Your cat may find their current carrier uncomfortable, or it may be unstable during car rides and make them nervous as a result. Choose a carrier that is big enough for your cat to comfortably rest inside, is made of sturdy material, and is safe for travel.

Read our Choosing the Right Cat Carrier Guide for tips on choosing a carrier.

Your cat might be scared of their carrier if it’s only used during stressful events like travel or vet visits, or if it’s new to them.

You can try doing these things to help:

• Replace their carrier for a fresh start.
• Clean their current carrier with unscented soap and add in a blanket they use at home to make it smell familiar and safe for them.
• Don’t store your carrier away when it’s not in use! Place the carrier in an area where your cat often spends time, so it picks up familiar scents and your cat can become comfortable seeing and exploring it.
• Reward them when they touch, sniff, explore, or go into (even just a paw) the carrier on their own.

Your cat might find the carrier and car rides to be bumpy, loud, and scary. Hold the carrier steady and prevent it from swinging or bumping into objects. Cover it with a blanket to help your cat feel safe, and make sure it’s secured in the vehicle to avoid shifting during travel. Line the bottom with something non-slip, like a mat, to keep your cat from sliding around inside.

Read our guide on traveling in a car with your cat to learn more.

You can teach your cat to willingly enter their carrier and get used to travel by using rewards and slow introductions.

Read our Cat Carrier Training Guide for step-by-step tips to help with training.

If your cat seems nauseated (licking their lips, swallowing repeatedly, drooling, vocalizing, or throwing up) during car rides, ask your vet for advice and if nausea medication may help.

Try to feed your cat at least one to two hours before traveling.

Your cat might feel stressed after being put in a carrier, traveling, and doing something scary, like seeing the vet. If you have only one cat, give them some time to settle in before trying to pet them or play with them after getting home.

If you have multiple cats at home you may notice they have fights after one comes home from a vet appointment. This is because new, unfamiliar scents from the vet clinic or other animals have come home too, and this can make your cats feel anxious and they may have a hard time recognizing each other. You can help your cat feel safe and prevent fighting after vet visits by placing them in a quiet room away from other cats, scent swapping, and slowly reintroducing them to the other cats.

For tips on re-introducing cats after travel read our Traveling in a Car with Your Cat Guide and Cat to Cat Introductions.

Learn how to reduce stress when taking your cat to the vet in International Cat Care’s guide.

For more information about aggression between cats, explore our Aggressive Behaviour in Cats Guide and resource about intercat tension.