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A lot of cats simple hate to get near a car let a lone get inside of one. But when it comes to Bengal cats, that story can be quite different than a lot of other domestic cats. Since Bengal cats tend to have personalities more like dogs, they also tend to like to be more adventurous and love to go wherever their owners go. So this means that the probability that a Bengal will travel well is in your favor. In this article we will cover the following:
Traveling with your Bengal doesn’t have to end up in a disaster if you make sure that you find ways to make the traveling easier on the both of you. Your Bengal will travel well if you condition them before taking any long trips anywhere.
The first thing you should do is make sure that you plan ahead. You need to make sure that your cat is going to be allowed as well as welcomed wherever you are planning to go. This means you need to do your homework, find out what the rules are for pets before you plan your trip and where you want to go.
No matter where you are planning to go, you want to make sure that your cat is protected and not exposed to any unnecessary risks. This is why it’s very important that you make sure that your Bengal’s shots are up to day before you travel with them. If your Bengal is one that does tend to be a little nervous about being confined in a moving car, you might ask your vet if they think they might need something to keep them calm. Also, make sure that your vet gives you a copy of vaccinations and a health certificate because you may need these items if you are traveling through certain states.
It’s important that you consider rehearsing traveling in your car before taking them on a long trip. A long trip that might be 500 miles or even more really wouldn’t be the best time to test how they are going to react. Make sure that your Bengal is comfortable with their carrier, let them sleep in it and then start taking your Bengal for short car trips in your local area and each time make the trips longer and longer. It’s important that you make traveling fun for them so make sure there are lots of rewards for your Bengal and before you know it, they may be begging to go for adventures in your car.
Make sure that your Bengal has a very good harness they are use to wearing and attach ID tags to them. These tags should include your name, phone, address and vets contact info. Then make sure that you give your vet a copy of your travel itinerary just in case they get a call from a stranger who may have found your cat should the unthinkable happen. Also, if your cat is micro-chipped that would be a plus. Besides, by having a harness and a leash, you’ll be able to stop at rest stops and let your companion get out and stretch their legs and do their business.
To truly make travel easier for you and your Bengal you really need to try and keep continuity especially in the routine of your cat. So remember to bring their regular food and of course plenty of water. Bring their normal food and water dishes, litter, scooper, and litter box along with a good supply of disposal bags for the litter. Also, don’t forget to bring their favorite toys and their bedding.
The number one thing that should be on your mind when traveling with your Bengal in a car is their safety. This is why, even if they don’t want to, they need to be kept inside of their carrier while traveling in the car. A loose cat can become come a flying projectile if you’re in an accident or have to stop quite suddenly. You need to concentrate on the traffic and the road and not your cat who might be down at your feet.
Before you start your car trip it’s important that your Bengal feels comfortable and there are familiar scents in the car. This is why before you leave for your trip, you should allow them to freely explore the car. Let them rub the interior and spread their scent in order to claim the car as their own personal territory. If you do this, they will be a lot more relaxed and much happier while you are traveling.
If you don’t want to do that, you can always take your cat’s bed or blanket and put that in the back seat so that their scent is placed in the car before you put them and their carrier in the car. You can also buy what is called “Comfort Zone” with Feliway and spray it on your upholstery or just on a towel. Often this will make them feel a lot more relaxed when traveling.
A week before going on your trip it’s a good idea to make their meal time happen in the car. Just start feeding your Bengal every meal time in your car instead of where they normally eat it. Do this everyday for a week will really help. It also helps if you have some play times in the car with their favorite toys. All of this will make the car seem like a home away from home. If you don’t have a good carrier for the trip, you can look at the best carriers for Bengal cats here.
Traveling with your Bengal more than likely is going to include some hotel stays, so this means that you are going to have to do your research and find only hotels that are pet friendly. Not all will accept pets, some that do often will charge you extra, so do your research well in advance so there are no huge disappointments. A good website to do your research is PetsWelcome, they have a pretty good listing for pet friendly hotels.
Realize, that even pet friendly hotels will prefer that you keep your cat crated to cut down on room damage and if your Bengal is used to their crate, they’ll probably feel a lot safer anyway.
Of course there will be times that you may have to leave them behind in the hotel. The best thing you can do for them when you do this is to leave either a radio on or the television. This will help to both distract and soothe your cat when you can’t be there with them. Also, when you leave, make sure you put the hotel’s “Do Not Disturb” sign on the doorknob. You don’t want housekeeping in your room when your Bengal is left alone.
Do your best to try and duplicate your home environment. Bring your Bengals favorite blanket, towels, bedding, toys, and so on and put these things around your hotel room, all of this will make the room more inviting to your Bengal.
Even this video included here really isn’t the way one should travel in a car with their cats, it’s still a cute video and shows how easily they will travel with you if they are introduced early to cars. Enjoy the video.
So, did this help you with your questions about whether or not Bengals travel well? Please let us know what you think about this by leaving your comment for us here.
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