Updated for 2026. Most cats are not natural travelers. International Cat Care says they are strongly bonded to their own territory, where things are familiar, and can feel vulnerable away from home. A car trip is full of new sights, sounds and smells, so most of what helps is planning: a carrier your cat already knows, a few practice drives, a secure spot in the car, a cool cabin, and a plan for every stop. This guide walks through each step using what named veterinary and animal-welfare organizations say, and it says which one. It does not recommend specific products. For carrier features to look for, see our guide to cat carriers for anxious cats.
This is general information for cat owners, not veterinary advice. We have no in-house veterinary reviewer. If your cat is distressed on every trip, talk to your veterinarian.
Before the Trip: Make the Carrier and the Car Familiar
The AVMA says to take time to help your pet get used to the crate or carrier they will travel in, and that a familiar toy or blanket in the carrier can help them feel more comfortable. It adds that pets should get used to car travel before any long trip. The carrier step comes first, and we cover it in detail in our guide to getting a cat into a carrier.
Once the carrier feels familiar, build up the car in small steps. The Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative suggests putting your cat in the carrier with a special treat and driving around the block a few times, a few times a week, so she gets used to riding in the car. The ASPCA gives the same advice for pets in general: take a series of short drives first, and lengthen the time in the car gradually.
Two preparation points apply to every trip:
- Identification. The ASPCA says to make sure your pet is microchipped and wears a collar and tag with your name and phone number, plus a temporary travel tag with your cell number and a destination number. Humane World for Animals gives similar advice: two pieces of ID, a permanent one with your home details and a temporary travel one, and an up-to-date microchip registration. It also says to fit a collar that cannot get caught in carrier doors. The ASPCA notes that pets who get loose are less likely to find their way back to an unfamiliar location.
- A vet check for longer trips. The AVMA recommends scheduling a veterinary examination to make sure your pet is healthy enough for travel, and says your veterinarian can help you work out the details.
Feeding Before You Leave
Sources differ a little on timing, so treat these as ranges and ask your veterinarian if your cat has special feeding needs. International Cat Care says to withhold food for about four to five hours before the journey in case your cat is sick while traveling, and to offer water until you leave and again during the journey if possible. The ASPCA says a travel-feeding schedule should start with a light meal three to four hours before departure, and that pets should not be fed in a moving vehicle. It also recommends bottled water, because drinking water from an unfamiliar area could cause stomach discomfort.
What to Pack
The AVMA’s packing list for pets includes proof of vaccination (especially rabies), identification and a recent photo, food and water bowls, enough food for the whole trip, and water in case there is none at a stop. The Ohio State Indoor Pet Initiative adds that on a long drive you will need food, water and a litter box, and says a clean litter box can travel on the floor of the car. International Cat Care suggests lining the carrier with absorbent pads in case of accidental soiling and bringing familiar-smelling bedding in case it needs replacing.
During the Drive
Keep Your Cat in a Secured Carrier
Every source we read says the same thing: the cat travels in a carrier. The AVMA says to confine cats to a carrier, which helps them feel secure, keeps them from crawling under the driver’s feet and prevents escape from the car while driving or during stops. International Cat Care says it can be dangerous to have a cat loose in the car, because she could become entangled with the driver or startle them, and could escape and become lost or injured if a window or door is opened or an accident happens.
Placement matters too. International Cat Care says to put the carrier where it will be secure if you brake suddenly but still gets good airflow. It advises against the trunk and says to be mindful of the back of a hatchback, where ventilation may be poor. Its suggestions are to secure the carrier in the footwell behind one of the front seats, or hold it in place with the seat belt on the back seat. Humane World for Animals says to secure a seat belt around the front of the carrier so it does not bounce around, and to keep the carrier in the back seat, because an airbag that deploys can injure a pet in the passenger seat even in a crate.
Keep the Cabin Cool and Quiet
The Ohio State Indoor Pet Initiative says to turn the stereo down to a low volume, roll up the windows and use the air vents to keep the car cool, because too much noise from the stereo or the road will frighten the cat. International Cat Care says your cat may meow at the start or throughout the whole journey. Its advice is to speak calmly and reassuringly, but not to let her out of the carrier. It says the constant motion and noise of the car will eventually help her sleep or settle.
