Dear Sinéad and Siouxsie:
We recently relocated to Maine and now have to travel to central New York State to retrieve our beloved Kofi, a large orange male who has been waiting for us, a trip of approximately 550 miles. I am extremely concerned about the return trip to Maine, but hate to resort to tranquilizers. He does not travel well and this will be a long and difficult trip. Any suggestions would be so very welcome.

Thanks,
Martha

Sinéad: Good thing you asked. Most cats don't like traveling very much. But there are some things you can do to make our journey more pleasant.

Siouxsie: First of all, while you're traveling, make sure to keep Kofi in a crate that's big enough for him to turn around and adopt various positions, but small enough that he'll feel safe and secure in it.

Sinéad: If he has a favorite blanket or pillow, and it will fit in the crate, Kofi will be more comfortable during his travels. The familiar smell will help him relax.

Siouxsie: One of the reasons we cats hate to travel is that we get nauseous very easily. When our whole world is moving around, we can't see where we're going, and our crates are rocking and rolling around every corner, we find this quite disturbing.

Sinéad: Some good ways to deal with this problem include making sure to take the wheels off your cat carrier, if it has wheels, so that it sits firmly on the seat. Mama also buckles our carriers in--the seat belts keep the crates from moving, and if there's an accident, all of us will be safer because we're belted in place.

Siouxsie: We like it better when our crates are positioned so the "door" faces the front of the car. That allows us to look out and see our humans driving, and we can also peek out and see stuff in front of us--which eases the queasiness.

Sinéad: It sounds like your trip is going to take more than one day, so you'll need to bring a litter box with you. If you stay in hotels, make sure they're "cat friendly." And if Kofi will wear a collar, make sure he has some ID on that collar and that it has your (or a family member's) current contact information, in case Kofi escapes or gets lost somewhere en route.

Siouxsie: Kofi will probably feel better if you either fast him the morning of your departure or wait to leave until at least an hour and a half after he's eaten.

Sinéad: If you listen to music while you drive, please keep the volume low--our ears are very sensitive--and play music that is relaxing and mellow. I like it when Mama plays music by Enya or Loreena McKennitt, or low-key guitar jazz. If she plays loud music like punk rock, I cry and cry because it makes my ears hurt and I get all agitated!

Siouxsie: A lot of vets believe it's better not to use tranquilizers on traveling cats unless it's absolutely necessary. Those chemicals, combined with the stress of moving, can contribute to serious illness.

Sinéad: But there are some other options for helping Kofi make the trip more easily. Dr. Richard Pitcairn, in his book Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, recommends the homeopathic remedy Aconitum napellus 30C to help alleviate fear and upset before traveling. Give one pellet of this remedy an hour before leaving, and another pellet just before leaving the house. This is usually enough for most animals and most trips, but if nervousness returns, give him one more pellet while you're traveling. Pitcairn says that it's very safe to use and often functions better than a tranquilizer. You can get this remedy, and others, at most health-food stores.

Siouxsie: Homeopathic remedies can be given just like "regular" pills--placed in the mouth on the back of the tongue--or dissolved in a couple of tablespoons of milk.

Sinéad: Homeopaths say you're not supposed to touch homeopathic tablets, but Mama says it's more important to get the remedy into the cat than it is to worry about whether or not you touched the pill. In her experience, remedies are plenty effective even if you do touch them.

Siouxsie: We also recommend you bring some Bach Rescue Remedy with you. This is a flower essence designed for helping to deal with physical and emotional trauma. If Kofi gets really agitated, put a couple of drops on top of his head and stroke them in; the remedy will absorb through his skin and you should see him visibly calm down within minutes.

Sinéad: Of course, we have to give you a couple of common sense tips. First, if you let Kofi out of his carrier, make sure that all the doors and windows of your car, hotel room, RV, or whatever, are closed. Otherwise he may bolt and you'll be lucky to find him.

Siouxsie: Never leave Kofi, or any other animal, in a sealed car on a hot day. Even with the windows open a crack, a car can quickly heat up to well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, more than enough to cause heatstroke leading to brain injury or even death.

Sinéad: Be supportive of him by giving him lots of love, praise and petting whenever you're at a stopping place. And talk to him occasionally if he's sitting in the back seat of the car. Probably once you reach the highway, he'll just fall asleep. That's what I do. Once we stop going around all those twisty turns, I relax and the hum of the car reminds me of my kittymama, and it's all good.

Siouxsie: Remember to let Kofi have some daily exercise as he travels with you. Play with his toys or, if he's the type of cat that will allow himself to be put in a harness, take him for a little walk.

Sinéad: Once you return home with Kofi, just let him know where his food and water dishes and his liter box are, and let him explore the house to his heart's content. Put his special bed in a place you think he'll like, leave his toys around, and so on.

Siouxsie: But don't let him outside for at least a week. We cats have a special homing sense, and when we move to a new place, our "home detector" has to be reset so we don't get lost in our outdoor adventures.

Sinéad: Bring Kofi's veterinary records with you on the trip, so on the off chance that Kofi has a medical emergency before you get home, the vet who treats him will have the information he or she needs about his health history and vaccinations.

Siouxsie: Good luck, and lots of extra purrs and nuzzles for Kofi, too. Of course, don't forget to give him lots of treats when you arrive back home. Smoked salmon, or perhaps cooked white-meat chicken, might be good choices, followed by a lovely catnip party for dessert.

Sinéad: One last thing. While we're on the subject of traveling pets, it's time for our annual Dogs In Pickup Trucks Speech. Do not transport your dog in the bed of your pickup truck! The risk of serious injury in the event of an accident, not to mention the possibility of the dog jumping out of the truck for whatever reason, should be enough motivation not to do so. Mama says she's been told it's illegal here in Maine, anyway.

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