Any Experience shipping pets?

Figuring out the logistics of getting the cat and dog (about 15lbs) across country for the move. Looking into having at least the cat shipped since she hate hate haaaates car rides. Any experiences or recommendations?

Still need to decide whether we will ship the cars across country or do a roadtrip in the Baroness' RX-8. This will probably be early February, so we would drive the southern passes through NM and TX before cutting up to OH. She kind of wants to just so she can conquer her fear.

If the cat hates car rides, how would you ship her?

Swank Force One wrote: If the cat hates car rides, how would you ship her?

Someone else's car.

Swank Force One wrote: If the cat hates car rides, how would you ship her?

Airline pet transport service or something similar.

Tell the cat to stop being such a Bob Costas?

Beer Baron wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: If the cat hates car rides, how would you ship her?

Airline pet transport service.

Ah so she likes strangers and plane rides?

In reply to Beer Baron:

No first hand experience, but I know hunting dog breeders ship (fly) dogs from time to time - do you know one? I'd talk to them about what they do. You are limited by weather, however. Check with an airline, and also with UPS/FedEx. Uship?

Feed the cat some weed brownies before the ride?

Beer Baron wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: If the cat hates car rides, how would you ship her?

Airline pet transport service.

I used to fly for the airlines. You don't want to put any pet through that. The animal is terrified the entire time. They are treated like suitcases, and often left sitting on the ramp in the heat or cold, around loud turbine engines. Just a week or so ago, there was a report of a dog dying somewhere in the southwest after being left sitting out on the ramp for hours. I'll never forget back in the '90s, seeing a beautiful yellow Lab that got loose on the ramp at Charlotte during USAir's push. I don't know if the dog survived running around all of those taxiing 737s, with their low-mounted engines, but he had several close calls during the time I saw him. I don't know of any other way to transport an animal, other than maybe dosing it up with some mild sedatives, trying to make it as comfortable as possible, and driving it.

I know the pet will be miserable for the trip. But it is the difference between being miserable for one day as opposed to 5-7 days.

Sounds like the perfect time to establish a cat-free home. :)

You might check with the vet and see if there are any meds you can put the cat on to calm it for the trip.

eastsidemav wrote: You might check with the vet and see if there are any meds you can put the cat on to calm it for the trip.

This. I know a lot of em are drugged.

mndsm wrote:

eastsidemav wrote: You might check with the vet and see if there are any meds you can put the cat on to calm it for the trip.

This. I know a lot of em are drugged.

Plus, if the cat is mildy sedated, it might be more viable to do a road trip with it. I know all animals are different (mine hate car rides, too), but my parent's cats loved inspecting new hotel rooms (at pet friendly hotels) every night on trips.

Edit: OT, one of my parent's cats is a Maine Coon who is afraid of almost everything, except when its in a car on a highway trip it eventually works its way into the driver's lap and naps for hours, regardless of who the driver is.

eastsidemav wrote: You might check with the vet and see if there are any meds you can put the cat on to calm it for the trip.

This, again. As poignantly noted above, I would think airline transport would be a significant trauma for the animal.

I've been from NM to VA with a dog via automobile, but she was an excellent traveler. The only time I've had to transport cats is to the vet, but that is sheer hell and nonstop yowling.

Not an explorer. After the last move, the cat spent pretty much a full day cowering in the foot of my sleeping bag.

We had a rescue dog shipped to us from NJ. All I remember is that she was REALLY happy to be out of that crate. Never shipped a cat, on purpose.

Sedation and a carrier 2 to 3 times the size as the one you usually use. Sell the carrier for what you bought it for. Just don't put it on the roof .

BenB wrote:

Beer Baron wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: If the cat hates car rides, how would you ship her?

Airline pet transport service.

I used to fly for the airlines. You don't want to put any pet through that. The animal is terrified the entire time. They are treated like suitcases, and often left sitting on the ramp in the heat or cold, around loud turbine engines. Just a week or so ago, there was a report of a dog dying somewhere in the southwest after being left sitting out on the ramp for hours. I'll never forget back in the '90s, seeing a beautiful yellow Lab that got loose on the ramp at Charlotte during USAir's push. I don't know if the dog survived running around all of those taxiing 737s, with their low-mounted engines, but he had several close calls during the time I saw him. I don't know of any other way to transport an animal, other than maybe dosing it up with some mild sedatives, trying to make it as comfortable as possible, and driving it.

+1 this. If you like the cat, just slip it whatever the vet suggests (benadryl?) and take it with in the car. Probably won't like it at first, but between the drugs and being on the road for a few days it will probably get sorta used to it.

TBH, if you are having to have the cat shipped via airline, I'd suggest seeing if you can find it a new home in the town you are moving from. It sucks to give up pets, but whats been said about transporting pets by air makes it sound like an already easily-scared cat could be very traumatized.

I have a cat that so badly hates car rides that we usually have a combination of Urine, Feces, and Vomit within 1 mile of leaving the house. (going to the vet SUCKS)

We managed a move of 5 hours, yeah, we had a cleanup stop or two.

To argue with someones point.

If the cat is scared, KEEP IT IN THE CARRIER (or a cage). The cat making a mess can distract your driving and cause an accident, not to mention mess your your car. Plus, the cat itself can distract your driving.

The cat WILL adjust after a few hours. They are surprisingly resiliant animals.

Ask your vet, there are calming medications (my cat is 17, so we aren't risking it).

Make the carrier/cage a safe and quiet haven as possible, get one that you can easilly clean if the cat messes. Consider improvements (Elevated screen will keep pee from sloshing on the cat for instance) and have a harness and lead for when you need to take the cat out to clean the carrier/cage.

As far as the cat getting over it, HAH! mine is 17 and still has the same intensity of problems with travel. Might happen for you, but don't count on it.

Dramamine? Maybe the kitty equivalent.

Ask the cat if it's ever done a road trip ON WEED?

In reply to mndsm:

Fill it with catnip......problem solved.

yamaha wrote: In reply to mndsm: Fill it with catnip......problem solved.

Catnip makes my cats all bonkers. I don't wanna deal with that.

I'd rather deal with bonkers. Last move was four hours. First two were non-stop pathetic yowling. Then dead silence. But not good silence. Like huddling in the back of the carrier in terror, "did she have a heart attack?", deadly silence.