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Published on May 9, 2024. Last Updated on March 14, 2026.
Road tripping with a cat! Yes, the MPA Project Travels team is a family that road trips with our cat. Why? Well, because our cat is a part of the family. And besides, why should the dogs have all the fun? If you are planning a road trip with your cat, stay tuned for our 15 easy tips for your purrfect adventure!
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As a family that loves road trips, we knew it was only a matter of time before we packed up our young cat and took her on the road with us. Although we originally thought we would first take her on a shorter camping road trip closer to home, plans changed.
For our first adventure, we went on a 6 hour road trip with the cat to beautiful San Diego. Next, we packed up her bags and headed on a 7 hour road trip to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. And recently we did another 7 hour road trip across the U.S. Southwest.
Why road trip with a cat?
There are many reasons to go road tripping with a cat. Perhaps you are moving across the country, are a digital nomad with a cat in tow, or you just want to adventure with your entire family.
Traveling with a cat can be fun! Exploring new places and seeing new sites with a curious cat can be a blast. These adventures will not only deepen your bond with your cat but likely result in some truly unique photos and memories.
I began road trips with a cat in tow at the young age of 18. I had a cat in college and I would pack him up and drive 7 hours home every winter and summer break. It was quite an adventure with just me and the cat in the car. I road tripped with my old cat for many many years.
Fast forward to today, usually when we travel, especially if we are traveling for work or by plane, our cat stays home with a pet sitter. However, there are a few times when we car travel and our trusty cat sitter is unavailable. That is when we bring the kitty along. Unfortunately, our cat suffers from glaucoma and needs up to six eye drops twice a day.
During our first road trip, the cat was suffering from an eye infection (she has since fully recovered) and needed eye drops every four hours. The pet sitter was unavailable, so we decided to take the cat with us as we traveled following Buddy on his summer tour with the Boys Chorus.
Now that we know she travels well, we take her with us on some road trips.
Road Tripping with a Cat: 15 Helpful Tips a for a Purrfect Adventure
1. Start them early
If you plan on road tripping with a cat, you want to get them used to riding in a car and wearing a cat harness and leash. The best way to do this is to start introducing these things to them when they are young kittens.
To prepare your kitten to be a road tripping cat you can:
- Familiarize your cat with their carrier by leaving it out for them to jump in. Or leaving cat toys or cat nip in the carrier so they can associate it with fun.
- Take your newly adopted kitten for short car rides in the car.
- Put your kitten in a cat harness for short periods of time at home while you play with them. This will help them get used to it.
This way, when it is time for your road trips later, they are used to their carrier, the car, and any cat harness or leash they may have to wear out in public.
When we adopted our current cat, I knew that I wanted her road trip ready. For this reason, we begin taking her on short car rides around town at a very young age, to prepare her for long car rides. As a kitten, our cat would accompany me to pick up Buddy from school, and take 45 minute trips to her cat sitter. She is very comfortable and familiar with our cars.
Also, we began getting her used to a cat harness and leash as a kitten. At first, she did the typical flop over and not move maneuver. But after a few days of treats and play time while wearing the cat harness, she adjusted to wearing it.
Pro Tip: Make sure the cat harness fits the cat well. Sometimes if the cat flops over while wearing a harness, it may be too tight.
2. Check kitty’s vaccinations
Before road tripping with a cat, make sure that they are up-to-date with all of the necessary vaccines needed for the location to which you are traveling. This is especially true if you need to board your cat at any time during the vacation. Usually the vet will know what shots are necessary. Also, if you do board your pet, they will require a copy of your cat’s current vaccinations. They will also let you know if the vaccinations for their state differ from yours.
About a month before our first road trip with our cat, kitty had a veterinary visit. In conversation with the vet, we decided against a certain vaccine because our cat is an indoor cat who is not exposed to other felines. After we decided to go on a road tripping with our cat, we realized we needed to put her in a kitty day care for an afternoon.
This is because we had to check out of our hotel before attending an event that the cat could not attend. After calling the pet hotel, we realized we needed the shot that we did not get at the vet because it was required for boarding. That resulted in a last minute rush to an early morning hours long wait at a last minute pet vaccine clinic to get the needed shot. So prepare accordingly and get the appropriate vaccines for your cat before your trip!
3. Get them used to kitty day care beforehand
Speaking of kitty day care, in case you need to board your cat at some point during your adventures, get your cat used to staying at the kitty day care before your trip. That way, they are used to the sounds, sights, and smells of the day care and are more comfortable with a kitty day care adventure.
Kitty daycare is a good option if you are on the road and have an morning or afternoon activity where your cat cannot come with you. It is also a good idea to know of any kitty daycares in the area in which you are traveling in case something comes up.
