Let's talk in general about transporting cats, trips to the clinic, to the country, to the sea or to relatives in a neighboring city.
I propose to divide the article into several parts:
- In the first part we will talk about fears and stress and their effect on the body.
- In the second we will learn how to prepare the animal.
- What you need to take with you on the road.
- In conclusion, a few words about the necessary vaccinations and the preparation of accompanying documents.
What happens to a cat when it suddenly travels?
How are animals usually transported? In most cases, the cat is simply picked up and forced into a carrier, then taken to an unfamiliar place. Sometimes the journey takes several days.
What happens in this case? Imagine, a cat lived in an apartment for several years, saw the world around him from a window or balcony, and there are so many new things here. New smells, sounds, strangers, transport, screams, barking...
An animal from a familiar environment suddenly finds itself in another world, and everything unidentified causes fear. When there is danger, a natural mechanism is triggered: run away or defend yourself.
When a cat cannot escape, it freezes and practically does not react to others. If you have been to clinics where there is an inpatient facility, you most likely noticed how calmly the animals left for treatment behave. They can easily give an injection or connect a system, that is, an IV, or carry out other necessary manipulations.
Yes, of course, they feel bad about it and already agree to everything. But if you compare a sick animal at home and in a clinic, these are two big differences.
In her apartment, a sick cat will defend herself to the last, sometimes the whole family has to hold her for a routine examination. And when it comes to complex manipulations, it becomes completely difficult.
Why am I making such a long digression and telling you different stories about the clinic and IVs? To draw your attention to some points.
It may seem to you that the animal bravely endures the trip, sits calmly in the carrier and does not even meow. This may be true, but most often the cat is under severe stress, it freezes and does not make any sounds. We see calm outside, but what is happening inside is not noticeable.
And inside the whole body is preparing to fight with all its strength or run as fast as possible. Adrenaline is produced, blood supply to the brain and muscles improves, sense organs are sharpened, more oxygen is supplied, and reserves are used.
An hour or two passes, but the causes of stress do not disappear - we continue the journey, we can still hear the noise of the crowd, foreign smells, and changes in temperature.
Exhaustion sets in, the body cannot constantly be in constant mobilization. In such situations, the cat may begin to make loud noises, scratch the carrier, urinate, and lick itself nonstop. Or he will completely stop reacting to what is happening.
Prolonged or severe stress can lead to serious complications. Neurosis, decreased immunity, exacerbation of chronic diseases, allergies and other disorders are often observed.
It has been noticed that after a trip, a cat more often suffers from infectious diseases, digestive disorders, autoimmune pathologies appear, and chronic ones worsen.
Proper Carrying
You cannot ride in a car with a cat while holding it in your arms. Firstly, you may be stopped by traffic controllers. Secondly, a cat that is not placed in a carrier may behave inappropriately and injure you, as well as provoke an accident. Thirdly, if the window is open, the animal will easily jump out. Fourthly, in the event of an accident in the carrier, the cat has a better chance of remaining unharmed.
The only correct option is a carrier made of durable plastic, closed on all sides so that the cat does not escape.
As you can see, this container is reliable and has holes for air intake. For safety reasons, it is placed in the back seat and securely secured with seat belts. The correct carriers have special slots for these purposes.
How to prepare a cat for a trip?
You need to start with a comprehensive vaccination, if you have not done so already. For example, if your cat is not vaccinated, then you need to treat it for worms, wait 10 days and get the first vaccination. Then you wait 21-28 days and do a revaccination (repeat), everything is approximately according to the standard scheme.
And again you wait 10-14 days for immunity to develop after the second vaccine, but now you can go outside.
It is more convenient to carry out the first outings in a carrier, so that the cat gets to know the unusual surroundings, hears the sounds of the street, and smells. Leave for 3-5 minutes and go home. Let the cat out in a familiar environment, see that she has calmed down - give her a treat and praise her. The point of such small trips outside is to make it clear that it is not scary or dangerous.
A common mistake is to calm and pet an animal on the street when it is in an excited state. This will only reinforce the wrong reaction. I’m nervous - the owner praises me, which means it’s good. You need to praise and give treats in a calm state. In the future, when the street becomes a familiar place, then the desired behavior can be reinforced there too.
The next day, take a longer walk. I think you understand the principle: daily, in doses, accustom the animal to an unfamiliar environment. Then you can take a walk on a harness and go to places with large crowds of people. A little later, take public transport a stop or two.
Keep in mind that adaptation may take several months, so if you are thinking about how to transport a cat over a long distance, then prepare for this in advance.
Is it necessary to microchip an animal?
Microchipping is not necessary for traveling within Russia. But without it you won’t be able to travel abroad. The best age for the procedure is 11-12 months, but it is safe to put a chip on an adult animal.
Information is entered into the Russian database automatically. Entry into foreign countries should be controlled through the Animalface website. This database is combined with the international search engine Petmaxx. If your pet's chip cannot be checked at the border, you will not be allowed into the country with it.
