Give your cat treats while it is in the car. This will give it better feelings about being there. Look upon these as trial runs to work out any kinks before you have to take a long trip far from home.
The signs of a cat with motion sickness (while in the car of course) include: crying or vocalizing that doesn’t quit after a few minutes into the car ride, excessive drooling, immobility, or acting afraid to move, or excess activity or pacing, vomiting, or urinating or defecating. Ginger has also been used to treat nausea in humans and it is safe to use in cats; this can be found in liquid form or chews from on-line or brick and mortar pet stores or in the occasional veterinary clinic.
Discuss dosages with your veterinarian and follow their advice carefully for the best result.
Most sedatives won’t knock the cat out cold and should only take the edge off. If the drug is too sedating or not sedating enough, you should let your vet know before you leave. The cat should remain alert to its surroundings, even when on the sedative. While on the medication trial, put the cat in the carrier and take it for a drive. This way, you’ll know what behaviors to expect while you’re traveling with a medicated cat. Make sure your vet gives you enough medication for the duration of your travel (to and from) and ask for an extra pill or two to try at home before you embark.
Be sure to test your cat’s reaction to Feliway before spraying it in the carrier. A small minority of cats interpret the spray as another cat’s markings and may have a negative or even aggressive reaction to it.
Never make your cat stay in its carrier for longer than eight hours without providing it with food, water and a chance to use the litter box.
The carrier should be placed in a secure spot in the car, preferably strapped in place with a seat belt. If the seat belt won’t work, you can use bungee cords or small lengths of rope to secure the carrier in the car in case of sudden stops or an accident. [4] X Research source