Our cat spent an afternoon in a kitty daycare during our first road trip. This was our last day of the trip when we checked out of our pet friendly hotel and Buddy had a concert where pets were not allowed in the early afternoon. This was our cat’s first time at kitty day care, and she did great!
During our second road trip, we boarded her at a kitty day care for a day when we took a day trip to a nearby national park. Our cat did less great at this kitty day care. We think she was afraid of the oven-like mittens they were using to try to give her prescription eye drops.
Since then, we tried to board our cat in a pet hotel and she was rejected because she was so scared of the hotel that she would not come out of her carrier! That is a bummer because kitty day care is no longer an option for her on our travels.
4. Travel with a cat carrier that they like
When road tripping with a cat, you want to make sure that they are as comfortable as possible. For that reason, make sure to bring a cat carrier that your feline friend likes. There are many different types of cat carriers to choose from. Pick the carrier, or carriers, that you cat loves best.
On our first road trip, we brought three cat carriers (yes we have three different carriers) to see which ones she would like the most. During her time in the car, she preferred her a Sherpa Pet Carrier that we bought for her when she was a kitten. We purchased this one because it advertises that it is TSA compliant and in case we need to fly with her, we wanted her used to and comfortable in something that would fit under an airplane seat.
We also used this crossbody pet sling to take her around town. Both Buddy and I prefer the sling versus the cat carrier on the go because the crossbody design more evenly distributes the weight on our body. The cat likes it because she can peek her head out or pop it back in the carrier and fall asleep.
We love this cat carrier pet sling so much, we used it to march with our cat in the local pet parade (photo below!). It is also our go to when we take the cat with us to pet-friendly restaurants and coffee shops. However, because our cat cannot move around in this carrier that much, we do not use it for long periods of time. And yes, this carrier is marketed for a dog, but it works perfectly for a cat!
Also, we have not yet tried a cat backpack. If your cat loves a cat backpack, let us know!
5. Road trip with a portable travel litter box and cat litter scoop
Instead of schlepping a full size litter box on a road trip, opt for a travel friendly portable litter box. These travel litter boxes are easy to pack and fold down nicely to fit into a suitcase, pet carrier, or for easy storage when you are back home.
When I road tripped with my cat as a college student in my late teens, I used a small litter box. With our current cat, however, we invested in a portable travel litter box complete with an included poop scoop. We decided to go this route in case we ever needed to fly with the cat. I highly recommend it! The travel litter box is easy to carry. And I love that it zips up when not in use to prevent litter from getting all over the car. Also, this travel litter box folds up nicely for storage when we are not traveling.
If you use this travel litter box, I do recommend a plastic liner or a cat pee pad because I am not so sure that the material is waterproof. This is to avoid any leaks that might occur, even with clumping litter.
Pro Tip: When traveling, make sure to use the same cat litter on the road as you do at home. Some cats will not use a litter box if it has a different litter.
When road tripping with a cat, we put this litter box on the floor behind our second row of seats. If the cat looks like she needs to go on the road, we unzip it and she does her business. We also take it down out of the car and offer for her to go during our bathroom breaks. She usually goes twice during a 6 hour road trip.
6. Bring scented poop bags
If you are traveling with a cat, at some point they are going to go #2. And it will be smelly. Especially if they decide to go while you are driving. The best way to mask the scent is by bringing scented plastic bags to dispose of the cat’s poop.
Once, when traveling with my old cat during a road trip home from college, my cat went #2 in the litter box on the road. I was driving with the cat alone. It was SO smelly that I had to pull over on the side of the road and dump it! Fortunately, our current cat has not yet pooped in the car. But if she does, I am prepared!
Now, we travel with scented poop bags that can at least mask the smell. Which is really helpful if you are staying in a small hotel room with your feline friend. The scented poop bags are marketed for dogs, but who says that cats can’t also use them?
Pro Tip: Keep some odor and stain remover on hand just in case accidents happen!
7. Bring a handheld broom and dustpan to sweep up the litter
Cat litter can spread. And if kitty is using a smaller portable litter box, chances are that litter will fly when kitty covers their business. To keep the litter contained in your hotel room, tent site, or RV, make sure to bring a handheld broom with a dustpan to sweep up any scattered litter. This is very helpful for keeping the mess contained. It is important to keep tight spaces clean and tidy while on the road.
At home, our cat has these cat litter mats that help prevent her from scattering litter all over the house. As we did not want to bring these larger and heavier mats on a road trip, I instead bought a small broom and dust bin and scooped up any litter that found its way outside of the litter box after our cat did her business. This kept the hotel bathroom free of scattered litter and clean for the humans using shared space.
