Don’t Forget This When Traveling With Your Cat. Vets Say It’s The Most Important Thing You’re Overlooking.

It’s the summer of road trips and local exploration which means you’re less likely than ever to be hopping a plane and almost guaranteed to be packing the car for your 2020 adventures. While avoiding airports may make it infinitely easier (and cheaper) to take your four-legged friends along for the journey, there’s plenty to consider before hitting the road with a fur baby in tow, especially if your little one is a cat. While traveling with dogs is fairly intuitive, there’s one thing that many kitty paw-rents tend to undervalue: comfort. In the life of cats, that means familiarity, and it’s a top health and safety concern if you’re taking Whiskers out his established habitat.

While dogs tend to be adaptable and happy to encounter new destinations with you, cats are not. Dr. Matthew McCarthy of Juniper Valley Animal Hospital in Queens, New York, urges anyone thinking of traveling with cats to keep in mind that it’s unlikely to be an enjoyable experience for the furry one. “Cats are very territorial creatures and spend lots of time setting up their territory,” he says. “They do this through marking behaviors (those scratches on your couch or moldings aren’t just a critique of your style) and by other ritualistic behaviors—studies show cats generally have places where they can predictably be found at various times of day, like a schedule. As such, taking them out of this well-honed territory can be very stressful.”

And it’s not just their moods that will suffer without that feeling of security. As Dr. Jess Kirk of Vet Explains Pets says, “A stressed cat is more prone to health issues during your travels and even once you are safely back at home.” Still, there may be situations when Fluffy must hit the road with you and, while you’ll clearly need a reliable carrier, portable litter and plenty of food for her, Dr. Kirk advises you not to forget this: “No matter what your cat’s comfort item is, bring it along on your travels.”

So how many of these “security blankets” should you bring, and how do they actually help? Dr. Tori Countner of The Balanced Pet Vet suggests bringing “a few items from home that your cat has spent time on. Cats release pheromones, chemical substances that can alter their behavior and emotional state, when they rub their faces on certain objects. Five different facial pheromones that decrease stress and help with familiarity (which can calm your cat while traveling) have been identified.”

The most effective choices for your cat’s comfort packing list are his or her most commonly used items and, fortunately, they’re generally easy to tote. Dr. Katie Lytle, Veterinary Channel Manager at Wisdom Health, says it can be as simple as “bringing your pet’s bed, favorite blanket and some engagement toys to help make the trip a more enjoyable activity for all.”

The critical characteristic of any items you choose to bring is that your cat regularly uses them, so don’t go on a shopping spree for fab new cat-travel accessories the week before your trip. Instead, look for more travel-perfect versions of your cat’s everyday belongings to use at home daily. This way, kitty’s life won’t feel quite as disrupted when it comes time to hit the road with them, and they’ll be easier for you to pack and well-suited to life on the go because you’ve kept potential travel in mind when making those purchases. Here’s a guide to choosing comfort items that are best for home and cat travel.

Bed

You don’t need to be told that your cat is likely to prefer something soft and cozy, but don’t underestimate the value of adaptability. You’ve probably been baffled by your cat’s sudden changes in preferences at times, so how do you balance that with their needs for stability and smell-consistency? The Vevo Double cat bed, available from Mau, appears to be a simple double-weave basket, but the sides can be rolled to anywhere from 7-13 inches high and are soft enough to reshape at whim but sturdy enough to hold the shapes you (or your cat) choose. Whether your cat prefers a low-profile pillow or a high-walled basket, the Vevo Double changes with his or her mood and is especially ideal for traveling, when flexibility is key for packing and versatility is useful in unknown environments. The Vevo Double is an elevated piece of kitty furniture that looks more like décor than necessity in your home and packs perfectly in personal vehicles.

Cave

If you’ll need to fly with your furball, you’re going to need a lighter, more compressible option to take as little space as possible in your luggage and not exhaust your weight limits. Mau’s Horizon Cat Cave addresses both concerns, and provides a more enclosed hideaway for cats, which can be greatly appreciated in new environments. The wool felt construction packs nearly flat inside luggage (or even to be used as a flatter bed at home or away, if desired) and resiliently returns to its original cave capacity in seconds when unpacked and hand-fluffed. To be prepared for any type of travel, keep both a traditional bed and lightweight cave at home.

Blanket

You may have noticed that cats tend to perch on blankets or towels wherever they find them, and it’s not just because they know how adorably photogenic this is. The truth is that no one knows exactly why cats will prefer a tiny corner of blanket when an entire bed is available, but it’s likely due to their territorial nature and being able to define a space as their own. Whatever the reason, these blankets become literal security blankets once kitty’s pheromones have left their marks and can be seriously soothing on the road, so it’s a good idea to have a travel-friendly blanket in regular use at home. The CatNap Anti-Scratch Throw Blanket from Paw.com’s new line of cat products comes with a fabulously fluffy faux-fur finish that’s irresistible to kitties, and is equipped with a micro-suede bottom to protect your furniture from scratches and a waterproof interior lining for ultimate spill (and accident) protection. And yes, it’s still machine washable. If you’ll be traveling to someone else’s home, or even a hotel, Tiger will be happy to bring the scents of home along and you’ll rest easier knowing that you’re protecting your host’s furniture from scratches and accidents (and hair!).

Toy

This may seem like the easiest item to pack, but with so many toys on the market (and so many already in your home), how do you decide which is best for travel? Like the beds and blankets above, you’ll want to opt for something soft and flexible for easy transport and quiet play at your destination, so stay away from balls, bells and batteries here. Instead, pack a dynamic yet simple toy like The Royal Grocery’s Fish Bone, available through Tuft + Paw. The overstuffed cotton toy is fun on its own, but also comes with a satchel of catnip to be stored alongside it in a sealable bag, re-infusing it with the invigorating aroma between each use for active and more engaging playtimes at home. Because it’s designed to hold scent so well, it’s also perfect for bringing kitty’s comfort cues on the road.