Bringing a cat

[portorusa 431]

Those with an experience of bringing a cat to USA please advise! How to prevent the animal from meowing all the way to the airport and driving the owner crazy?? The cat will be placed in a carrier, transported for 5 hours on the train, then taken to a hotel room for a night, then to an airport the following morning for a direct flight to USA . The cat will be in hold for a transatlantic flight, so at least there will be a 11 hour break from hearing the animal crying. But how to survive several hours before the plane?🙄

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

55 minutes ago, portorusa said:

Those with an experience of bringing a cat to USA please advise! How to prevent the animal from meowing all the way to the airport and driving the owner crazy?? The cat will be placed in a carrier, transported for 5 hours on the train, then taken to a hotel room for a night, then to an airport the following morning for a direct flight to USA . The cat will be in hold for a transatlantic flight, so at least there will be a 11 hour break from hearing the animal crying. But how to survive several hours before the plane?🙄

Erm... Deal with it. The cat didn't asked for it. You can try Bach rescue remedy for cats. They hopefully will help to calm the cat.

[Ontarkie 14,231]

If it's because the cat is not used to the carrier. I would start getting the cat familiar with it now. Just leave it set up and let the cat play, get treats or do whatever she wants in it with the door left opened. 

 

Make sure you have her favourite blanket in there and maybe even a toy. 

 

You can try some of those sprays that help calm cats.

[Mr & Mrs T 778]

8 hours ago, portorusa said:

Those with an experience of bringing a cat to USA please advise! How to prevent the animal from meowing all the way to the airport and driving the owner crazy?? The cat will be placed in a carrier, transported for 5 hours on the train, then taken to a hotel room for a night, then to an airport the following morning for a direct flight to USA . The cat will be in hold for a transatlantic flight, so at least there will be a 11 hour break from hearing the animal crying. But how to survive several hours before the plane?🙄

Your cat needs to feel comfy and safe .

Take his  favorite blanket , his favorite toy . 
be sure that he will not stay in his excrements so plan a training pad or two in the box . Spray some feliway in the box ( advise from my veterinary ) get him used to the box before travel . 
To make him feel calm and less stressed you have Bach pet rescue or Zilken pills ( ask your vet when you visit him for the health certificate ) 

you have the possibility to take your cat in cabin with you for home to feel less stress 
and for the cat to not be stress . Be patient ! He is used to his environment and it’s a big change for him ..

Edited November 21, 2019 by Mr & Mrs T

[portorusa 431]

Thank you all for good advice! Toy, blanket, and spray, that may help. The cat is 4 y.o., very affectionate but she never traveled anywhere before. When my husband tried to ride with her in the car recently to see how she'd behave, she meowed non-stop.

I want my husband to bring the cat with him to USA. He is extremely unwilling to do it. He's afraid she will be crying and make him nervous. This is the source of arguing between us for several days now. If I could come over to France and bring the cat myself, I'd have no problem, even to get the cat in the cabin with me, but I cannot come due to work obligations. For my husband to have the cat in the cabin - ha! forget it...he would rather kill himself (or the cat). So the hold is the only option, elas!

But I will tell him what VJ members advised, and will make him try and see if it works. Thank you!

Edited November 21, 2019 by portorusa

[Mr & Mrs T 778]

2 hours ago, portorusa said:

Thank you all for good advice! Toy, blanket, and spray, that may help. The cat is 4 y.o., very affectionate but she never traveled anywhere before. When my husband tried to ride with her in the car recently to see how she'd behave, she meowed non-stop.

I want my husband to bring the cat with him to USA. He is extremely unwilling to do it. He's afraid she will be crying and make him nervous. This is the source of arguing between us for several days now. If I could come over to France and bring the cat myself, I'd have no problem, even to get the cat in the cabin with me, but I cannot come due to work obligations. For my husband to have the cat in the cabin - ha! forget it...he would rather kill himself (or the cat). So the hold is the only option, elas!

But I will tell him what VJ members advised, and will make him try and see if it works. Thank you!

i have a cat who is a little bit anxious when she is away of her « comfort zone » . There is a pill called « zylken » who worked good on her few years ago and the veterinary told me to give her a pill each day for a week before the travel  when we will  know that we gonna move . Maybe tell your husband to ask the vet if this can help the cat to travel more easily and so without stress for then  and for your husband . 
good luck !