If you’ve decided to travel with your cat this summer, there are a number of measures you should take into account, especially if you’re going to be travelling by car, so that both you and your pet will be as safe as possible.
Although I’m sure that you love and trust your cat, the truth is that your cat is likely not used to travelling by car, and since this is a new situation for your cat, it may get nervous or just simply not understand that this is a risky situation and that it must keep quiet and stay put while riding in the car.
Hence, to avoid distractions and possible accidents, it’s important for you to make certain that your cat will be travelling with all of the right safety systems in place. Besides, according our country’s Highway Safety Law, animals must always travel positioned so as not to cause any interference or distraction for the driver because otherwise you could be charged a fine of up to 100€.
And it’s no wonder, given that in the event of an accident or slamming on the brakes at a speed of 50 km/h or higher, any unrestrained “object” can fly through the air and crash with a force equivalent to 35 times its own weight. In other words, in the event of an accident or slamming on the brakes, both you and your cat could be severely injured.
So, I’d like to explain two simple methods to you today for travelling comfortably and safely with your best friend:
Cat carrier: As I explained to you in my previous post “How to get your cat to travel quietly in its cat carrier “, before using this system for holding your cat in place, it’s important for you to get your cat used to using it for a few days before taking your trip so as to prevent any tense situations on the road.
Once you have placed your cat inside the cat carrier, it’s important that you then find a safe place to put the carrier. The most advisable option in this case to for you to place it on the floor behind the front seats or in the trunk, making certain that it will not shift positon when going around curves or during other movements.
Harness: Many people choose this restraining system for their pets, because they prefer not to take them closed up inside the cat carrier for the entire trip. But it’s important for you to know that in order for the harness to be really safe, it must have 2 anchoring points, because if it doesn’t, if you have to suddenly slam on the brakes for any reason, the harness might not withstand your cat’s weight and the belt could loosen, meaning that there would be a lesser risk of injuries, but that this system would still be riskier than using the cat carrier.
