Top 5 Must-Have Products for a Road Trip with Your Cat

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When Louie, my cat, and I traveled cross country together for the first time, I found it difficult to know exactly what I needed to keep him comfortable and safe on the journey. Through trial and error, I found five products that work especially well for our travel needs, and I’m sharing them here in the hopes that they’ll be an asset on your cat-owner road trip as well.

Hard shell crate: As mentioned in my previous post, 5 Essential Tips for a Comfortable Road Trip with Your Cat, I prefer using a hard shell crate in the car to keep Louie safe on the journey. As these are sturdier than a soft carrier, not only do they protect in case of an emergency, but they stay more firmly rooted in place, ensuring Louie feels less of the bumps along the way. The one I use is linked here, but the most important part of choosing the right crate for you is ensuring there’s enough space for your cat. Louie is on the larger side, so I typically prefer carriers meant for small or medium size dogs instead of cats, as they’re a little bigger.

Travel litter box: This might be the most essential piece of road trip equipment. I’ve traveled with a full-size litter box before and it simply was NOT it. The travel boxes zip up easily, making them much easier to stow away in the car. They’re also a bit smaller, which means you’re also using less litter along the way. On my last road trip, I used this product, and the extra scoop and water bowl were a nice addition. In all honesty, the price was also low enough that I threw this away at the end of the journey as well. Not my most sustainable moment, but alas.

Lickable wet treats: These treats are super convenient for the car- they eliminate all the hassle of having to get the cat, food, and bowls out, and make a full pit stop. Instead, you can just rip off the top of these treats and feed them easily to the cat. Louie loves the salmon flavor of the Tiki Cat Stix, though there are a lot of other options out there as well. These can also be used as a wet food topping for dry food options. If your cat is typically a wet food eater, these might be a great way to satiate them while also not having to lug cans around on the trip.

Harness and leash: Even if you have no plans to actually walk your cat around, the harness and leash is a must-have on the journey. When we’re stopped for lunch or even if I have Louie on my lap in the car, he’s got the harness on, and usually, the leash clipped on. It simply adds an extra layer of precaution, just in case, anything were to go awry. Louie’s harness also calms him down in the car as well (I assume the psychology behind this is similar to that of a thunder vest for dogs), so he wears his throughout the entire ride. I’ve used this harness and leash combo, and I love that it comes in different sizes to accommodate all kinds of cats.

*Louie in his much-loved fish harness with bow-tie. It was sadly left behind on a recent trip.*

Pee pads: These are a lifesaver on a trip. I line Louie’s crate with them in the car (he’s pretty good, but every cat gets anxious sometimes!) and put them under the travel litter box when we stay in hotels. They’re a simple addition to the trip that just keeps everything neat and tidy. You can pick up a huge pack here.

These five products are my go-tos on any trip with Louie, and they’ve dramatically helped increase our quality of life while on the road together. You’ll need to remember food, water, and a few toys as well, but I recommend sticking to foods and toys your cat is already comfortable with to help provide some stability in new environments. Let me know in the comments if there’s anything you would add to the list!