When you are transporting your cat in your truck, you need too make sure that you follow safe cat truck travel practices. Not all cats enjoy a ride in a truck and you may discover that kitty has drooled, left claw marks and/or accidents that can stain your upholstery even during a short ride. Cats that enjoy watching the world go by while riding down the road can cause distractions to the driver which can lead to accidents. Even a cat that is sitting curled up calmly on the seat can become a hazard, flying through the air during an accident and possibly injuring passengers or it.
Safe cat truck travel should never involve allowing the cat to ride in the truck bed. A cat would most likely attempt to jump out of a truck bed at first opportunity. Even a tethered by a leash, cats should not ride in the truck bed as they might entangle themselves on the leash and the wind can cause inner ear damage and lung infections, and he could be injured by flying objects. Safe cat truck travel should involve the cat being confined by some method while riding in a truck just as they should be in a car.
A few cats may even enjoy being attached to a secure harness in the car. These harnesses come in two varieties. The first is where the cat is tethered to the truck’s seat belt attached to the harness the cat is wearing. This system allows the cat to sit or lie down while at the same time helping them feel safe and secure in the car. The second type is where a cat truck seat would be connected to head rest of the car and the cat would be harnessed into the truck seat. Using a cat truck seat, the cat can sit up higher in the truck and allow the cat to look out the window.
A cat carrier probably would be your best bet when practicing safe cat truck travel. Cat car restraints can be as simple as soft-sided durable fabric carrier or sturdier hard plastic or wire carriers. Your cat should be able to lie down, turn around and stand comfortably when in the carrier. Carriers should have an adequate number of holes for ventilation and be able to be secured. It is imperative that you make sure that the cat carrier is secure in the car so that it does not tip over or bounce around the car. This will stress the cat needlessly and make them less sure about being in the cat carrier. Some cats find it reassuring to have the carrier covered when being transported. Be sure that your cat does not become overheated even in cold weather if you do cover the cat carrier. Never leave a cat in a truck during warm or hot weather even for a short period of time for safe cat truck travel practices. It does not take long for a truck to heat up and cause heat stroke in your cat.
If an accident should occur or if you cat should escape when you are at your destination, you need to make sure that your cat has collar with identification and/or have your cat micro-chipped when traveling in your truck. Using a cat carrier for safe cat truck travel will allow you to easily move the cat in and out of the truck such as going to the veterinarian.
