Transporting 2 kittens back home. 90 minute drive.

BrokenArrows

So we are collecting our 2 new kittens next week. They are 4 months old and siblings.

We are collecting them from a family who raised them from birth. The parent cats have not been around for a few months.

We have loads of cardboard boxes and also soft cat carriers.

Im leaning towards using a largish box with a blanket inside. My wife can then easily play with them during the trip. Using a box they can also be together which may make things easier.

Im also thinking when we arrive to collect them whats the best way to make them feel safe. Should we just leave the box in the room with them for a while and see if they naturally want to jump inside?

Alun

Been there, done that, be prepared for "accidents" from both ends Bring lots of old newspapers!

Graces7

BrokenArrows wrote: »

So we are collecting our 2 new kittens next week. They are 4 months old and siblings.

We are collecting them from a family who raised them from birth. The parent cats have not been around for a few months.

We have loads of cardboard boxes and also soft cat carriers.

Im leaning towards using a largish box with a blanket inside. My wife can then easily play with them during the trip. Using a box they can also be together which may make things easier.

Im also thinking when we arrive to collect them whats the best way to make them feel safe. Should we just leave the box in the room with them for a while and see if they naturally want to jump inside?

Leave them in the box and let them come out when they are ready..they need a safe place in new surroundings.

Also be careful in the car as kittens can be very fast and mobile...VERY fast.

and enjoy them !

BrokenArrows

Alun wrote: »

Been there, done that, be prepared for "accidents" from both ends Bring lots of old newspapers!

Should i just line the box with newspaper instead of a blanket so it can be quickly changed.

Laura_A

Kittens can move very quickly and they jump high so if you are going to be driving i would try to get something that would be closed in - maybe one of the foldable pet 'playpens'? - they have lots of zips on top and sides so you can still try to play with them... If they are taking up the whole of the back of the car you could even put in a very small litter tray.. We did this on a second trip with a kitten as the first time one of the accidents ended up in the kittens fur... Trying to clean poo off a kitten is not a fun experience...

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Alun

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Should i just line the box with newspaper instead of a blanket so it can be quickly changed.

Yes, either newspaper or old towels or sheets, something that you don't mind having to throw away! Definitely keep them in the carrier and don't let them get loose in the car.

morgana

Definitely something that is securely closed.
I remember transporting our (sadly both now passed away ) first two rescue cats (mum and one kitten) on a 2 hour drive each in their own rigid carrier.
Mum managed to free herself in the first 15 minutes of the drive (no idea how lol). I did not dare to open the car door lest she could escape - luckily i managed to get her on my lap where she spent the drive - not without pooping on me. Ah the fond memories.
If the kittens get out they will most likely hide somewhere under the seats where you cant get to them without opening the door - a no no as they could escape. So I would keep them in the carrier or any securely closed contraption :P
Enjoy ! You will remember even pooping incidents fondly in time :P

Graces7

I drove from the far side of Killarney to the wilds of Connemara starting at midnight with my biggest cat firmly wedged between my legs and the driving seat. He had somehow managed to escape from a secure car carrier ( Houdini should be his name as he specialises in escaping)

Had to leave a note at the pub and heart in mouth stopping him getting free ...

After that , no stops.... It got interesting at the Toll Plaza at Limerick as I could to reach the money thing and could not reverse.. The ABORT sign came on ( 2 am) and a very grumpy man emerged so I pleaded severe disability with the window open a crack..

Dog was barking and barking and I was longing for the coffee I had in a flask, but no way...needed the loo, but tough!

Had to lever him out when we finally got up the mountain...

He got to the pier here on the most recent move fine. Then escaped from a humane trap and zoomed under the car.. Had to crawl under and winkle him out with tourists agog..

Sweet relief to get him to the island as he cannot escape...

Cats and cages... cats and cars...Never again...

aonb

Tape that box lid down - very well!
Put a very thick pad of newspapers on the seat of the car, in case of leaks
Put another thick pad of newspapers into the box
DO NOT open that box until you are safely home, in the room they are to stay in overnight, with the door and window closed!
Put lots of airholes (small ones!) punched around the box
When you get home, bring the box into the room, close the door. Put bowls or water, and some bowls of food on the floor. Cut the tape on the top of the box, and leave the lid open until they feel ok to venture out themselves.
They may have been sick travelling, so they may not eat for a while.
You could sit on the floor with them, coaxing them out, and let them explore their room while you sit and chat to them.
Photos please and enjoy your new kittens!

BrokenArrows

aonb wrote: »

Tape that box lid down - very well!
Put a very thick pad of newspapers on the seat of the car, in case of leaks
Put another thick pad of newspapers into the box
DO NOT open that box until you are safely home, in the room they are to stay in overnight, with the door and window closed!
Put lots of airholes (small ones!) punched around the box
When you get home, bring the box into the room, close the door. Put bowls or water, and some bowls of food on the floor. Cut the tape on the top of the box, and leave the lid open until they feel ok to venture out themselves.
They may have been sick travelling, so they may not eat for a while.
You could sit on the floor with them, coaxing them out, and let them explore their room while you sit and chat to them.
Photos please and enjoy your new kittens!

Won't they be freaked out by being locked in a dark box for 90 minutes.

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mymo

I agree with all the above, secure carrier, they'll be fine, cats adapt to most things easily. Better keep them safe for the trip, don't feed before travel, when you arrive have litter tray set up and dish up food, put down food then open crate, food fixes most things for cats.

aonb

just one more thing - be prepared for a horrifically loud 90 minute drive - if they're anything like my cats, the YOWLING will start the second the journey starts - and wont stop until they get out of the car

Tipperary animal lover

aonb wrote: »

just one more thing - be prepared for a horrifically loud 90 minute drive - if they're anything like my cats, the YOWLING will start the second the journey starts - and wont stop until they get out of the car

Agree completely with you, I'd add a tip to this get your kittens used to the car(incase ya need to send them to family/cattery when going on holidays/away for awhile), bring them in a cat box for a short drive as many times as ya can over the next few months, they'll come around in time to the motion of the car and ya won't have to be dealing with all the YOWLING and cat scutter in the long run.

Graces7

aonb wrote: »

just one more thing - be prepared for a horrifically loud 90 minute drive - if they're anything like my cats, the YOWLING will start the second the journey starts - and wont stop until they get out of the car

Ah. memories... moving house with three loud cats and a louder dog in the car.. OUCH!

So glad to be settled here on the island... dunroamimg

BrokenArrows

Well the drive was fine. Put them in a carrier in the end. They are amazingly quiet cats (vocally). The female made a meow for the first time today. As for running around the house together they sound like a herd of elephants. haha. So much for quiet stealthy cats. :D:D

They just chilled out for the whole drive and no accidents were had.

Give them a nice bed and where to they choose to sleep .... on top of a hard plastic chair??? haha.

aonb

Ive never had cats until a couple of years ago, and I was amazed at how noisy they are galloping around the house - like a herd of elephants as you say.
Theyre so cute when they're playing though - any photos??

Yes photos please!!!

Regie93

Oh, it was such a headache when I transported my first cat. Glad to hear that everything is alright!

aonb wrote: »

I was amazed at how noisy they are galloping around  the house

Me either. It was a surprise for me to understand that cats are not just graceful, but noisy too :D