Welcome to the third post of my 4 series post about safe travel for you and your pets. In this series I will cover:

• How to prepare and plan for pet travel
• Pet travel by Air
• Pet travel by Car
• Pet travel by train and buses.

The third post of the series discusses safe travel by car. Let’s get started.

Start small

Before considering bringing your lovable pet on the annual family road-trip, it is best to make sure your pet is already accustomed to cat travel before you travel too far. So take the time to acclimatise you pet with a few short rides in the car before the planned longer trip. The important thing is to attempt to associate positive thoughts with your pet when travelling in the car. So praise your pet after each short journey and slowly build their confidence with getting in and out of the car.

Carriers where applicable

For the safety of smaller pets and you and your family, small pets such as cats should always travel in an approved pet carrier. Similar to when travelling by air, pet carriers should be large enough for your pet to stand up in and turn around and also be secure (with a lock or similar). Confining your pet during car travel rules allows your pet to feel secure and also prevents them moving around the car interior (and hence removing the risk of them crawling under your feet while you are driving).

Dogs

Some basic rules with dogs travelling within cars are:

• If your car is equipped with an airbag, your dog should NOT travel in the front passenger seat
• Never let your dog travel sitting on your lap
• Do not allow your dog to travel with their head outside the window of your car. Doing so increases the risk of dirt or other debris entering their ears, eyes or mouth.
• If your dog has to ride in the back of your ute / truck, then make sure he/she is leashed and confined to a secured portable kennel.

Refreshments and supplies

Try to stick to your pet’s regular feeding routine when travelling with your pet. If you are travelling during the day, feed your pet it’s main meal when you reach the destination or at the end of the day’s travel. Make sure you have plenty of water and a water bowl with you whilst in the car; when you stop to refuel / get supplies, give your pet the opportunity to stretch their legs and have a drink of water. Toilet stops of course for you and your pet are also a necessity, and remember never to leave your pet unattended in the car.

A final note

Like all travel with your pet, good preparation can mean the difference between an enjoyable trip with you and your family pet, or a never to be repeated experience!

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