Feb. 4, 2025

Stress-Free Travel and Moving with Cats: Advice from Feline Behavior Specialist LeeAnna Buis

Ready to unlock the secrets to stress-free cat travel? In this episode, we dive into cat-friendly travel tips with Certified Feline Training and Behavior Specialist LeeAnna Buis, CFTBS, FFCP. If you’ve ever struggled with cat anxiety or wondered how to make car rides smoother, this is your ultimate guide!

LeeAnna shares expert advice to help you prepare for road trips and long-distance travel with your cats. From choosing the right cat carrier to setting up a cat-safe car environment, you’ll learn how to ease your cat’s stress and create a peaceful, cat-friendly travel experience.

Key Highlights:

  • Reducing cat anxiety during travel – Practical steps for getting your cat comfortable with their carrier and car rides.
  • Understanding feline instincts – Why cats may resist travel and how their behavior differs from dogs.
  • Cat travel essentials – The importance of a cat travel kit, including treats, toys, and comfort items.
  • Creating positive associations – LeeAnna’s expert strategies for using rewards and safe spaces to calm your cat.
  • Long-distance cat travel tips – What to pack, how to plan for multiple cats, and ways to keep your cats secure during the drive.

Whether you're moving with cats cross-country or planning a vacation, this episode is packed with actionable advice on cat-friendly travel. We discuss preventing feline behavior problems during travel, acclimating your cat to car rides, and ensuring your accommodations are pet-friendly.

Don’t let cat travel stress hold you back! Tune in to learn how to turn your next adventure into a smooth, enjoyable journey for both you and your feline companions.

Plus, we’ve got resources and checklists from Preventive Vet to make sure you’re prepared for every part of the trip!

Listen now for the ultimate cat travel guide!

**Learn more about LeeAnna and Feline Behavior Solutions: Feline Behavior Solutions

Comment on this episode! For questions or if you need a reply- please email us at Amy@StarlightPetTalk.com

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Thanks for listening to Muddy Paws and Hairballs, your go-to resource for all things pet care. From dog training, behavior, and socialization to cat enrichment, pet adoption, and tackling behavior problems, we provide expert advice and real talk to help you create a happy, healthy life with your pets. Whether you're dealing with dog anxiety, looking for puppy training tips, or exploring enrichment ideas for your cat, we've got you covered. Be sure to check out all our episodes!

Chapters

00:05 - Traveling With Cats

04:54 - Preparing and Traveling With Cats

11:27 - Preparing for Safe Cat Travel

20:46 - Traveling Safely With Cats

34:53 - Tips for Stress-Free Cat Moving

48:59 - Proactive Cat Care and Travel Planning

Transcript
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00:00:05.908 --> 00:00:19.329
After this summer's epic 1,672-mile rescue road trip taking Bonnie from Texas to her new home in New York, you'd think I'd be prepared for any pet travel challenge, but traveling cross-country with cats is a whole different adventure.

00:00:19.329 --> 00:00:30.032
In this episode, I'm joined by renowned cat behavior expert, leanna Bias, to unpack the unique challenges of traveling with cats and share essential tips for a calm, stress-free journey.

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From pre-trip planning to handling surprises on the road.

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Leanna's advice is a must for anyone planning to travel with cats, dogs or both, whether you're relocating or just road tripping.

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These insights will make pet travel smoother and easier for everyone involved.

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So stay tuned.

00:00:49.030 --> 00:00:50.612
Welcome to Muddy Paws and Hairballs.

00:00:50.612 --> 00:00:59.789
I'm your host, amy Castro, and with me today is Leanna Bias, the Certified Feline Training and Behavior Specialist with Feline Behavior Solutions.

00:00:59.789 --> 00:01:05.266
She earned her certification through the Animal Behavior Institute and then she's also Fear Free certified.

00:01:05.266 --> 00:01:23.849
She works virtually with people all over the world who are having issues with their pets, including doing things like introducing pets to each other, soiling issues, fear issues and dealing with aggression, which are all things that are near and dear to my heart, because those are oftentimes the reasons that people give up their pets to rescues like ours.

00:01:23.849 --> 00:01:27.004
So, leanna, thank you so much for being here with us today.

00:01:27.004 --> 00:01:28.048
My pleasure.

00:01:28.048 --> 00:01:29.620
Thank you for having me Awesome.

00:01:29.641 --> 00:01:46.846
So we're going to talk today about traveling with cats, and I really was interested in doing this segment because, first of all, I've never thought about actually taking trips with my cats, but I've seen a lot of videos of people that do travel, you know, and maybe live in a full-time RV with their cats, and I always wonder how that would work.

00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:53.307
But I am planning a big trip with my four dogs and three cats and I'm already panicking about it.

00:01:53.307 --> 00:01:56.882
That's so many animals, I know.

00:01:56.882 --> 00:01:58.260
I know Now one of them.

00:01:58.260 --> 00:02:09.823
You know there is at least one amongst the seven that I can still hold out hope might be adopted before I actually have to leave, but that's still going to leave me with six of my own pets, so we want to make it as painless as possible.

00:02:09.823 --> 00:02:14.044
I think the dogs are going to be fine, but I really worry about how I'm going to manage that with cats.

00:02:14.044 --> 00:02:18.802
So that's why I wanted to talk to you today is how can I do this without driving my cats crazy?

00:02:18.802 --> 00:02:25.455
So, before we dive into the nitty gritty, how did you come to becoming a feline behavior expert?

00:02:26.320 --> 00:02:27.563
I was one of those people.

00:02:27.563 --> 00:02:30.510
I've had a cat in my life since literally the day I was born.

00:02:30.510 --> 00:02:31.663
I came home from the hospital.

00:02:31.663 --> 00:02:37.122
There was a cat there and I truly believed that I knew everything there was to know about cats.

00:02:37.122 --> 00:02:43.945
I you know, my friends called me the cat whisperer, and then I adopted a cat that I couldn't figure out.

00:02:43.945 --> 00:02:48.086
He had aggression issues, he was stressed.

00:02:48.086 --> 00:02:49.826
I couldn't introduce him to my other cats.

00:02:49.826 --> 00:02:52.064
Well, I just couldn't manage him.

00:02:52.064 --> 00:03:01.373
He was too much for me, and luckily, around that same time, I learned about the existence of feline training and behavior experts.

00:03:01.373 --> 00:03:03.167
Not a lot of people know that's a thing.

00:03:03.167 --> 00:03:24.153
You can get a trainer to help with your cat the same way you can with your dog, and so, luckily, I just happened to discover this as I was working with an amazing group called Preventive Vet, and so I hired a behavior consultant to work with me, and by the end of that call I realized that I knew nothing about cats.

00:03:29.139 --> 00:03:30.362
I realized that I knew nothing about cats.

00:03:30.362 --> 00:03:31.987
I honestly could see so many places where I had gone wrong.

00:03:31.987 --> 00:03:41.822
I hadn't treated my cats the way that I should have because I didn't know what I was doing, and after that call, I could see, okay, that was my fault, that was my fault, this I made worse, this I made worse.

00:03:41.822 --> 00:03:50.594
And so I felt a lot of heaviness and guilt about that and also I was just absolutely fascinated by all the things I learned.

00:03:50.594 --> 00:03:58.871
Cats are incredible and complex and interesting and I was not appreciating that about my cats.

00:03:58.871 --> 00:04:11.492
So I immediately looked into certification so that I could tell everybody all the things that I had learned and ended up actually working with the person that I did that consultation for.

00:04:11.492 --> 00:04:19.108
So it was Dr Marcy Kosky, who owns Feel and Behavior Solutions, is the one who did my consultation and then ended up hiring me.

00:04:19.108 --> 00:04:20.050
So now we work together.

00:04:20.779 --> 00:04:21.560
Oh, great, great.

00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:32.315
It's interesting that we're having this conversation, especially today, because we just had two cats returned for behavior issues, for aggression towards the resident cats.

00:04:32.315 --> 00:04:53.973
Oh, it was interesting that these cats came from a multi-cat environment and yet were not adapting to a multi-cat environment.

00:04:54.435 --> 00:05:00.922
Well, and just the super quick answer just because cats are good with cats in one situation does not mean they're going to be in any situation.

00:05:00.922 --> 00:05:01.644
Right?

00:05:01.644 --> 00:05:05.254
Cats are designed not to like stranger cats.

00:05:05.254 --> 00:05:13.380
It's how they stay alive in the wild is uh-oh, there's a stranger cat that could attack me, kill me, steal my resources, et cetera?

00:05:13.380 --> 00:05:13.762
Right?

00:05:13.762 --> 00:05:15.326
So they're not designed to be buddies.

00:05:16.247 --> 00:05:23.132
And this is one of those places where cats are very different than dogs, because dogs can learn other dogs can be friendly.

00:05:23.132 --> 00:05:28.322
Dogs can learn other dogs can be friendly.

00:05:28.322 --> 00:05:29.706
Cats don't have that same kind of building block internally.