8. Keep your cat hydrated
When road tripping with a cat, make sure that they stay hydrated. Having water and a collapsible water bowl handy is a great way to make sure they get water during the car ride.
Our cat has her own reusable water bottle with water just for her when we road trip together. We offer her water in her collapsible water bowl at every pit stop. And about every hour or so on the road.
9. Do not feed your cat before the road trip
To avoid any potential motion sickness in your cat, do not feed the cat before getting on the road. Rather, make sure they are fed as soon as you get to your final destination.
Before we road trip with our cat, we feed her at 10pm the night before. We then do not feed her again until we reach our hotel for the night. Since we know the cat is not eating until late, we always plan on leaving the house early so she does not have to wait all day to have a meal.
We do this to prevent any motion sickness that might occur. So far, she has not demonstrated any car sickness on the days we do feed her before driving with her around town. But it is better safe than sorry. Road tripping with a car sick cat would not be fun for anyone, especially the cat!
Pro Tip: Bring a cloth napkin to place under your cat’s food and water bowls for quick and easy clean up at crumbs on the road!
10. Make sure to book pet friendly accommodations
Before adventuring out with your cat, make sure the accommodations where you are staying, whether it is a hotel, Airbnb, VRBO, or campsite is cat friendly. We recommend calling ahead and asking as some places unfortunately might be dog friendly but not cat friendly. Also, be prepared to pay the additional pet fee at a hotel. And know that sometimes pets are only allowed on certain floors in some hotel chains.
Pro Tip: Call the hotel to confirm that they accept cats. And to confirm the pet fee!
Typically, we stay in pet friendly hotels when we travel with our cat. Even if the hotel is pet friendly to cats, I always call ahead to let them know that we plan on bringing a cat and to confirm the pet fee. We have not yet stayed in a cat friendly Airbnb. I know there are lots of dog friendly Airbnbs, but we would love to stay in one for our road trip this summer. If you know of any cat-friendly Airbnbs, let us know!
11. Research cat friendly restaurants and activities along the way
Road trippers need to eat when they are on the road. And not every restaurant and cafe is cat friendly. When researching where to stop and eat along the way, check to see that the restaurants where you want to eat and the pit stops you plan on making are friendly to pets, and more specifically, cats. Unfortunately, cats are not always as welcome as dogs, and you hate to arrive and find that kitty has to sit out the fun.
Depending on where you are heading, this can be tricky. Some places we visited, like Albuquerque and San Diego, had plenty of pet-friendly and cat-friendly restaurants and activities like a 4th of July celebration, or events at the park. Some of the smaller towns that we drove through and stopped to eat had less pet-friendly restaurants. So make sure to do your research beforehand. And absolutely do not leave your cat in the car!
12. Bring a small scratching post
Cats need to scratch. And the last thing we want them to scratch is the seats in our car or the side of a couch or curtains in a hotel room. This is why a small portable cat scratcher is a must on a road trip. It ensures that kitty gets to scratch while nothing is accidentally destroyed.
Here are two great options for your cat:
- An inexpensive cardboard scratcher – great for one or two trips
- A reusable travel scratcher – great for a cat who will be traveling often
During our first road trip with kitty, I forgot her small cardboard portable scratching post. (She does have a cat tree with a scratching post, but that is too big to bring!) So after checking into the hotel and feeding our cat, I made a beeline to a local grocery store to get a cat scratcher.
The scratcher I bought was not as small as the one I forgot at home, but it did the job. Turns out, our cat ended up liking this scratcher better than the one I forgot at home! We traveled with it again recently. It does the job – it keeps her claws contained to a scratcher that smells like home.
13. Bring cat toys and comfort items
To make sure that kitty feels comfortable on the road and in new surroundings, make sure to bring familiar objects like toys or blankets with your scent or scents from home. These familiar items can go a long way in preventing kitty anxiety when on the road.
In addition to the small scratching post, when road tripping with a cat, we also bring her favorite blanket and some toys for her to play with. These items from home bring her comfort and she adjusts wonderfully to the hotels.
Pro Tip: Bring cat toys that are big enough to not get lost in the nooks and crannies of a car or hotel room.
14. Bring brush and brush your cat every day
Cats shed. And they will shed on your road trips where you may not have easy access to a vacuum to clean up all the fur. To minimize the fur scattering everywhere like glitter, bring a brush and brush your cat frequently on your travels. This will help keep the shedding contained on your travels.
When traveling with our cat, I bring a brush and brush her every day. This really helps to keep the fur contained. However, not every cat likes to be brushed. So this might not be an option for everyone. If you have a kitten, start brushing them young so they are used to it later in life.