Rabies vaccination must be done after microchipping or simultaneously with it. If the cat has been vaccinated before, the procedure will have to be repeated.
Necessary items on the road
You need a durable cat carrier with a door that closes securely. If you are planning a flight, then I recommend that you check with the airline about the carrying requirements.
It is clear that you need a drinking bowl, clean water, food, a harness and a tray. Without the usual tray, there may be problems with the toilet on the road or in a new place.
I recommend wearing a small collar with a tag containing your contact information. Yes, it’s better to get used to a collar in advance, too, not everyone likes it.
Take your “favorite” medications, perhaps your pet has chronic diseases and needs certain medications, you can also take an emergency first aid kit.
Yes, they also often ask me what kind of anesthesia to give so that the cat sleeps the whole way. Unfortunately, there are no safe and effective drugs to immobilize and calm animals. Some people use “Cat Bayun”, “Novopassit”, but the results are different; for some it helps, in most cases it doesn’t.
Do not harm the driver and passengers
It is not advisable to carry a cat in your arms. She may be frightened by a sharp shock or loud noise and scratch or bite a person. Animals should not be allowed to move around the vehicle on their own. There have been many described cases in which a cat “walking on its own” while driving threw itself at the driver’s feet or head. If an animal gets under the pedals, the consequences can be extremely unpleasant not only for him, but also for the driver and passengers, including oncoming and passing cars.
Accompanying documents
In this chapter I will describe the most necessary things that are required almost everywhere when traveling with animals. But when you decide to travel to another country, check the requirements for transporting cats of that country. They are similar in most countries, but may have their own characteristics.
The first thing that must be done is a vaccination against rabies, with a mark and seal of the state veterinarian in the passport. It is important that the vaccine is given no earlier than 30 days before departure and no later than one year.
There must be a veterinary passport, issued with notes on preventive treatments for your animal.
Then, a few days before departure, you need to go to a state veterinary hospital, where you will be issued an F-1 veterinary certificate. In it, the veterinarian will record your data and indicate the route to follow.
At customs, the certificate will be replaced with an international certificate for entry into another state.
In addition, the animal must be microchipped in advance; basic information about the cat and owner will be recorded on it. In most countries this is a mandatory requirement.
Special rules apply when transporting by rail; for some time they required the purchase of a compartment or SV. The rules change periodically, so check this point in advance.
Basic rules of transportation
At the legislative level, there are still no clear requirements regarding the transportation of animals in a car. Therefore, every car owner and at the same time the owner of a furry pet must take care of the safety of the trip on their own. It would be a good idea to take the phone numbers of a veterinarian or a person experienced in long-distance travel with animals so that you can get timely advice.
The main rule when transporting a cat is to purchase a well-ventilated carrier for the trip, which will be securely secured in the car. It is important to place it not in the trunk or near the rear window so that the animal does not suffer from heatstroke.
Basic recommendations and rules of transportation:
Just in case, you should buy your animal a leash.
- Prepare your cat in advance for the trip, especially if he has never ridden in public transport.
- Ensure comfort while traveling by providing everything you need: water;
- food;
- toys;
- tray, etc.
- veterinary passport;
The influence of the season on the meaning of the sign “the cat sat on the car”
Cats can be found on the street in both heat and cold, but the meaning of the superstition changes depending on the time of year:
- Spring. There is an opinion that in the spring a cat on a car means possible malfunctions; it is worth checking the condition of the car and protecting yourself from danger;
- Autumn. If a cat climbs onto a car in the fall, it means it feels the impending cold. The weather will soon change, leading to a general cooling;
- Winter. A cat in winter climbs onto a car and licks its tail - to a snowstorm and blizzard;
- Summer. In the summer, a cat in a car brings good luck. The exception is black cats; according to signs, they are considered a harbinger of trouble at any time of the year.
Hot rules
In hot weather, you should never leave a cat in the car while you run out to run errands. Even if it's for 5 minutes. In sunny weather, the air temperature in a closed car rises to +40 +50 degrees Celsius in a matter of minutes - and the cat dies or, at best, suffers a heatstroke. We always take the pet with us or leave someone in the car who will open the window or turn on the air conditioner. In addition, in hot weather, it is recommended to take with you a special cooling mat for cats and dogs for your pet to lie on.
What to do to prevent the omen from coming true
If a sign carries a negative connotation, do not be upset; sometimes the effect of a sign can be minimized. First, you need to calm down and remember that signs do not come true in 100% of cases. There are many ways to avoid the bad effects of omens:
- Use the anti-omen. You can knock on wood, spit over your left shoulder three times, look in the mirror;
- Try to mentally “erase” the sign. In consciousness, concentrate on the negative moment and forget it. You can write a superstition on paper and set the paper on fire. With ashes, everything bad is neutralized;
- Devalue the sign. You should try with all your might not to believe in the effect of the sign, to convince yourself of it.
Some people come up with their own effective ritual to avoid the influence of superstitions. There are many ways, the main task is to switch your attention from a negative attitude to a positive one.