00:05:29.706 --> 00:05:34.584
So each time there's a new cat, there needs to be a new careful introduction to show those cats that they're safe together.

00:05:34.584 --> 00:05:49.192
But also there are a million things that can influence how well cats get along the way the space is set up, the resources around the space, the feeding schedule, whether they're hungry between meals, the kind of play they get, right.

00:05:49.192 --> 00:05:52.202
All of those things can impact how well cats get along.

00:05:52.202 --> 00:06:01.540
So if you go from a situation where it's set up really well into a situation that's not well-designed for two cats, they may have a totally different reaction to each other.

00:06:02.101 --> 00:06:10.285
Even the same cats can have a different reaction in different environments, but the good news about that is that there's a million things that we can do to try to help cats get along.

00:06:10.285 --> 00:06:13.293
Most of my work is introductions that are not going well.

00:06:14.281 --> 00:06:15.807
We may have to do a whole episode on that.

00:06:16.341 --> 00:06:23.391
It's one of my favorite things to talk about because it's the biggest struggle that people have and there's so many things you can do to make it better.

00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:29.271
Yeah, we definitely need to schedule that, so we'll, we'll, we'll get on each other's calendars for another episode.

00:06:29.271 --> 00:06:30.141
Sounds good.

00:06:30.141 --> 00:06:31.946
Okay, so back to.

00:06:31.946 --> 00:06:35.033
So back to moving with cats, or traveling with cats.

00:06:35.033 --> 00:06:41.865
What would be one of the biggest starting mistakes that people make when it comes to putting the cat in the car and off we go.

00:06:41.865 --> 00:06:42.706
Yeah.

00:06:42.867 --> 00:06:46.254
Assuming that cats are like dogs putting the cat in the car and off we go.

00:06:46.254 --> 00:06:48.199
Yeah, assuming that cats are like dogs.

00:06:48.199 --> 00:07:07.492
You know, my biggest fear with people who travel with their pets is that they're not prepared for the worst case scenario, and this is one of those instances where I think my innate desire to overplan is helpful, because cats are very different than dogs.

00:07:07.492 --> 00:07:14.843
Right, the most important thing you can know about cats is that, even though we call them domesticated house cats, we did not domesticate cats.

00:07:14.843 --> 00:07:23.745
We just let them come inside, right, wild cats moved in and we let them, but we didn't do selective breeding like we did with dogs.

00:07:23.745 --> 00:07:38.250
So the cats in our houses are not that much different than their wild ancestors were, which means they have the same needs, they have the same instincts, they have the same reactions to things that a wild cat might, right.

00:07:38.901 --> 00:07:51.432
So a cat who is in a new situation or a potentially scary situation is going to react very differently than a dog would, and I should say I'm not a dog expert, I just have had them and love them.

00:07:51.432 --> 00:07:56.552
Yeah, but dogs are more inclined, when they're scared, to look to their people for guidance.

00:07:56.552 --> 00:08:05.762
Cats are fight or flight, right, they are going to get the heck out of there, and if there's something standing in their way, they're going to fight their way through that thing to get the heck out of there.

00:08:05.762 --> 00:08:13.567
So there can be really big reactions to the different elements of a road trip.

00:08:13.567 --> 00:08:25.177
That can be scary or intimidating for a cat, and so you want to be prepared for all of those so that you're not suddenly in a situation where your cat is gone on the side of the road in Kentucky.

00:08:25.177 --> 00:08:34.331
Yeah, so really just understanding cat nature is very different than dog nature and you have to plan very differently for those trips.

00:08:35.520 --> 00:08:36.947
Yeah, I never even thought about that.

00:08:36.947 --> 00:08:58.501
I mean, and that's such a profound and very foundational point about cats, because you know, I remember when we moved just 20 minutes away from our previous house to this house and we moved our cats and I thought they're going to be fine because it's all our stuff that's being moved over here and granted the car ride.

00:08:58.501 --> 00:09:04.442
I know that the car ride nobody generally enjoys, but that when they got here they would be fine.

00:09:04.442 --> 00:09:29.734
And I remember our one cat Pinny Pinhead is his name because he's got it's not really his name, he's got another name but he gets called Pinny Pinhead because his head is kind of disproportionately small to his body, but he's just kind of a little funny looking but he's probably the most laid back, whereas my other cat, pickles, can look at the same ceiling fan she's been looking at for 15 years and be like, oh my gosh what is?

00:09:29.774 --> 00:09:32.559
that I was like it's the same thing you've been looking at for 15 years.

00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:42.211
Anyway, I thought he would adjust just fine and he spent almost the whole first day stuffed down the back of the sofa cushions, like I couldn't believe he was so freaked out by being in the new house.

00:09:42.211 --> 00:09:46.062
Freaked out by being in the new house.

00:09:46.062 --> 00:09:46.705
But that makes sense.

00:09:46.705 --> 00:09:50.876
When you look at it from the standpoint of the whole domestication thing is that he reacted just like a wild cat, would you know?

00:09:50.876 --> 00:10:03.605
Or when we bring feral or not even feral but borderline feral cats, sometimes when they come into the rescue and you know, they just go ballistic when they are in their new environment, bouncing off the walls because they don't know what to do with themselves.

00:10:04.044 --> 00:10:09.274
Yeah, exactly, and that's one of the reasons that cats can go from house cats to strays and survive.

00:10:09.274 --> 00:10:16.287
It's because we didn't breed out all of the things that they need to survive.

00:10:16.287 --> 00:10:23.288
But then that causes problems because we have animals living in our homes who are still programmed to be worried about coyotes jumping out of the closet and eating them Right.

00:10:23.307 --> 00:10:39.780
So it's a very different world when you think about cats through that perspective, and that's honestly one of the single facts that had the biggest impact on me was learning that, and it's one of the first things I tell every client I work with, because I think it just brings everything into clearer focus with cats.

00:10:40.662 --> 00:10:54.279
So let's focus, and I know we could talk about road tripping and things like that and maybe, if some of that comes up along the way, but I think probably a more likely scenario for more people would be moving with a cat, whether it's across town or across the country.

00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:56.743
So what would be some of the things we could do?

00:10:56.743 --> 00:11:08.836
Just as an example, one of the things that I'm planning on doing is getting an RV and acclimating the cats to the RV before we even start moving it.

00:11:08.836 --> 00:11:10.583
But what could be some things?

00:11:10.583 --> 00:11:17.510
If I know I'm going to be moving X amount of time, how far in advance should I start prepping for that and what kind of things should I be doing?

00:11:18.475 --> 00:11:20.822
I think starting early is the best thing you can do.

00:11:20.822 --> 00:11:26.610
And I say started as soon as you find out you're moving, because there's so many elements that can take some time.

00:11:26.610 --> 00:11:37.841
You know you want time to be able to positively and slowly get your cat comfortable with being in a carrier or a kennel or whatever they're going to be traveling in.

00:11:37.841 --> 00:11:41.552
You want them to be comfortable with the car in motion.

00:11:41.552 --> 00:11:47.121
You need to think about what kind of setup you're going to have in the car.

00:11:47.121 --> 00:11:53.566
You know, if it's a short trip, a small carrier might be fine, but if you're going to be in the car for three days, you might want a different setup.

00:11:53.566 --> 00:11:58.966
What you're set up in the hotel or whatever your overnight accommodations are going to be.

00:11:58.966 --> 00:12:02.081
Any medical needs you want to plan ahead for.

00:12:02.081 --> 00:12:04.091
If you want to try calming or anxiety medication, you want to plan ahead for.

00:12:04.091 --> 00:12:07.702
If you want to try calming or anxiety medication, you want to plan ahead for that.

00:12:07.702 --> 00:12:13.802
So the earlier that you start planning, the longer you have to go oh my gosh, I forgot about this.

00:12:13.802 --> 00:12:19.743
Or to find the perfect carrier that fits in the backseat of the car or whatever it is.

00:12:20.424 --> 00:12:24.113
You also need to think about supplies, right, there's a lot involved.

00:12:24.113 --> 00:12:27.168
You've got what they're going to need in the car all day while you're driving.

00:12:27.168 --> 00:12:38.567
What they're going to need overnight, what's going to fit in those spaces, what kind of supplies are you going to need if they have an accident in the hotel room or in the car?

00:12:38.567 --> 00:12:41.360
So all of those kinds of things you want to think about.

00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:50.133
Another really important thing that people don't always consider is getting the safe space set up in the new home quickly when you arrive.

00:12:50.133 --> 00:13:04.167
Oh yeah, having all the things that your cat needs to feel more safe and secure in boxes that you can get to first off the truck so that you can get that space set up before they are out of their carriers and then deal with everything else that's going on.

00:13:04.167 --> 00:13:11.495
You want to think about your route and look up any emergency vets that are along the way.

00:13:12.059 --> 00:13:18.100
Have phone numbers ready in case of any emergency, so that you can make sure that you can get those quickly.

00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:26.826
You want to make sure that your cat's microchipped and that the travel information is updated so that they can reach you when you're traveling, not calling the home.

