Helping a Cat Overcome Carsickness

[Kittykamper]

Hello. What a great community of people on this website! I really enjoy reading the posts. I was wondering if any of you have pets who initially got carsick, but no longer do. I was curious if it was a condition that could be overcome, without the use of medications. Does anyone have experience with this?

 

[TheBar]

When I was a kid our cat went on vacation with us. In his kennel he always got motion sickness. When we let him out he laid on the dash or across my dad's shoulders where he could see things going by. Our theory was being able to see eliminated the stress of not knowing why the earth is moving under your feet.

 

[LarsMac]

We had a cat that was kind of like that. She was happy to hang out in the back window as long as we had the blower going so she had fresh airflow.

 

[Kittykamper]

When I was a kid our cat went on vacation with us. In his kennel he always got motion sickness. When we let him out he laid on the dash or across my dad's shoulders where he could see things going by. Our theory was being able to see eliminated the stress of not knowing why the earth is moving under your feet.

That’s interesting….. I think I’ll do some “test runs” with her in the car (outside of her carrier) and see how it goes. Hopefully, she won’t go ballistic in there! That’s sweet that your cat would lie on your Dad’s shoulders. Come to think of it, when I was a kid, we had a kitty that would lie across the dash in the car too!

 

[Kittykamper]

We had a cat that was kind of like that. She was happy to hang out in the back window as long as we had the blower going so she had fresh airflow.

That’s a good tip. Thanks!

 

[LarsMac]

My daughter says that letting the cat get used to hanging out in the vehicle for a while before making the first trip will help make him/her feel comfortable with being in it.

 

[Wasillaguy]

Cats can get freaked out by everything flying by the side windows. To them, it looks like things coming at them. If you can get them to look forward, and they come to realize they are the one moving, the stress goes away and usually the sickness too.

 

[Kittykamper]

My daughter says that letting the cat get used to hanging out in the vehicle for a while before making the first trip will help make him/her feel comfortable with being in it.

That’s such a good idea, LarsMac. Tell your daughter, “thanks” too!

 

[Kittykamper]

Cats can get freaked out by everything flying by the side windows. To them, it looks like things coming at them. If you can get them to look forward, and they come to realize they are the one moving, the stress goes away and usually the sickness too.

This is interesting, Wasillaguy. The more I read these posts, the more I’m thinking the cat carrier is the major source of stress, and it’s the stress causing the vomiting rather than actual motion sickness. What you said makes good sense.

 

[garyb1st]

Our 9 year old female tabby is a pretty good traveler. Unfortunately, from the time we've had her she's had stomach issues. Throws up almost weekly and it doesn't matter if we're traveling or not. She brings new meaning to the term scaredy cat. Hides everytime she hears a noise. Other than that, she seems to like traveling. When we first got her, she'd run across the dash chasing vehicles that we passed. It was quite comical watching her. As she's aged, she's settled down a lot and now just paws me on the leg hoping for a scratch as we're driving down the freeway at 65 mpg.

 

[Kittykamper]

Our 9 year old female tabby is a pretty good traveler. Unfortunately, from the time we've had her she's had stomach issues. Throws up almost weekly and it doesn't matter if we're traveling or not. She brings new meaning to the term scaredy cat. Hides everytime she hears a noise. Other than that, she seems to like traveling. When we first got her, she'd run across the dash chasing vehicles that we passed. It was quite comical watching her. As she's aged, she's settled down a lot and now just paws me on the leg hoping for a scratch as we're driving down the freeway at 65 mpg.

I have a scaredy cat too. I think an RV lifestyle would really freak her out. Thunder, fireworks, any kind of noise sends her over the edge. The other day it hit 90 degrees here in NY, so I turned on this mobile AC unit that I have. Well, Minnie shifted into “scared mode” from the sound of the AC. Ugh…. it’s gonna be a long summer!

 

[dcorbtt]

We spend a lot of time building a fort with and pillows before we travel, our cat stays in the fort unless the road is rough, then she comes out and yells at the driver.

 

[TheBar]

Cats understand a lot of English but their language is emotion based. We always have a pretty good idea of their opinions. Good thing they don't speak English because it would sometimes need to be censored for obscenities.