How to Make Travelling With Pets Safer and Less Stressful
Preparing your pet before travelling is just as important as planning your route, booking accommodation, or packing your own essentials. A little preparation can make travelling with pets safer, more comfortable, and far less stressful for everyone.
Proper planning helps reduce the risk of:
- Motion sickness
- Travel-related anxiety
- Injuries during sudden braking or accidents
- Heat or cold stress
- Escape when stopping along the way
- Missed medications or essential supplies
- Emergencies in unfamiliar locations
1. Book a Pet Health Check Before Travelling
If you’re planning a longer trip or your pet has an existing medical condition, it’s worth arranging a pet health check before travelling.
A veterinary examination can identify issues that may become more problematic during travel, including:
- Arthritis or joint pain
- Heart or respiratory conditions
- Ear infections that may affect balance
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Dental pain
- Mobility concerns in older pets
If your pet has experienced pet motion sickness before, your veterinarian can recommend suitable medications or management strategies to make the journey more comfortable.
This is also a good opportunity to ensure:
- Vaccinations are current
- Flea, tick and worming treatments are up to date
- Microchip details are correct
- Prescription medications are refilled before departure
2. Reduce Travel Anxiety Before You Leave
If your pet becomes nervous during car rides, start preparing several weeks before your trip. It builds confidence and makes travelling feel like a normal part of their routine rather than something to fear.
You can gradually build positive associations by:
Taking short drives around your neighbourhood
Rewarding calm behaviour with treats or praise
Allowing your pet to become familiar with their travel crate or harness
Feeding small meals before short practice trips
As your pet becomes more relaxed, gradually increase the length of each journey. This slow, positive approach is especially helpful for puppies, kittens, rescue pets, and animals that have previously shown signs of anxiety during car travel.
3. Keep Dogs Calm in the Car
Dogs often become excited, restless, or anxious during long drives, but they travel better when they know what to expect. Having opportunities to stretch their legs and have a drink can make a significant difference during long-distance travel with pets.
To help your dog stay calm:
- Exercise them before leaving home.
- Avoid feeding a large meal immediately before departure.
- Keep the car cool and well ventilated.
- Bring familiar bedding or favourite toys.
- Maintain a calm environment by avoiding loud music or sudden movements.
- Stick to regular toilet breaks every two to three hours.
Following a consistent routine, using positive reinforcement, and allowing regular breaks can make long-distance travel far less stressful for both pets and their owners.
4. Cats Requires Extra Planning When Travelling
Cats often find travelling more stressful than dogs because they’re highly attached to familiar surroundings and routines. Sudden changes, unfamiliar sounds, and moving vehicles can all increase anxiety, so preparing well before your trip can make a significant difference.
Before leaving:
- Introduce the carrier several weeks in advance.
- Leave the carrier open at home with familia.r blankets inside.
- Use treats to create positive experiences around the carrier.
- Never allow your cat to roam freely inside the vehicle.
Cat carrier should:
- Be large enough for your cat to stand and turn around.
- Be well ventilated.
- Be secured using a seatbelt.
- Contain familiar bedding to reduce stress.
- Be positioned away from direct sunlight.
Covering part of the carrier with a light blanket can also help reduce visual stimulation for nervous cats while maintaining adequate airflow.
5. Puppies Are More Sensitive When Travelling
Travelling is a new experience for most puppies, so it’s normal for them to feel excited, tired, or a little overwhelmed during their first few trips.
When travelling with puppies:
- Keep journeys short where possible.
- Schedule regular toilet breaks.
- Bring familiar food and water.
- Pack cleaning supplies for accidents.
- Avoid busy dog parks if vaccinations are incomplete.
- Allow time for rest between activities.
Maintaining your puppy’s normal feeding and sleeping routine helps reduce unnecessary stress during travel.
6. Senior Dogs Deserve Extra Care When Travelling
Travelling can be more physically demanding for older dogs, especially during the colder months.
Travelling with senior dogs may require:
- Softer bedding to cushion ageing joints
- More frequent rest stops
- Easy access into and out of the vehicle
- Regular access to fresh water
- Medication given on schedule
- Shorter walking distances during breaks
Cold weather can make conditions such as arthritis and joint stiffness more painful, so keeping your dog warm throughout the journey is especially important.
Pet Travel Safety Should Always Come First
For safe pet travel:
- Use an approved pet harness or secured travel crate.
- Never allow pets to sit on the driver’s lap.
- Avoid letting dogs ride with their heads outside the window.
- Never transport pets unsecured in the back of a ute.
- Lock windows sufficiently to prevent escape.
Managing Pet Motion Sickness
Just like people, some pets can experience motion sickness during car travel. Puppies and kittens are especially prone to travel sickness because the part of the inner ear responsible for balance is still developing.
Common signs of pet motion sickness include:
- Excessive drooling
- Frequent lip licking
- Vomiting
- Whining or vocalising
- Restlessness or pacing
- Repeated yawning
- Trembling or shaking
If your pet regularly becomes unwell in the car, there are several simple ways to make travel more comfortable.
- Avoid feeding a large meal for several hours before leaving.
- Keep the vehicle cool with good airflow or air conditioning.
- Drive smoothly and avoid sudden braking, sharp turns, or rapid acceleration where possible.
- Plan regular breaks during longer trips so your pet can stretch, toilet, and have a drink of water.
- Help your pet build positive associations with the car by taking short, enjoyable trips before attempting longer journeys.
Never give your dog or cat human anti-nausea medication unless your veterinarian has specifically advised it.
Your Winter Pet Travel Checklist
Packing the right essentials helps you avoid unexpected problems, especially on longer drives or when visiting unfamiliar places.
Pack:
- Food for the entire trip
- Fresh drinking water
- Food and water bowls
- Lead and harness
- Collar with ID tag
- Secure carrier or travel crate
- Favourite blanket or bedding
- Toys or enrichment items
- Waste bags
- Litter tray and litter (for cats)
- Grooming supplies
- Towels for wet weather
- Current medications
- Veterinary records if travelling long distances
Planning ahead means fewer unexpected problems once you’re on the road.
Don’t Forget Your Pet Emergency Travel Kit
Even the best-planned trips can take an unexpected turn. Packing a pet emergency travel kit means you’re prepared if your pet becomes sick, injured or needs urgent veterinary care while you’re away.
Include:
- Basic first aid supplies
- Bandages
- Saline solution
- Tick removal tool
- Disposable gloves
- Emergency contact numbers
- Your regular veterinary clinic’s details
- Details of emergency veterinary hospitals near your destination
- Spare medication
Knowing where the nearest veterinary clinic is before you arrive at your destination can save valuable time during an emergency.