00:13:26.826 --> 00:13:41.249
You just left Things like having information in the car in case there's an accident or you step away from the car and something happens, so that people can get a hold of you or get a hold of an emergency contact to take care for your pet.

00:13:41.249 --> 00:13:48.974
Right, there's so many things that you're not going to think about if you wait until the last minute to start planning, so the earlier the better, in my opinion.

00:13:49.780 --> 00:13:50.764
No, that's such a good point.

00:13:50.764 --> 00:13:56.408
I want to drill down on a couple of those things, like the very first thing that you mentioned as far as the carrier goes.

00:13:56.408 --> 00:14:03.466
I mean, that's such an overlooked thing in making you know we do it, and it's interesting because I know we do it with dogs.

00:14:03.466 --> 00:14:16.331
You know it's if you, if you plan on creating your dog, for example, whether it's overnight or when you leave or when people are over or whatever time you're going to do that, Most people do a pretty good job of the process of acclimation to it.

00:14:16.331 --> 00:14:20.549
Right, Make it a good place, Make it a safe place, the place that they get fed, the place that they get treats.

00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:28.572
But yet, with our cats, those carriers are packed up in the closet and when you pull that carrier out, your cat suddenly disappears.

00:14:28.572 --> 00:14:32.885
Well, because nothing positive is ever associated with that carrier and getting jammed into it, right.

00:14:32.885 --> 00:14:40.471
So you know even something as simple as leaving the carriers out and maybe putting some treats so that they walk in and out of it.

00:14:40.471 --> 00:14:46.009
You know, as opposed to the first time they get into, it is when you're stuffing it in as the movers are coming in the house.

00:14:46.009 --> 00:14:46.971
You know it's.

00:14:46.990 --> 00:14:50.602
Just think about what kind of scenario that creates for your pets.

00:14:50.602 --> 00:14:52.506
You know that's so huge.

00:14:52.506 --> 00:14:54.873
And the other thing was that moving box thing.

00:14:54.873 --> 00:14:55.802
I think that's so huge.

00:14:55.802 --> 00:15:06.937
One of the things that I've been looking at from a moving perspective is to have a box, you know, a human box, of what would be the essentials, whether we take that with us in the car or whether it's, like you said, the last packed on the truck.

00:15:06.937 --> 00:15:13.923
So it's the first that comes out of the things that we would need to get started, like a roll of toilet paper, a roll of paper towel, that kind of thing.

00:15:14.183 --> 00:15:25.234
And so you know, maybe what we need is a human box and then a pet box with those you know, a couple of disposable, even if it's just disposable litter boxes, because you're planning on buying new ones when you move to your new place.

00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:32.330
But having those things easily accessible and the microchip, I mean that's just such a huge thing.

00:15:32.330 --> 00:16:00.370
And I would say and I don't know what your feeling is on cat collars I don't have collars on my cat really been thinking about was harnesses with tags and possibly even getting them used to in advance because I've got time having leashes on those harnesses, because I have this humongous fear about I open the door, you know, and maybe I just the better habit would be putting the cats back in their crates if we were going to have them out at night before we open the door.

00:16:00.370 --> 00:16:08.288
But let's just say, by accident the door gets open and the cat gets out and it's got, you know, yeah, it's got a microchip if anybody ever catches it.

00:16:08.288 --> 00:16:11.503
But you know if it's got a tag or if anybody scans it.

00:16:11.503 --> 00:16:16.761
But at least if it has a tag, maybe that would be more likely, you know, quicker to get back to me that kind of thing.

00:16:16.761 --> 00:16:18.184
I don't know what your thoughts are on that.

00:16:18.205 --> 00:16:18.966
Yeah, it's.

00:16:18.966 --> 00:16:25.414
You know, so many times with cats you're weighing the positive against the negative and you just kind of have to pick one.

00:16:25.414 --> 00:16:28.308
I think breakaway collars are great.

00:16:28.308 --> 00:16:33.072
So a breakaway collar just means that if it gets caught on something, it's going to open up and release.

00:16:33.072 --> 00:16:46.783
A collar that does not do that, or a harness, while that gives you more control and also is less likely as you fall off if your cat escapes, the danger is that those things can get caught up, Caught up on stuff.

00:16:46.783 --> 00:16:46.883
Yeah.

00:16:46.903 --> 00:16:56.312
Because, your cat is likely to go over fences, into trees, under shrubs, where things can get caught, so there can be danger associated with it too.

00:16:56.312 --> 00:17:04.484
So there's two sides of that coin and if there's a leash attached to it then there's even more chance that something, it can get caught on something.

00:17:04.484 --> 00:17:07.352
But I definitely think breakaway collars are great.

00:17:07.352 --> 00:17:14.190
Even you know attaching like a tracking device, an Apple AirPod or something like that to the collar.

00:17:14.210 --> 00:17:14.932
Yeah, that's a great idea.

00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:17.646
So that if they do get out, you've got a way to track them.

00:17:17.787 --> 00:17:19.191
I think is a genius idea.

00:17:19.191 --> 00:17:39.634
One thing to mention about harnesses and we may talk more about this later, so let me know if we need to come back to it but a lot of people have the idea that they can pop their cat in a harness and then it's just like walking their dog, and I just want to state for the record that no matter what the harness says, your cat can get out of it.

00:17:39.634 --> 00:17:47.343
Cats liquefy and they just go floop and they can get right out of any harness, I don't care what it says on the packaging.

00:17:47.343 --> 00:17:55.788
So, and when a cat is scared, their impulse is going to be get out of anything that's restraining them and get the heck out of there.

00:17:55.788 --> 00:18:02.843
So I know we'll talk about it a little more, but just be, don't rely on the harness is the thing that's going to keep you in control of your cat.

00:18:02.843 --> 00:18:04.588
It's not that way with cats.

00:18:04.588 --> 00:18:13.428
I've had my cat roll out of his harness multiple times just in our yard when we were walking and something scared him.

00:18:13.567 --> 00:18:17.704
Yeah, so as far as you were talking about calming and things like that, that was the other thing that I was thinking about.

00:18:17.704 --> 00:18:23.305
It's like what could I give my cats and should I give my cat something while we're traveling?

00:18:23.546 --> 00:18:36.910
I think calming medications, prescription medications, supplements all of those can be great, with the disclaimer that I have no medical training whatsoever that needs to be the decision maker, part of the decision making team there.

00:18:37.300 --> 00:18:43.444
Keep in mind with things like natural calming supplements, cats can have very different reactions to those.

00:18:43.444 --> 00:18:47.250
You know I work with a lot of clients who use different calming supplements.

00:18:47.250 --> 00:18:48.815
I've tried them with my cats.

00:18:48.815 --> 00:18:51.383
Some cats will have a great reaction.

00:18:51.383 --> 00:18:52.946
Some cats will have no reaction at all.

00:18:52.946 --> 00:18:57.548
Just because it says it's calming doesn't mean that it's going to be calming necessarily for your cat.

00:18:57.548 --> 00:18:58.942
So you want to test those things.

00:18:58.942 --> 00:19:01.809
Same thing if you get a prescription from your vet.

00:19:01.809 --> 00:19:07.523
You want to test that stuff beforehand because you want to be able to adjust the dosage up or down.

00:19:07.523 --> 00:19:13.605
But also you want to know what to expect because you don't want to be worried in the car right.

00:19:13.644 --> 00:19:20.989
When I moved to Seattle with my three cats, this was way before I got into this business, so I didn't do a lot right and learned a lot of lessons.

00:19:20.989 --> 00:19:28.363
But I did do a calming medication, prescription medication, and I did test it a couple of days before.

00:19:28.363 --> 00:19:29.846
So I kind of knew what to expect.

00:19:29.846 --> 00:19:39.465
But the first hour and a half the person that was with me I had them like checking every 15 minutes to make sure cats were still breathing because I was just nervous.

00:19:39.465 --> 00:19:46.554
So using it a few times beforehand, so you know how they're going to react, is going to make it easier on you in the car as well.

00:19:46.554 --> 00:19:48.960
Okay, yeah, I think those things are fantastic.

00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:53.026
I would honestly, you know, as much as I would like to say don't medicate your cat.

00:19:53.026 --> 00:19:59.714
I would rather see a cat that's medicated and relaxed than a cat who's really, really scared.

00:20:00.316 --> 00:20:10.450
Yeah, what are your thoughts as far as letting the cats loose in the vehicle, whether it's I mean, certainly not when it's moving but what about if?

00:20:10.450 --> 00:20:29.226
Because I, you know, I think I see these RV travel videos where somebody's living in an RV with their cat and the cat's loose and they percent because you have traveled many times with your cat.

00:20:29.246 --> 00:20:31.951
I'm going to say don't let your cat out of the carrier or kennel unless you absolutely have to.

00:20:31.951 --> 00:20:39.122
You know, in an RV situation it's a bit different because you've got a home space and you've got plenty of opportunity to get your cat back in the kennel.

