck, too, so that when you stop for the day you can get some play time in. That'll help you feel less stressed, too.

Thomas: We wrote a couple of past columns on the logistical concerns about traveling with cats, and we recommend that your mommy and daddy read this one in particular. Links to this and other columns on traveling and moving house with cats can be found here.

Sinéad: Good luck, KiKi! We hope you and your siblings and your mommy and daddy enjoy your new life on the other side of the country.

Got a question? Need some advice? E-mail us at advice@paws-and-effect.com. None of the material in this column is meant to be a substitute for regular veterinary care.