Never Leave a Cat in a Parked Car
This is the one rule every source repeats. The AVMA says never leave pets unattended in a car, and the Ohio State Indoor Pet Initiative says the same for any length of time. The ASPCA says that on a hot day, even with the windows open, a parked car can become a furnace in no time and heatstroke can develop, and that in cold weather a car can act as a refrigerator. Humane World for Animals puts numbers on the heat: when it is 72 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the temperature inside a car can reach 116 degrees within an hour, and on an 85-degree day, even with the windows slightly open, it can reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes.
International Cat Care says it is not enough to park in the shade and leave the windows open. If you stop for a break, ideally someone should stay with the cat. Its other suggestion for hot weather is to take a picnic and eat nearby, with your cat secure in her carrier outside the car or with all the doors open so air can flow through. It also says to check on your cat regularly, especially in hot weather.
Longer Trips and Overnight Stays
For a multi-day drive, plan the stops and the nights as well as the miles. Ohio State’s guidance on long-distance travel is to bring food, water and a litter box. International Cat Care adds that your cat will need to be kept in a confined space at the end of the journey, at least until she has bonded to her new territory. In practice, a hotel bathroom or a quiet room works as a safe room, with the litter box, water and bedding set up before you let her out of the carrier.
Check the room first. The ASPCA says to have a quick look around before letting your pet into a hotel room, and to make sure a cat or kitten cannot crawl up into the bathroom vanity or into the mattress. It also suggests taking a “pet’s eye view” of the space and checking that indoor plants are out of reach. The AVMA suggests a daily health check while you are away from home, because appetite, energy and behavior can change in unfamiliar surroundings, and says to try to keep your regular routines for feeding and for toilet opportunities. If you must leave a pet alone in a hotel room, it says to put a “Do not disturb” sign on the door and tell housekeeping and the front desk.
Crossing State Lines
Rules vary by state, so check before you go. USDA APHIS says the requirements for moving a pet between states are set by the destination state or territory, and that you should contact that state’s veterinarian’s office. The ASPCA says to bring your pet’s rabies vaccination record and check with your veterinarian about whether a certificate of veterinary inspection is required, noting that some states require proof at certain interstate crossings. The AVMA says a certificate issued by a federally accredited veterinarian is generally needed within 30 days before travel to another state, and that not every veterinarian is accredited, so call ahead. Plan early: the AVMA says interstate and international arrangements can take months.
Signs Your Cat Is Struggling
You can’t read a cat’s mind, but you can watch and listen. Loud, continuous crying, hiding or frantic attempts to get out of the carrier, refusing treats, drooling, open-mouth breathing or panting, repeated vomiting, and soiling the carrier are all things an owner can observe. International Cat Care says that soiling can happen on a journey and that absorbent pads help. If your cat shows signs like these, or if car trips are hard on her every time, talk to your veterinarian. The AVMA says to let your veterinarian know if your pet has a problem with carsickness. We don’t give advice on how to treat it, and we won’t suggest anything here that belongs in a veterinary consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How We Researched This and Sources
This page draws on guidance from the AVMA, USDA APHIS, the ASPCA, Humane World for Animals, International Cat Care and the Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative, all read on October 23, 2026. We describe what each source says. We do not give medical advice and we do not recommend products on this page. Michael Probert, our author, writes from research, not clinical or veterinary expertise, and we have no in-house veterinary reviewer. Full editorial policy: How We Choose. For more on carriers and gear, see our cat gear guide.
Sources: AVMA, Traveling with your dog or cat, USDA APHIS, Frequently Asked Questions About Traveling With Your Pet, ASPCA, Travel Safety Tips, ASPCA, Traveling With Your Pets: Dos and Don’ts, Humane World for Animals, Travel safely with your pet, International Cat Care, travel guidance for cats (car travel section) and Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative, Traveling with Your Cat.