00:20:39.122 --> 00:20:45.213
But I will say investigate that RV like your life depends on it.

00:20:46.142 --> 00:20:50.281
Ah, that just popped right into my head, like where could they disappear to Exactly?

00:20:50.423 --> 00:20:52.230
They could end up in.

00:20:52.230 --> 00:20:57.048
You know, I was driving down the street one day and I saw somebody take a kitten out of a backpack and throw it in the bushes.

00:20:57.048 --> 00:21:11.781
So I had to pull over and try to rescue a kitten with nothing to put a kitten in, and so I got it in the car and it ended up climbing up inside my dashboard where there are wires and hot things, and that could have been really dangerous.

00:21:11.781 --> 00:21:16.990
So letting your cat out in the car scary for that reason.

00:21:16.990 --> 00:21:34.673
Also, you know, if you happen to not realize the window is down, or if they stand on the controller and they lower the window, or the person who went to get food comes back and opens the door and you don't realize they're coming right Any of those scenarios can be really dangerous.

00:21:35.435 --> 00:21:52.011
Plus then you've got to get your cat back into a confined space that they may not want to go back into, so you're amping their stress up again by kind of starting over, whereas if you just leave them safely in the carrier or the kennel they've settled in, even if they don't love it.

00:21:52.011 --> 00:21:57.498
By that point in the trip they have hopefully settled in and it's going to be a lot safer.

00:21:57.498 --> 00:22:02.611
And if there's an accident while you're driving it's going to be safer for them to be in the kennel.

00:22:02.991 --> 00:22:10.096
It's also safer for you as a driver to not have a cat moving around while you're driving and you're worrying about where the cat is and what they're doing.

00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:14.490
even if it's a long trip, I say keep them in the carrier.

00:22:14.490 --> 00:22:19.945
You know you can open it to give love and give food and give water and those things.

00:22:19.945 --> 00:22:23.385
Right, I'm not saying ignore your cat for the drive, but keep them secure.

00:22:23.385 --> 00:22:26.036
You know your inclination may be.

00:22:26.036 --> 00:22:29.209
My cat needs to use a litter box, they need to eat, they need to stretch their legs.

00:22:29.209 --> 00:22:33.083
A nervous cat isn't going to do those things, naturally anyways.

00:22:34.146 --> 00:22:38.346
I was going to ask about that, like how big of a thing do I need to have a litter box in there?

00:22:38.807 --> 00:22:52.451
I think it's you know, ideally, if you can go with the largest kind of kennel that will fit in your vehicle, because that's going to give you room to make it more comfortable for your cat.

00:22:52.451 --> 00:22:57.608
They can stand up, they can turn around, you can maybe add a little hiding spot if there's room.

00:22:57.608 --> 00:23:00.082
You can add a little litter box if there's room.

00:23:00.082 --> 00:23:02.269
It all depends on the cat, right?

00:23:02.269 --> 00:23:11.020
I'm talking in worst case scenarios because I don't want anybody to be caught off guard, right, but your cat may be fine in the kennel the whole time you're driving.

00:23:11.020 --> 00:23:12.124
I just want you to be prepared.

00:23:12.163 --> 00:23:23.384
If they're not, and a nervous cat is unlikely to use a litter box, right, it's not like we need to take a break and let the cat use the box now while the dog is outside taking a pee break.

00:23:23.384 --> 00:23:30.306
Cats are not going to eliminate on cue, but also, a nervous cat is just less likely to use a litter box.

00:23:30.306 --> 00:23:34.563
They may not eat well on the trip, they may not drink anything while you're driving.

00:23:34.563 --> 00:23:44.130
Sometimes I double check with your vet, but, like, a cat can go a good day or day and a half without eliminating, without peeing, and they can be okay as long as it's not from a blockage.

00:23:44.130 --> 00:23:50.548
So don't expect things to be normal, yeah, and don't panic when they're not.

00:23:51.148 --> 00:23:56.520
Yeah, well, and even when you travel with dogs when we took that dog, you know it was 1672 miles.

00:23:56.520 --> 00:24:09.519
We drove with that dog and she didn't poop for almost 48 hours, despite the fact that she was eating what about if you have like, like, I'm going to be traveling with three cats and they, they don't always get along.

00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:15.184
So my inclination is going to be to try to figure out a way to have them each in their own space.

00:24:15.184 --> 00:24:21.609
But you know, if you're talking about space to move around, to have a litter box, to have a hidey hole, I'm not sure how doable that is.

00:24:21.609 --> 00:24:24.492
Is it a bad idea to put them in the same carrier?

00:24:25.153 --> 00:24:31.942
Yeah, that's another tricky one A lot of it, you know I'm going to tell people you know your cat better than anybody else does.

00:24:31.942 --> 00:24:35.328
Lean into your gut instinct on things like that.

00:24:35.328 --> 00:24:43.792
Just keep in mind that when cats are in a stressful situation, they can react differently to each other.

00:24:43.792 --> 00:24:50.153
So, just because they're bonded doesn't mean that they're going to feel better in the same space.

00:24:50.153 --> 00:24:52.967
They may get nervous and that can lead to some fighting.

00:24:53.428 --> 00:24:56.984
Yeah, so you might want to bring a backup crate just in case.

00:24:57.006 --> 00:24:58.048
Yes, that's perfect.

00:24:58.048 --> 00:25:01.410
Yeah, something smaller that you can get one of them into if you need to.

00:25:01.410 --> 00:25:06.451
But if they do well together, then I think it's fine to try them together.

00:25:06.451 --> 00:25:13.373
People may be surprised even like my cats, were terrified of being in the car when I made my trip out here.

00:25:13.373 --> 00:25:16.769
But I only used the medication the first day.

00:25:16.769 --> 00:25:21.449
The second day they settled in and just slept the whole time.

00:25:21.449 --> 00:25:26.994
But if you were just going to the vet five minutes away, they would have screamed the entire time.

00:25:26.994 --> 00:25:35.607
Again, this was before I knew how to work on those things, so they may not be as stressed out as you think they're going to be once they get in and get settled.

00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:42.554
Is it a good idea to take them on car rides before your big trip, or is that just increasing stress?

00:25:42.554 --> 00:25:44.564
If you do it, the right way.

00:25:45.046 --> 00:25:45.989
It's a great idea.

00:25:45.989 --> 00:25:59.210
So the idea when you're talking about getting a cat comfortable with anything that freaks them out carrier, car rides, nail trimming, anything like that is to start at a point where your cat is comfortable.

00:25:59.210 --> 00:26:07.090
Okay, so if they don't like being in their carrier, then maybe you start three feet away from their carrier.

00:26:07.090 --> 00:26:12.599
If they don't like driving in the car, then maybe you start sitting in the car with the car turned off.

00:26:12.599 --> 00:26:21.693
Right, you start someplace where they're comfortable and then you baby step up through the things that made them uncomfortable.

00:26:22.454 --> 00:26:23.741
You do it very slowly.

00:26:23.741 --> 00:26:25.786
You make it super positive.

00:26:25.786 --> 00:26:37.119
Right, treats, pets, verbal praise all the things they love are happening and the biggest advice I can give is avoid pushing past their comfort zone.

00:26:37.862 --> 00:26:39.288
And how do you know when you've hit that?

00:26:40.080 --> 00:26:44.348
You're going to look at body language, you might notice little tiny things.

00:26:44.348 --> 00:26:46.748
You want to look for the smaller stuff when you can.

00:26:46.748 --> 00:27:04.541
So small things like fidgeting or that tail, kind of going from a leisurely swish to an agitated swish, the ears starting to turn, trying to look smaller, right, like they're getting nervous, they're getting compact.

00:27:04.541 --> 00:27:09.863
You know just general changes in their demeanor that show you they're a little less relaxed than they just were.

00:27:09.863 --> 00:27:13.010
Okay, that's your sign that that step is too much.

00:27:13.010 --> 00:27:17.692
You want to back up, because if you push past their comfort zone they put their guard up and they keep it up.

00:27:17.692 --> 00:27:18.976
Yeah, right.

00:27:19.497 --> 00:27:23.851
So if you baby step, super positive, avoid pushing too far.

00:27:23.851 --> 00:27:25.997
That's how you show a cat.

00:27:25.997 --> 00:27:32.362
They don't have to be afraid of that thing and actually it's a really good thing because they got good stuff the whole time it was happening.

00:27:32.362 --> 00:27:38.400
Yeah, now that can be hard in the car because you can only baby step that so much, right, right.

00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:50.326
So there may be a little pushing, but you want to try to limit it as much as you can and even if they don't love being in that space, if you can just take the fear out of it, it's going to be a lot easier on them.

00:27:50.787 --> 00:27:53.250
Good point, because I'm envisioning a scenario.

00:27:53.250 --> 00:27:54.730
Let's say that I'm taking a.

00:27:54.730 --> 00:27:58.131
You know I'm moving across country, so it's going to be a multi-day trip.

00:27:58.131 --> 00:28:02.853
Is it better to push through as much as you can to make it?