But even with all that brushing…
15. Embrace the cat hair
But even with all that brushing, if you are road tripping with a cat, chances are that by the end of the trip, you will be covered in cat hair. This is because you will be checking on your cat periodically, putting kitty in and out of cat carriers and litter boxes. And giving kitty water. Kitty will shed. All over you, and the car.
So prepare accordingly and embrace the cat hair. Plan on vacuuming the car either during the trip or immediately after you get home. And cat family members, plan accordingly and wear clothes that match the color of your cat’s fur on the days you are in the car.
I do not recommend wearing a black shirt on a road trip with an orange cat like I did! But if you do, a portable lint roller will help clean you up before that pit stop at a restaurant or hotel check in.
A Teenager’s Perspective: Road Tripping with a Cat
Depending on the cat, the cat may meow a lot in the car while it is moving, mostly because it is uncomfortable. From past experience, what I usually do is roll down one of the windows a little bit so the cat can get some fresh air and sniff outside smells. Usually, that stops my cat from meowing.
My cat chills with me in the back seat. She likes to sleep in her carrier in the sun.
Cat Sedatives for Travel: Road Tripping with a cat
We do not use cat sedative to road trip with our cat. Because of her familiarity and comfort in the car, in conversation with our vet, we determined it is not necessary for road tripping with her at this time. We are not opposed to a cat sedative for travel. However, when and if we fly with our cat, I will highly consider it because I anticipate that she will not like all the sights and sounds of air travel.
Remember, every cat is unique – just like all those miles of unexplored roadways. Some may need cat sedatives for the long road, and others may not. Embrace the differences and adjust these tips to fit the needs and personality of your unique kitty.
What to bring on a road trip with a cat
- A travel friendly cat carrier
- Portable travel litter box
- A plastic litter box liner or cat pee pads for easy clean up
- Scented poop bags
- A cat harness and leash for
- Handheld broom with a dustpan
- Odor and stain remover in case of accidents
- A reusable water bottle for the cat
- Collapsible water and food jars
- A cloth napkin for easy clean up of any crumbs
- Small reusable travel scratcher (or a small cardboard scratcher )
- Cat toys
- Cat food
- A portable lint roller
- A brush
- OPTIONAL: A cat sling
- OPTIONAL: Cat shampoo in case of an emergency
If you have any questions about road tripping with a cat, feel free to reach out! We are happy to chat and share our experiences! We look forward to connecting with you! Also, we have never road tripped with two cats or multiple cats. If you have, let us know about your cat road trip adventure!
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Intrepid family travelers with feline friends – it is entirely possible to road trip with your whiskered companion. The adventure will not only deepen your bond with your cat but likely result in some truly unique photos and memories. So what are you waiting for? Pack up the car and head out on some meow-tastic adventures!
Are you planning a road trip with your cat? If so, let us know in the comments below!
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Very useful post! When we had just one cat we would take her on overnight visits to my mum, so she would not be alone. She is good on a leash, so we went on walks, and she settles relatively easily as long as we are around. She is a Siamese mix, and I think this breed is generally quite easy to pick up and learn new things.
Now we have three, and one cat is totally not having it, no matter what we try. We have just accepted that not all cats travel well and explored the housesitter/ cat hotel option. If all our cats travelled well, we would probably take them on weekend trips, but I must say one needs a pretty big car boot to take all the cat related items…
It is true. Not all cats are up for a road trip. A lot of it can depend on their personalities. And yes, we do have a bigger car to fit everyone’s stuff, including the cat!
It is amazing how many more people are travelling with their pets these days and how many places are pet friendly. Air travel is hard on many pets. But I am sure a road trip with your cat was easier to think about. Good idea to start early training with a harness. And to check out which places might be dog friendly but not cat friendly. I am allergic to cats so I am starting to avoid pet friendly spots to keep my sneezing down! Lots of great tips here.
I started leash training my cat as soon as I adopted her at 4 months old. She’s great with her leash and harness and enjoys trips to the park. Next, an overnight trip. I’m a bit apprehensive about this but can’t wait to do more traveling with her.
Starting them young is so important. Let us know how it goes after your first overnight trip with you cat! It sounds like she will do great!
My cat never took to the car and always ‘screamed’ every trip so he never came on road trips. We probably should have persevered and got him use to road tripping as per your wonderful tips. Maybe our next cat will like being in the car!
We’ve only road tripped with our dog. Some of these tips, like the harness, could be great for dogs as well.
This are some great tips that I am sure people don’t consider before road tripping with their pets.
I have many friends who travel with their dog, but not sure too many with a cat. Great tips.
I’ve never traveled with pets, but since we are thinking of adopting a cat – I might use your post in the future. Thanks for the useful tips!
Of course! Let us know if you adopt a cat.
I’ve never seen a cat on a leash!