Should I take my cat on my weekend trip?

Question

I'm fairly certain my cat has separation anxiety

Long story short, when I lived with my friend he was home all day everyday with the cat, I had to move and I took my cat with me as he is quite attached to me as well. He is fine when I go to work albeit a bit of loud crying at the door for a minute or so...However,  once a month I go out of town 2 hours away to see this friend that the cat and I used to live with. I'll stay for 3 nights at a time. 

While I'm gone however my family tells me he acts out terribly. Pees on things (not just my things), picks fights with the other cats, he rips up toilet paper rolls, all the bad things...he is already being territorial here and pees occasionally, but he is worse the weekends i'm away. He really does throw temper tantrums. You scold him and he'll "cry". 

My question is should I just take him with me or would it just be too stressful? Would it hurt him too much to see my friend again and then not see him (he hasn't seen my friend in about 4 months, and not for 2 months before that) It would be a Fri, Sat and Sun night, being back home Monday morning/afternoon. And me and my friend would not be out for more than a few hours at a time. He does pretty okay in a car, he has a huge amount of trust in both me and my friend so as long as we are the ones to do something, he trusts us (isn't scared of the vacuum, car ride, going outside, etc as long as its with us). However, he would be confined to one room possibly and it would not be the apartment we both lived in before. There is one 2-3month old miniature schnauzer, but it stays in a kennel (too much time in it in my opinion, but it's not my dog...) 

Really want to know what to do...tired of my family making him out as just a bad cat when its not him, it's me? And also hate coming back and picking up after him. But also afraid I'll do more harm than good, by "giving in" or letting hi see my friend again...


Cat background:

He is a Korat and is about 3-4 years old. Neutered. He has a younger girl cat he has as a "rough housing" playmate. Sometimes a little too rough because she is really small, but she doesn't back off either. He also has an older half sister (about 7 years old) that he used to bully all the time when she also lived with me and my friend. He doesn't bully her anymore since he got his playmate. His half sister sleeps and keeps to herself. He is getting along with another older female now younger than 7 years (they sleep together occasionally, but sometimes he really bullies her meanly too, but not often because she's bigger than him) *the above paragraph is all while I'm here*They are all Korats*No other males in house*

Answer

No. Cats do not travel well. Not well at all.

Answer

1.  Make sure your cat is microchipped.  If it's not do not travel with the cat.

2.  Make sure the carrier is big enough for the cat to stand up in and turn around.  Put a soft blanket or liner inside for cat to lay on and prevents cat from sliding when carrier is in motion.  Bring a towel big enough to cover the carrier

3.  Go to the vets office or pet supply and buy the product called Feliway.
It is a spray and it is a calmative.  I use it on vet's advice every time I transport.  I use more spritzes than recommended.  You can also go to a health food store and buy Rescue Remedy by Bach.  Its made from flower essences and you put drops in the cat's water several days before you leave and while you are gone.  Its also a calmative.

4.  Do NOT feed or water the cat prior to travel.  The cat can arrive at destination hungry and thirsty it is not going to harm the cat.  When stressed they don't want to eat anyway. 

Wear a tee shirt to bed every night for a week before you go. Put that tee shirt in the carrier with the cat.  Your scent will also act as a calmative.  Leave it with the cat while on the trip.

5.  Put cat in carrier spritz the heck out of it (spray inside carrier) and put the towel over the carrier to keep spray in and carrier dark.  Wait about 15 min load tbe cat and leave on your trip.  Keep car windows closed.  Keep towel on carrier.  Keep radio sound level soft.  

Cats relax in small dark areas so keep carrier covered and it will very likely settle down and sleep.  Set up litter pan, toys, food and water at destination.  DO NOT ALLOW CAT TO ROAM, KEEP IT IN ONE ROOM WITH CARRIER OPEN TO HIDE IN AND SLEEP IN.  

Take a jug of tap water from home for cat to drink so no stomach upsets.  Take normal food bowls.  Keep things as normal as possible.

Keep a harness on the cat NO COLLAR and take a leash for emergency.

With those products and things you do with tee shirt and towel etc you should have no problem with the cat and travel should be fine.  Keep carrier in front seat with you so you can check on kitty and talk to it.  NEVER LET CAT OUT OF CARRIER!

Have a fun trip!

Should I take my cat on my weekend trip?

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