00:28:02.853 --> 00:28:04.433
Oh, I went six hours.

00:28:04.433 --> 00:28:25.300
I want to now get them out of the crate or, like you said, maybe we're not going to be doing that, or moving that crate into a hotel room where now it's a whole nother.

00:28:25.300 --> 00:28:26.963
Strange sights and sounds.

00:28:29.669 --> 00:28:33.844
Yeah, I think you know again, there's no one size fits all answer.

00:28:33.844 --> 00:28:40.993
I'm probably especially if your cat isn't handling it well I would lean toward the power through.

00:28:40.993 --> 00:28:48.365
You know, taking breaks while you're driving I don't think is necessarily going to benefit your cat unless you know they're nice and relaxed.

00:28:48.365 --> 00:28:51.240
You know they just want to get out and move around in the car a little bit.

00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:52.542
They've done that before.

00:28:52.542 --> 00:28:56.550
You know it's's safe and you know they're going to be fine going back in their carrier.

00:28:56.550 --> 00:28:59.757
Then I say power through what you can.

00:28:59.757 --> 00:29:13.424
The overnight accommodations can be an opportunity for your cat to calm down a little bit, feel a little safer, maybe using the litter box right, because they're not in something that's moving and throwing them off balance and vibrating.

00:29:13.424 --> 00:29:18.192
But again, even in the hotel I'm not a fan of let your cat loose.

00:29:18.233 --> 00:29:36.226
in the hotel I like the idea of have a much larger pop-up kennel or enclosure that is big enough for a good size litter box and a nice hiding spot and food and water and they can move around a bit.

00:29:36.226 --> 00:29:45.430
But they're still secure Because the last thing you want is your cat getting into a vent system or something like that or, you know, climbing in that tiny hole under the sink.

00:29:45.430 --> 00:29:47.564
You know, you don't know what people have left.

00:29:47.564 --> 00:29:51.101
You don't know if you're going to be able to get your cat if they get under the bed.

00:29:51.101 --> 00:29:54.965
You don't know if they use, you know, rat bait and things like that.

00:29:54.965 --> 00:29:56.027
That could be dangerous.

00:29:56.027 --> 00:30:03.195
Good point, so safer, just to keep them in an enclosed, but larger ideally.

00:30:03.195 --> 00:30:09.159
And there's some great pop-up kennel like nylon pop-up kennels that can work really, really well.

00:30:09.159 --> 00:30:10.443
Give your cat lots of space.

00:30:10.443 --> 00:30:15.080
As long as they're not nervous and trying to get out, A pop-up nylon kennel is fine.

00:30:16.342 --> 00:30:21.067
And that's something you could get in advance and put it in your living room and that way it's familiar.

00:30:21.067 --> 00:30:24.609
It smells like them because they've walked in it, sat in it, rubbed their faces on it.

00:30:24.609 --> 00:30:29.654
So, yeah, I would assume smells and smells that are familiar would be helpful.

00:30:30.055 --> 00:30:31.616
Yeah, absolutely huge.

00:30:31.616 --> 00:30:58.747
In fact, one of the really helpful things you can do in the car, in the kennel, in the safe room of your new home, in the rest of your new home, is take something that your cat has slept on or fabric that you've rubbed the cheeks and shoulders of your cat and rub it around the space, because you're actually taking their pheromones, their scent, and you're depositing it around and that is very self-soothing.

00:30:58.747 --> 00:31:01.573
For cats to be surrounded by their own scent is comforting.

00:31:02.359 --> 00:31:03.865
One of the things that I always worry, and I don't.

00:31:03.865 --> 00:31:20.476
I won't have to worry about this for my trip because of the time of the year when it's going to be, but when people are traveling in the summer or they're moving in the summer, cause that's often when people move what do you have to worry about as far as cats getting overheated or dehydrated, or is that kind of dependent on the length of the trip?

00:31:21.180 --> 00:31:23.486
I think it's definitely something you have to be careful of.

00:31:23.486 --> 00:31:34.921
Ideally, you want to be traveling in something with temperature control, having windows as your temperature control isn't ideal, obviously for safety reasons if your cat gets out.

00:31:34.921 --> 00:31:40.083
But also it's much louder, right, when a semi drives by when the windows are down.

00:31:40.083 --> 00:31:42.884
It's a very different experience for your cat than when the windows are up.

00:31:42.884 --> 00:31:46.226
The wind blowing on them can be stressful, right.

00:31:46.226 --> 00:31:48.507
It just leads to a lot of stressors.

00:31:48.507 --> 00:31:52.648
So heat and air is ideal.

00:31:52.648 --> 00:31:56.590
Battery powered fan clipped onto the kennel can be helpful.

00:31:57.352 --> 00:31:58.071
That's a good idea?

00:31:58.071 --> 00:32:11.617
Yeah, because sometimes people don't realize that it might be cool up where you're sitting in the driver and the passenger seat, but if you've got your cats at the very back of the van in a crate, it could be quite warm back there, and so you really need to check that temperature.

00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:20.006
And there are non-electric cooling mats and heating mats for pets that you can use as well.

00:32:20.205 --> 00:32:21.188
Those can be helpful.

00:32:21.188 --> 00:32:23.842
Yeah, so I think those are the big things to think about.

00:32:23.842 --> 00:32:32.086
When it comes to dehydration, you know that's it's a tricky thing because cats are prone to dehydration anyway.

00:32:32.086 --> 00:32:38.907
Anyway, yeah, exactly, they don't have a big thirst drive because they are descended from desert dwelling cats who didn't drink a lot of water.

00:32:38.907 --> 00:32:47.260
So cats are already prone to dehydration and when you're driving they're less likely to drink normally anyways.

00:32:47.260 --> 00:32:53.750
So you may talk to your vet about if there are any signs that you should look for.

00:32:53.750 --> 00:33:05.664
That could be an emergency feeding, wet food, adding water to the wet food, feeding liquid treats, bone broths, things like that that are made specifically for cats.

00:33:05.664 --> 00:33:10.662
Those can kind of help encourage hydration if they're not drinking well, but they will eat.

00:33:11.604 --> 00:33:13.288
But that is something to be aware of.

00:33:13.648 --> 00:33:26.022
Yeah, Well, and that's a good point too, is that you know, especially if you're going to be on a relatively long trip, I think a cat might be more likely to eat some canned food with a little water on it than it would a bowl of dry food.

00:33:26.022 --> 00:33:34.730
So if you're trying to keep things moving, keep the cat hydrated and fed and nourished, then that canned food's probably not a bad idea anyway.

00:33:35.070 --> 00:33:37.458
Yeah, and you know, start those things before you leave.

00:33:37.678 --> 00:33:38.200
Yeah, exactly.

00:33:38.339 --> 00:33:40.227
Because you don't want to upset stomach on your drive.

00:33:40.227 --> 00:33:41.009
That's not going to make it.

00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:42.323
Yeah, that's such a good point.

00:33:42.323 --> 00:33:46.681
I think we've kind of hit on some of the things as far as along the route.

00:33:46.681 --> 00:33:50.767
Are there any other hints or tips that you have, since you've done this kind of thing?

00:33:50.767 --> 00:33:58.101
Like I know, for us, when we traveled with Bonnie, we tried to stick to stopping every four hours.

00:33:58.101 --> 00:34:12.710
You know whether, whether we felt like she really needed it or not, or she act like she needed it just to get her out of the car, just to encourage her to go to the bathroom, and, trying to keep on some type of a schedule, we'd stop about the same time at night, fed her this about the same time of day, or is that kind of all out the window with cats?

00:34:14.275 --> 00:34:15.239
Like, do they need a routine?

00:34:15.239 --> 00:34:15.681
The day, or is that?

00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:17.583
kind of all out the window with cats.

00:34:17.583 --> 00:34:18.684
Like, do they need a routine?

00:34:18.684 --> 00:34:19.385
Cats love routine.

00:34:19.385 --> 00:34:20.626
Routine feels safe.

00:34:20.626 --> 00:34:22.929
Unexpected means not safe, right.

00:34:22.929 --> 00:34:29.576
So routine is great, but you're not likely to be traveling long enough to really establish a routine for a cat.

00:34:29.576 --> 00:34:37.931
So I would be more concerned about keeping your routine consistent before you leave, especially during packing, right.

00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:40.349
The packing process can be stressful for cats.

00:34:40.349 --> 00:34:44.170
So you know, just on that note, a couple of things to think about.

00:34:44.170 --> 00:34:47.289
Get a safe room set up for them before you start.

00:34:47.289 --> 00:34:52.827
Packing Smells like them, has their things in it, so if they get nervous they can be in that space.

00:34:52.827 --> 00:35:01.362
That can also be the space that they are secured away while you're loading everything up on moving day, and then that's the last space to get kind of packed up and moved out.

00:35:01.362 --> 00:35:13.606
But also when you're packing, when you get the boxes out, when you use that really loud packing tape, right Things that are likely to make a cat nervous, just make good things happen for them at the same time.

