Take Your Cat on Vacation

Jack Hanna provides tips for pet owners that wish to travel with their animals.

Before you even leave the house, research your options, Hanna says. When planning a travel route, be sure to schedule time for rest stops and bathroom breaks. Look for places along your route where you can enjoy activities with your animals, Hanna recommends.

Also research your hotel options, looking for pet-friendly chains and establishments. Book your accommodations well in advance, Hanna suggests. No matter what you read online or in a travel guide, always ask the booking agent if the hotel does indeed accept pets and if there is an extra fee for pets. Consider asking for a first-floor room with convenient access to your car to ease transport of your pet to and from the room.

Once you’ve established your itinerary, you can begin packing for your cat. Make sure you have current copies of your cat’s vaccination records, rabies tags, and prescriptions for any medications your cat needs, Hanna says. Inspect your cat’s crate for damage and clean it thoroughly. If your cat is used to regular grooming and bathing, give it a bath right before you embark on your journey.

Pack your cat’s regular food and plan to feed him at his regular mealtimes, regardless of where you are on the road. Bring plenty of fresh water, too. Be sure to bring a small litterbox and the litter your cat prefers, as well as familiar toys and a cat bed. Fit your cat with a collar and identification tag, and consider keeping him on a leash and harness during all rest stops to prevent accidental escapes.

Most of all, carefully evaluate your cat’s readiness to accompany you on vacation. An easy-going, friendly cat may adapt more easily to life on the road than a shy, easily frightened pet.

Motel 6 has welcomed pets since 1962. For more tips on traveling with pets this summer and throughout the year, click here.