To secure your cat in the car, it should be in a special cat car cage. To secure it with the seat belt or on the floor is an option, however, it is not completely safe in case of a car crash.
As a fur parent, we always want what’s best for our fur babies, and taking them to the vet every once in a while, or taking them with us during our holiday trips are part of them. But unlike dogs, cats are often anxious and frightened when they travel via car and that’s why cat carriers exist. Cats are territorial animals and as much as possible, they prefer to stay at home than go on a land trip. But sometimes, there’s really a need for you to take your cat to the vet so making sure your cat carrier is secured in your car helps a lot to lessen your cat’s anxiety.
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Utilizing the backseat
Cat carriers can come in different styles, designs, and colors, but all of them come with handles and loops where you can use to insert the seatbelt into and secure the carrier in the backseat of your car. This is the most common method cat owners follow when they have to use a cat carrier. While you can simply leave your cat carrier sitting in the backseat, you will have better peace of mind knowing that your cat carrier is more secured if you use the seatbelt to secure it in place. You should also make sure that the cat carrier is side facing.
Another option is to put the cat carrier on the floor of the backseat but ensure that the door of the carrier is facing the interior. You can then use the seatbelt of the front passenger to secure the carrier by running it through the handles. However, this can only be done if you don’t have a front passenger and if you own a small carrier as larger ones won’t fit the floor area. Bear in mind that depending on your carrier, pet, passenger, and vehicle, you can surely be able to come up with different solutions on how to keep your cat’s carrier secured in place during your travel.
Choose the right carrier
Wherever you want to take your cat by car, make sure that you invest in a good quality cat carrier. This is the very first thing you need to take into consideration to make sure you’ll keep him safe and secure during the land travel. You can’t let a cat loose inside the car as it can only lead to accidents that can hurt you, the other passengers, and your pet.
Having said that, you should buy a cat carrier that’s durable and can be easily maintained as your cat can easily feel unwell during the travel. Place your cat’s carrier in the car where it will stay secured even if you suddenly brake, but remember it needs to have good airflow as well. If you are not sure whether you’re doing the right thing or not when it comes to securing a cat carrier in your car, you can always ask help from your trusted vet. Cats are not very happy travelers so your vet will surely be a good help to make your trip stress-free and successful.
Common questions about how to keep a cat carrier secure in a car
Do cats have to be in a carrier in a car?
Cats can travel in a car without a carrier however, it’s highly advised by experts to keep them restrained in a cat carrier as much as possible since they can easily feel scared which is very dangerous. You as a driver can be easily distracted when your cat is afraid as he can quickly jump out or run around and it can potentially lead to a road accident. Certainly, this is the last thing you want to happen so consider using a cat carrier the next time your cat has to ride in a car.
Where do you put a cat carrier in a car?
The best place to put a cat carrier is in the backseat of your car. You shouldn’t put your cat carrier somewhere in the car without proper ventilation. If there’s no good airflow like in the rear of a hatchback or underneath your luggage, your cat can get suffocated.
Why do cats not like car rides?
Unlike domesticated animals like dogs, cats are known to be very territorial. Having said that, they are not just afraid of the motion that’s happening when traveling via car, but they’re afraid of venturing to new places where the scent, noise, and sight is unfamiliar. Cats even prefer to stay at home rather than go somewhere new even though they are traveling with their fur parent.
Conclusion
When traveling via road with a cat carrier inside your car, make sure that it’s securely held in place so it won’t move constantly especially when you brake. This will not just make your cat uncomfortable but it’s also dangerous as his head can be bumped on the sides of the carrier when you suddenly break. Also, in case of a road accident, the carrier can fall down or bump somewhere and hurt your cat if it’s not properly secured in place.