00:35:13.606 --> 00:35:19.480
It's literally as simple as I'm about to make a loud tape noise, I'm going to toss my cat a treat the first 10 times you use tape.

00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:26.271
If your cat gets a treat, they're going to feel a lot better about that sound and that's going to be less stressful throughout the packing process.

00:35:26.271 --> 00:35:29.240
Also, please be careful that you don't pack your cat.

00:35:29.882 --> 00:35:31.965
Oh my God, yes, I hadn't even thought about that.

00:35:31.965 --> 00:35:43.467
But you hear and see stories about cats that seven days later they open the box when they get to California, or two weeks later and, surprisingly, many of them are still alive.

00:35:43.467 --> 00:35:44.490
But nobody needs that.

00:35:46.021 --> 00:35:47.485
No, that's not something you you don't want.

00:35:47.485 --> 00:35:50.492
To have to try to find your cat on moving day, that's not going to be good.

00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:55.652
And it's amazing how many people's cats get out on moving day and it's like, why would you not have put them up?

00:35:55.652 --> 00:35:58.603
And I think it's because they put them in a room.

00:35:58.603 --> 00:36:00.969
But people are going in and out, especially if you've got movers or friends.

00:36:01.009 --> 00:36:04.614
Sign on that door, yeah, or lock the door if you can, yeah.

00:36:04.614 --> 00:36:05.340
Sign on it.

00:36:05.519 --> 00:36:21.789
Yeah, do everything you need to do or put the cats in the crate, setting those crates up in advance in a place that's going to be somewhat out of the way and take a month or so for them to get used to them being there, and then just put them in there and close them in, and that way you don't have to worry about anybody getting in a box or getting out a door.

00:36:22.420 --> 00:36:27.489
Another thing that's really helpful to think about with that routine is play sessions.

00:36:27.489 --> 00:36:46.106
Play is one of the best things that you can do for a cat to reduce stress, to build confidence, and keeping those play routines intact even throughout the packing process is going to be a huge help in keeping your cat relaxed during that process.

00:36:46.766 --> 00:36:47.228
Good point.

00:36:47.228 --> 00:36:48.050
Yeah, that's a.

00:36:48.050 --> 00:36:55.135
I think people think whether it's letting their dogs out in the backyard and they run around, that that's sufficient enrichment slash exercise.

00:36:55.135 --> 00:36:56.103
Or that your cat's got free run of the house and they run around, that that's sufficient enrichment slash exercise.

00:36:56.103 --> 00:37:00.452
Or that your cat's got free run of the house and they go up and down their cat tower.

00:37:00.452 --> 00:37:13.224
I just had the feather toy out yesterday morning and uh was, I've got a cat with no eyes, and then I've got a 12 year old cat and I've got an eight year old cat and all, all of them were playing with it.

00:37:13.224 --> 00:37:19.590
Um, you know, and it's just, I'm always surprised by the 12 year old cause she just seems kind of like, oh, I'm so above this.

00:37:19.590 --> 00:37:26.583
She's looking at everybody being stupid and young and like, oh, they're playing with that little ball, but boy, she loves that feather.

00:37:26.583 --> 00:37:29.452
On the stick, the bird, that's like their favorite one.

00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:30.762
Oh my God, that is my absolute.

00:37:30.762 --> 00:37:33.628
I recommend it to every person I meet who has a cat.

00:37:33.628 --> 00:37:36.353
The bird is the absolute best wand toy, yeah.

00:37:37.121 --> 00:37:40.210
And there's a lot of feather toys, you know, on a stick.

00:37:40.210 --> 00:38:02.952
But the way that those feathers are put on that toy, that's why I like it for the blind cat especially Because I mean, yes, I can drag it across the floor and it will make noise, but that cat will follow a, fly through the house, smash it against a window and eat it, and so you know, that sound is what really gets her attention, and that little sound that it makes when it's new.

00:38:02.952 --> 00:38:05.460
Once somebody's gotten a hold of it, forget it, it's all destroyed.

00:38:05.460 --> 00:38:13.148
But in the beginning, when it's new and fresh, it makes a very distinctive noise and you can see her head follow, follow, follow it.

00:38:26.119 --> 00:38:31.909
So it's pretty entertaining to watch the three different ages and abilities and how they interact with that toy.

00:38:31.909 --> 00:38:34.052
But yeah, it keeps them from sm.

00:38:34.052 --> 00:38:35.635
Your cat is a predator.

00:38:35.635 --> 00:38:36.940
We didn't breed that out.

00:38:36.940 --> 00:38:45.826
So if you don't give them opportunities to hunt, they are going to find ways to meet that need themselves.

00:38:45.826 --> 00:38:48.623
They're going to be more stressed, they're going to be climbing the walls.

00:38:48.623 --> 00:38:50.990
They're going to be getting into things you don't want them getting into.

00:38:50.990 --> 00:39:01.387
So play that replicates hunting is one of the key factors in eliminating any unwanted behavior, reducing stress, even cat introductions.

00:39:01.387 --> 00:39:03.851
Play has such a big role in that.

00:39:03.851 --> 00:39:08.248
So it can definitely help make your move easier if you can keep that play going.

00:39:08.809 --> 00:39:10.601
Okay, definitely, that's good advice.

00:39:10.601 --> 00:39:19.067
So you had mentioned, you know, the safe space on the front end and now we're talking about, okay, we've arrived at our new home.

00:39:19.067 --> 00:39:24.427
What would be your advice as far as what kinds of things to put in that safe room on the other end?

00:39:24.427 --> 00:39:31.925
I mean, obviously we want to make sure same rules from the front end that the cat's not going to be able to get out, you know, while the boxes are being moved in and things like that.

00:39:31.925 --> 00:39:38.851
But you know, beyond food and water in a litter box, is there other things that would help them acclimate to a new home better?

00:39:39.614 --> 00:39:44.248
Definitely yeah, and I suggest this for any cat in any new space.

00:39:44.248 --> 00:39:48.659
So you want a smaller room so it doesn't feel overwhelming.

00:39:48.659 --> 00:39:54.789
If possible, Basics food, water, litter box, toys, of course.

00:39:54.789 --> 00:39:58.554
But you also want to think about hiding spots, right?

00:39:58.554 --> 00:40:07.210
Even if it's just a box with a hole cut in it, or a chair with a towel draped over it, you want a hiding spot, at least one or two hiding spots.

00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:10.940
That's such a good point, because you know, of course you're moving to a new place, right?

00:40:10.940 --> 00:40:20.706
So you're going to pick some completely empty guest room, preferably something without carpet, right and you're just going to throw the litter box and the cats and the stuff in there and they're going to be bouncing off the walls.

00:40:21.068 --> 00:40:22.632
Yeah, yeah, that's a good point.

00:40:23.059 --> 00:40:33.224
So things heavy with your scent comforters, a soft chair pillow, whatever you've got things heavy with their scent right.

00:40:33.306 --> 00:40:43.188
Their beds, their blankets, the cushion off the couch that they tend to sleep on, right this is all the stuff that you want in the cat box so that you've got it easily available when you get there.

00:40:43.188 --> 00:40:52.686
So the room smells like them, they have places to hide, they have everything they need close by so they don't have to venture out to get to things they need.

00:40:52.686 --> 00:41:07.371
Set all that up while they're still in their kennel or their carrier and then, when you open that carrier, open it close to one of the hiding spots and then and this is going to be the hardest thing for people leave them alone.

00:41:07.371 --> 00:41:28.512
Right, yes, your cat finds comfort in you, but in this situation you can be there and you can be giving verbal praise and things like that, but you bringing the cat out, trying to snuggle with them and trying to force play, anything like that probably is going to make them more anxious, not less anxious.

00:41:28.512 --> 00:41:30.969
That's good to know they need to feel safe.

00:41:31.088 --> 00:41:37.489
when they poke their head out of that carrier the first time, they may go straight to a hiding spot they may want to explore.

00:41:37.489 --> 00:41:39.373
They may hide for a week.

00:41:39.373 --> 00:41:42.266
They may want to see the whole house in an hour.

00:41:42.266 --> 00:41:51.896
You've just got to let them set the pace and just know that while you can be there and be a comfort, you cannot change their need to go at their own pace.

00:41:51.896 --> 00:41:56.813
So let them come out when they're ready, let them play when they're ready.

00:41:57.436 --> 00:42:01.692
They still may not want to eat or drink or use the litter box right away.

00:42:01.692 --> 00:42:06.516
So I would just say it's a good time to get in touch with your vet and say, hey, it's been this long.

00:42:06.516 --> 00:42:08.144
At what point do we need to be concerned?

00:42:08.144 --> 00:42:13.027
So you know, but really give them the time and the space to come out on their own.

00:42:13.027 --> 00:42:18.626
Tons of reinforcement and encouragement when they do right.

00:42:18.626 --> 00:42:21.454
Throw a little party the first time they come out of their hiding spot.

00:42:21.454 --> 00:42:24.851
You can leave treats around the room to encourage them.

