Yeah, I know, weird thread title.

Here's the deal. We're moving across the country. We have 6 cats. Moving 6 cats is incredibly expensive and, this time of year, almost impossible due to the cold.

So, I'm going to drive the E55 from Orlando to Iowa.

With the cats.

What I need to do is put some sort of barrier behind the front seats so the cats can roam the folded down back of the wagon. I'm not keeping them in carriers for 20 hours of driving. I know I'll likely have to have the car cleaned after the trip (although they're pretty good cats and will have a litter box).

Any suggestions on what I can put behind the seats? I want to give them the entire back of the car, not just the little bit in the back (or I could use the built in mesh).

Any ideas welcome -- no matter how silly.

My current thinking is to go to the sporting goods store and get the finest mesh they use for something like a soccer goal. Then I just have to figure out how to anchor it at the top and bottom.

Tom

 

Tom,

Go to Home Depot. This sounds like one of my "grab a cup of coffee and walk around the store" fixes. I promise you will find something. Zip ties seem like a good purchase for attaching things. I have to admit that this posts has me laughing pretty hard. I've got a picture in my head of 6 cats running wild while you have two hands on the wheel trying to ignore whats behind you

Hell, if they act up just floor it and send them right into the hatch door

This mod truly is for some *****!

 

It is kind of funny

 

I rigged something similar for my mom's S430. She spends half the year in NC & travels with her 2 cats.

My solution was a large truck bed cargo net (elastic, similar to MB trunk piece) from an auto parts store. I secured it with bungee cords & maybe a few zip ties to the seat bases & around the head rests. It's ugly as *****, but it works & only ran around $30-40, vice the "custom" pet barriers that are probably one size fits every vehicle.

 

Good suggestion. I'll check there. I hope they travel quietly.

 

Have the vet put them to sleep for as long as possible, place them in a box, and drop the hammer.

You could also get one of those car top carriers and just drill some holes in it for ventilation.

 

That's exactly what I was gonna say. Get the "cat dope". Worked like a charm when we drove our dog cross country.

Make um think they are at Woodstock and drop the hammer.

 

WTF

 

For their safety, put them in cages to keep them from getting out of the car when you open the rear doors to clean up and air out the car when they do their business.

I traveled with the cats once...all caged and in an SUV. Don't feed them too much before the trip, drug them up, and put an old towel in the bottom of the cage that can be thrown away when it gets messed up. For that long a trip, carry extra towels, a spray cleaner, and lots of drugs to knock them out.

 

Are you stopping over night or driving through? If you're stoppong put them in carriers and let them run around the hotel room at night. We did that with our two rabbits when we moved.

 

Definitely stopping -- probably twice. 1300 miles by myself. What hotel did you find that is cat friendly? I was thinking I'd have to arrange for a kennel at my stops.

I admit I'm not really looking forward to the trip.

 

La Quinta and Comfort Inns are some of the them. Check this out: http://www.officialpethotels.com/

 

find a cheap hotel with the room where you can pull right up and enter the room. bring in the cats one by one under your coat and out the same way. pay in cash

 

That's a great resource. I'll probably go cheap with Days Inn, particularly since they have outside entrances.

I'll hit Petsmart today to see what I can do with decent size cages. I was going to let them roam, but am starting to think cages would be a good idea.

 

Lol.

This reminded me of an article I read a year or two ago. Some grad student had done a study that statistically linked the number of cats you own as being inversely proportional to your mental health.

I just spent 20min looking for the link but couldn't find it.

 

It's better for the cats, let alone safer to transport them in cages. As one posted noted above, you run the risk of a cat getting out when you open a door, etc.

Check out Walmart - they have pop up kennels that fold up were small like those springy sunshades and I know that 2 mediums will fit side by side.

Consider placing small collars and either tags or TAPE with your name, address. cell phone, etc on them in case of an accident or issue.

There is a new anti-nausea drug just out that will help with any type of car sickness, and anxiety - ask your vet.

Keeping them confined for that period and letting them run / play in the evenings is a good idea - assuming you get some sleep, too.

I frequently do dog rescue and transport and even when I transport my own dogs, they are always confined.

 

I think I have come up with a simple solution that gives them some freedom and me control. I'll take some pictures later and post them.

I realized that the back portion, behind the second seat, is actually pretty roomy, as long as the whole area is available for the cats.

I also realized that I have a 'natural door' in the right seat that folds by itself.

So I went to the Petsmart and bought a medium size foldable carrier. It fits EXACTLY into the opening created by the seat being folded down. It is also the perfect size to hold a litter box.

So, it fits there, closing the opening and gives them a place to do their business. The entire back floor is available for the cats.

When it is time to get them out, I'll move the carrier, take out the litter box, and transport them one or two at a time into the hotel room.

They're very docile indoor cats, so they don't jump for an open door.

I am going to the vet for a nausea/sleeping medicine to keep them quiet.

I've found pet friendly hotels at the two stopping points (thanks for the link!).

I think I'll order the cargo area liner from Weather tech too.

Fingers crossed for a good trip.

 

Consider going to HOme Depot and getting that sticky plastic that they put down in news houses over the carpet for the back carpet area - should aid in any cleanup that might occur, and will help the dehairing process, too.

Good luck!

 

http://www.head-cleaners.com/petsupport.html ??

 

Well congrats on your solution, and on your move.

The one downside, other than the weather, is that there will be no more Amura for you.

That place has the best sushi on the planet...

 

Well, since I'm not a sushi eater, I guess I'll survive.

I will miss the weather. I was out in 80 degree weather today with the top down on my C6.

I ordered a new set of wheels with Blizzaks for the E55. I think I'll need them.

 

Good luck with the kitties! Sounds like you should bring along a video camera... Might be some funny/cute footage with that many cats and a trip that long!

My little Siamese is a NIGHTMARE in the car. Insists on roaming around raises unholy hell vocally. I can't bear five minutes of her antics! Orlando to Iowa? I can't even drive cross town to the vet. I recently gave up and found a mobile vet to come to her. So visualizing SIX cats in one car for a cross-country trip is a little tough for me.

Gotta look into these kitty sedatives!

Good luck,

Skeeter

 

We stayed at Lee's Inn in Indiana. They thought the rabbits were cute and didn't charge us anything for their stay. Good Kuck!