00:42:24.851 --> 00:42:27.365
All of those things are going to make them feel more comfortable.

00:42:27.365 --> 00:42:36.960
But they also have to go through their pre-flight checklist of being animals who can be eaten by other animals who are in a new space.

00:42:38.626 --> 00:42:47.951
Good point and what kind of like one of my biggest fears in moving because I am not taking the vast majority of the stuff.

00:42:47.951 --> 00:42:51.617
This has been a great time for me to pare down on stuff.

00:42:51.617 --> 00:42:53.327
I say to myself do I want to pay to move that?

00:42:53.327 --> 00:42:55.695
Do I like that enough that I'm going to pay to move that?

00:42:55.695 --> 00:43:08.547
And so I'm really getting rid of a lot of stuff, which means I'm going to be bringing in strange stuff and, as we have lived here in this house, when strange stuff comes in it, inevitably somebody pees on it.

00:43:08.648 --> 00:43:19.349
I mean, it's just, and sometimes it's hard because we're we are running a rescue and so life is a bit chaotic for my animals anyway.

00:43:19.349 --> 00:43:38.135
I realize that, but I certainly don't want to get there, set up my safe room and then I buy new furniture and then, because I already know who's going to pee on it, it's the one with no eyes, she's the peer and that makes perfect sense because that's her way to identify her spaces If they don't smell like her and she can't see them it makes them extra scary.

00:43:38.456 --> 00:43:43.137
Yes, I also have people say, oh well, my cat's never done this before, you know.

00:43:43.137 --> 00:43:49.771
Or when people will say they're having issues with soiling or aggression or something like that, it's like when did it started?

00:43:49.771 --> 00:43:51.268
What's going on in the house?

00:43:51.268 --> 00:43:53.414
It's like, oh yeah, we just moved into a brand new house.

00:43:53.414 --> 00:44:01.581
Well, that sort of explains why they peed on the counter, possibly, anyway, but what can I expect on the other end and what should I watch out for and how can I prevent it?

00:44:01.581 --> 00:44:05.949
I guess is even better question, thinking about ways that you can keep stress low.

00:44:07.190 --> 00:44:15.639
Routine play sessions, a little extra attention, making sure that if you've got more than one cat they're not fighting with each other, right?

00:44:15.639 --> 00:44:17.721
Those are things that are going to help keep stress low.

00:44:17.721 --> 00:44:25.847
Letting them slowly acclimate, right.

00:44:25.847 --> 00:44:29.639
So wait until they feel nice and relaxed and comfortable moving around their safe room, eating and drinking and using the litter box normally.

00:44:29.639 --> 00:44:37.318
Then crack the door and give them the option, when they're ready, to come out and explore other areas.

00:44:37.318 --> 00:44:43.735
Tons of positive reinforcement when they do so, they immediately know that good things happen.

00:44:43.735 --> 00:44:51.132
When they step out of that safe space, you can take again something they slept on right, something that smells like them.

00:44:51.132 --> 00:44:55.737
Rub that on new furniture, anything new.

00:44:55.737 --> 00:44:58.360
You can rub it at cat nose height along the walls.

00:44:58.360 --> 00:45:06.110
That's going to help them feel like they're in less foreign space.

00:45:06.110 --> 00:45:10.199
You know also if there were previous pets in the home you're moving into that can be a trigger.

00:45:10.219 --> 00:45:19.918
Yes, right, so spreading your cat scent around can really be helpful there, just trying to avoid forcing anything or pushing anything.

00:45:20.905 --> 00:45:29.686
Yeah, Because I think sometimes people don't realize that for some cats I can see that process taking a while before your cat feels comfortable coming, especially if you move to a bigger place.

00:45:29.686 --> 00:45:32.072
That takes them longer to explore.

00:45:32.072 --> 00:45:35.778
So don't be surprised that they're not just their jolly old selves.

00:45:36.485 --> 00:45:37.668
Yeah, don't be surprised.

00:45:37.668 --> 00:45:40.675
Either way, they could settle in faster than you expect them to too.

00:45:40.675 --> 00:45:55.632
But yeah, you know there are a lot of things that you can do to help encourage right Rewarding, brave behavior, rewarding them coming out and exploring, rewarding them going from more nervous to more comfortable.

00:45:55.632 --> 00:46:04.505
This is also the kind of thing that a feline behavior expert can help with, because there may be a trigger that you're not even aware of.

00:46:04.505 --> 00:46:14.630
You know, maybe the safe room that they're in is the place where the previous owner's cat used to pee, and so it smells like another cat and that's scary.

00:46:14.630 --> 00:46:20.271
Maybe there's a stray cat outside the windows, that's a big one comes out to the window right.

00:46:20.311 --> 00:46:24.769
Maybe there's a dog barking next door, maybe they're in a room with the furnace and it's too loud.

00:46:24.769 --> 00:46:31.896
There's all kinds of potential triggers that an expert can help you find and address if you're not making progress.

00:46:31.896 --> 00:46:46.728
Also, keep in mind if you're moving into a really big space, sometimes it can be helpful when it's time to let them come out and explore outside their safe space, to kind of partition areas off so that it's not so overwhelming.

00:46:47.811 --> 00:46:50.177
Like shut those extra bedroom doors, kind of thing.

00:46:50.606 --> 00:46:51.449
Shut doors, yeah.

00:46:51.449 --> 00:46:55.775
Or if you know, you open the door that they're in and it's a big, giant loft and that's intimidating.

00:46:55.775 --> 00:47:01.166
Take some of those boxes that you have and just make a little fake wall eight feet from their door.

00:47:01.166 --> 00:47:10.916
It's not meant to keep them in, it may just be, you know, a few feet of wall and then an opening, but it's less overwhelming because they're not seeing a giant space.

00:47:10.916 --> 00:47:17.373
They're seeing the eight feet in front of them and then, when they're ready, they can poke their head around those boxes and see a larger space.

00:47:17.373 --> 00:47:25.485
Right, so there are ways that you can break it into bite-sized adjustments if they're not doing well with the full adjustment, good advice.

00:47:26.146 --> 00:47:29.992
So you mentioned obviously working with a behavior expert.

00:47:29.992 --> 00:47:39.505
At what point does somebody say this isn't working, or my cat's not adjusting, or you know this behavior has become intolerable.

00:47:39.505 --> 00:47:42.333
You know, obviously if it becomes intolerable then obviously you should seek some help.

00:47:42.333 --> 00:47:47.054
But like let's just say, for example, my cat with no eyes.

00:47:47.054 --> 00:47:51.932
So she comes out and she gets up on the kitchen counter and pees on something on the kitchen counter.

00:47:51.932 --> 00:47:56.626
It's like do I say, oh my gosh, here we go again and immediately jump on it.

00:47:56.626 --> 00:48:01.297
Or is there like a period of time where it's like, okay, maybe certain behavior is expected?

00:48:02.405 --> 00:48:12.306
I would say it's never too early because if your cat is having a reaction, there's something that can be done to help ease that reaction right.

00:48:12.306 --> 00:48:14.375
Everything a cat does they're doing for a reason.

00:48:14.375 --> 00:48:29.474
So if they're doing something that you don't want them doing or that you know you can tell is is from stress, there's always more that we can do to help rein that in and calm them down and address whatever is stressing them out.

00:48:29.474 --> 00:48:36.440
So if you feel like you've exhausted your capabilities, it's never too soon to reach out for support.

00:48:36.440 --> 00:48:41.813
What I would encourage on the other side of that is don't wait until you can't take it anymore.

00:48:41.813 --> 00:48:45.146
So many of the people that I work with.

00:48:45.146 --> 00:48:47.570
They are literally at the breaking point.

00:48:47.570 --> 00:48:57.295
Like this is the last straw and for their mental health it's not good, right, because it really damages the relationship between them and their cats.

00:48:57.436 --> 00:49:00.449
And this was the life that I led before I got into this business.

00:49:00.449 --> 00:49:09.867
I had damaged relationships with these things that I loved so much, because they were peeing on my stuff and they were fighting with each other and I thought it was them, but it was me.

00:49:09.867 --> 00:49:14.376
So if you wait until the last minute, it's harder on everybody.

00:49:14.376 --> 00:49:19.996
The more stressed out you are, the more stressed out the cats are, which is going to further whatever the problem is.

00:49:19.996 --> 00:49:29.693
But also, just from a selfish perspective, it's a lot of pressure on the expert that you're working with when they hear things like if you can't help me fix this.

00:49:29.693 --> 00:49:30.976
I'm getting rid of this cat.

00:49:31.177 --> 00:49:37.588
Yeah Right, you know I hear that a lot.

00:49:37.588 --> 00:49:38.733
If we can't, you're the last straw.

00:49:38.733 --> 00:49:40.199
If we can't fix this with you, we're getting rid of this cat.

00:49:40.199 --> 00:49:44.971
That's a really scary thing to put on the person you're working with, so don't let it get that far.

00:49:44.971 --> 00:49:47.356
If you know help is available, go get it.

00:49:47.356 --> 00:49:48.237
Make your life easier.

00:49:48.677 --> 00:49:53.108
Sure, is there an element also of allowing something to become a habit?

00:49:53.108 --> 00:49:54.150
A hundred percent.

00:49:54.311 --> 00:49:57.077
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, and it's hard to break habits.

00:49:57.077 --> 00:50:01.438
Also, cats are incredibly good at forming associations, good and bad.

00:50:01.438 --> 00:50:17.391
So this is another one of those things that can really help you understand cats just generally cats, and especially introductions and scary things, because cats cats are instinct-based, right, fight or flight, they learn very quickly.

00:50:17.391 --> 00:50:22.389
This could be dangerous Mental note avoid that at all costs.

00:50:22.389 --> 00:50:29.871
It only takes once for a cat to learn that lesson and then, once they've learned it, you have to help them unlearn it.

00:50:29.871 --> 00:50:35.199
So, like a habit, it can take time to teach a cat.

00:50:35.199 --> 00:50:39.115
No, you don't have to worry about that tiger eating you when you step into the jungle.

00:50:39.115 --> 00:50:41.340
That tiger's not there anymore.

00:50:41.340 --> 00:50:49.056
Right, that's not an easy lesson to learn, yeah, so the longer those things go on, definitely the harder they can be to resolve.

00:50:49.056 --> 00:50:50.331
Doesn't mean it can't be done, though.

00:50:50.331 --> 00:50:50.746
Yeah.

00:50:51.067 --> 00:50:53.293
It just takes a lot more time and patience on your part.

00:50:54.065 --> 00:50:59.429
My cat spent a lot of time in my master bedroom and my master bathroom and the one without the eyes.

00:50:59.429 --> 00:51:10.847
Much of her kittenhood was living in my master bathroom and then extending to my bedroom because I was concerned about her ability to navigate the house and concerned about the dogs and whatever.

00:51:10.847 --> 00:51:16.097
So it's interesting that she has never done any kind of inappropriate urination.

00:51:16.097 --> 00:51:17.139
And I have the nose.

00:51:17.139 --> 00:51:18.248
I have the nose.

00:51:18.248 --> 00:51:31.835
Like you would not believe, I can smell cat pee and it may take me a while to find where somebody did it, but I will find it because it's like I can smell it as soon as I get, you know, in a in a house, but she's never peed in my room.

00:51:32.967 --> 00:51:33.811
It smells like her.

00:51:33.811 --> 00:51:35.411
She feels safe there.

00:51:35.411 --> 00:51:39.835
Yeah, there are very specific reasons that cats will pee on things.

00:51:39.835 --> 00:51:43.976
It's either a medical issue, an emotional issue or a litter box setup issue.

00:51:43.976 --> 00:51:50.235
So if none of those things are present in that space, because she feels nice and secure there, she has her needs met.

00:51:50.235 --> 00:51:53.007
While there she doesn't have any need to.

00:51:53.407 --> 00:51:54.710
Yeah, exactly.

00:51:55.733 --> 00:52:04.228
I think the biggest things to keep in mind are just don't assume you know how your cat's going to react good or bad, right Prepare for worst case scenario just in case.

00:52:04.608 --> 00:52:07.637
Yeah, it's always better to be pleasantly surprised than disappointed.

00:52:08.585 --> 00:52:13.791
Especially with something like this where you could lose your cat right, you want it to be as safe as possible.

00:52:13.791 --> 00:52:20.717
Yeah, be as patient and understanding as you can in a time when you are already stressed out to the max.

00:52:20.717 --> 00:52:24.233
Just try to understand from your cat's perspective.

00:52:24.233 --> 00:52:25.916
This is a really big deal too.

00:52:25.916 --> 00:52:35.652
So you know they may talk the whole trip and you may want to pull your hair out, but do your best to try to stay calm and patient and understanding.

00:52:35.652 --> 00:52:46.507
Lots of safety precautions, plan ahead, start early and I think it's helpful to mention, just because we've kind of talked, you know, sort of all over the place here.

00:52:47.230 --> 00:52:49.938
I think, amy, the way you actually found me was the article on preventive vet, which is why I wanted to mention them.

00:52:49.938 --> 00:52:52.567
I do actually found me was the article on preventive vet, which is why I wanted to mention them.

00:52:52.567 --> 00:52:57.786
I do some writing for an amazing group called preventive vet, preventive vetcom.

00:52:57.786 --> 00:53:11.199
They provide tons of completely free training, behavior, incredible health and medical articles, all written and reviewed by veterinarians and behavior experts.

00:53:11.199 --> 00:53:16.152
So they're a really fantastic resource for any dog or cat parent.

00:53:16.152 --> 00:53:24.260
But there's an article there that goes kind of step by step from beginning to end of things to keep in mind when you're moving.

00:53:24.260 --> 00:53:31.307
So for people who need a little bit more of a kind of a checklist, a checklist yeah exactly, yeah, that can be a good place to look.

00:53:31.260 --> 00:53:32.034
Perfect yeah, that can be a place to look.

00:53:32.034 --> 00:53:41.606
Perfect yeah, there's also articles there about carrier training, getting comfortable in the car, all of those kinds of things, so that can really really help if you're trying to plan ahead for your trip.

00:53:42.047 --> 00:53:46.445
Yeah, if you've got that luxury, to plan for it for sure and don't wait till the last minute, that's.

00:53:46.445 --> 00:53:48.449
You know, that's one of the things with moving in general.

00:53:48.449 --> 00:53:58.253
I think the more that you plan for things in advance and don't make assumptions that you can do stuff at the last minute, it's probably better, because nobody needs that.

00:53:58.253 --> 00:54:02.016
Even if you could do that at the last minute, nobody needs the stress, right?

00:54:02.204 --> 00:54:15.943
So if you can start, a process, now go ahead and start it, and when you're talking about an animal who already has issues with acclimating to change, then the more lead time you give them, the better off things are going to be for everybody involved.

00:54:15.963 --> 00:54:16.164
Definitely.

00:54:16.164 --> 00:54:16.987
You know one thing.

00:54:16.987 --> 00:54:18.695
We didn't mention that we probably should.

00:54:18.695 --> 00:54:26.878
If you're staying in overnight accommodations, just because they say they are pet friendly does not mean they are cat friendly.

00:54:26.878 --> 00:54:31.677
A lot of places will say they accept pets, but what they mean is they accept dogs.

00:54:31.677 --> 00:54:35.396
So you want to call ahead and have reservations.

00:54:35.396 --> 00:54:43.085
Don't plan on finding a place on the road, because that could really leave you stressed out or trying to sneak your cat in which you don't want to have to do.

00:54:43.467 --> 00:54:49.688
Yeah, well, and obviously it's hard to plan for everything, but, yeah, it's better to, especially when you've never done it.

00:54:49.969 --> 00:54:56.010
Yeah, but that's why we've got the benefit of number one listening to this podcast, using some of the resources that we'll link.

00:54:56.010 --> 00:55:00.309
I mean, there's so much information out there that you just you have to look for it.

00:55:00.309 --> 00:55:14.521
But I think, thinking through the process from the time that you decide you're going to move or take the big trip or whatever it might be, to the time that you arrive and your pets are fully acclimated if you just kind of ask yourself and then what's going to happen, and then what's the next step?

00:55:14.521 --> 00:55:29.956
And what's the next step If you kind of walk yourself through that process, like putting them out in the car, how am I going to get them in the car?

00:55:29.956 --> 00:55:32.639
Am I going to step on before you actually step on them?

00:55:32.639 --> 00:55:37.568
But definitely definitely want to do some homework and do as much pre-planning as you possibly can.

00:55:37.568 --> 00:55:43.034
Well, leanna, thank you so much for being here and sharing all of this great advice.

00:55:43.034 --> 00:55:45.025
I feel slightly better about the whole process.

00:55:46.969 --> 00:55:52.099
I have a unique gift of making people feel both better and more paranoid at the same time.

00:55:52.626 --> 00:55:56.346
Well, you know you want to have a balanced expectation, Like you said.

00:55:56.346 --> 00:56:07.318
You know we said be prepared for the worst, and then you can be pleasantly surprised, appreciate all the advice and information and, for everybody that's listening out there, you know, make sure you take advantage of the resources that are in our show notes.

00:56:07.318 --> 00:56:18.811
If you're like I said, you're traveling, you're going to start traveling with your cats or you're making a move, taking at least some of these steps are going to make it a lot less stressful experience for you and your cat.

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So check out those resources and thank you again for listening to another episode of Muddy Paws and Hairballs.

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We will see you next week.

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Thanks for listening to Muddy Paws and Hairballs.

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Be sure to visit our website at muddypawsandhairballscom for more resources and be sure to follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app so you'll never miss a show.

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And hey, if you like this show, text someone right now and say I've got a podcast recommendation.

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You need to check the show out and tell them to listen and let you know what they think.

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Don't forget to tune in next week and every week for a brand new episode and if you don't do anything else this week, give your pets a big hug from us.