After enough trips with Atlas, the pre-travel routine became second nature. But the first few times, something always got forgotten — the litter, the Feliway, the vaccination records. This checklist is the result of those lessons. Save it, print it, use it every trip.
4+ Weeks Before Travel
- ✅ Research pet policies for your accommodation (hotel, Airbnb, campsite)
- ✅ Book pet-friendly accommodation — confirm cats specifically are allowed
- ✅ If flying: book your pet's cabin spot (limited per flight, fills fast)
- ✅ If traveling internationally: research destination country's pet entry requirements
- ✅ Start carrier training if your cat isn't already comfortable in one
- ✅ Schedule vet appointment for health certificate and travel medications
- ✅ If required: schedule rabies titer test (results take 2–4 weeks)
1–2 Weeks Before Travel
- ✅ Vet appointment: health certificate, gabapentin prescription if needed, confirm vaccinations are current
- ✅ If international: submit health certificate for USDA endorsement (allow 1–5 business days)
- ✅ Do a practice car trip if this is your cat's first time traveling
- ✅ Confirm carrier fits airline/Amtrak/ferry size requirements
- ✅ Order any gear you're missing (GPS tracker, collapsible litter box, Feliway)
- ✅ Check that microchip is registered and chip number matches all documents
The Day Before
- ✅ Spray carrier with Feliway — let dry for 30 minutes
- ✅ Place familiar bedding or worn t-shirt inside carrier
- ✅ Pack all gear (see packing list below)
- ✅ Confirm accommodation pet policy one more time
- ✅ Plan route and identify rest stops (every 2–3 hours for car trips)
- ✅ Charge GPS tracker
- ✅ Prepare medications if prescribed
Morning of Travel
| Timing | Task |
|---|---|
| 4–6 hours before departure | Stop feeding (reduces motion sickness) |
| 2 hours before (if using gabapentin) | Give medication as directed by vet |
| 30 min before | Re-spray carrier with Feliway if needed |
| Before loading | Put harness and GPS tracker on cat |
| At destination | Safety sweep before opening carrier |
What to Pack: The Complete Cat Travel Packing List
Carrier & Comfort
- ✅ Soft-sided carrier (right size, meets transport requirements)
- ✅ Familiar blanket or worn t-shirt inside carrier
- ✅ Feliway spray
- ✅ Escape-proof harness + leash
- ✅ GPS tracker (charged, attached to harness or collar)
Food & Water
- ✅ Enough food for the trip plus 2 extra days
- ✅ Collapsible food bowl
- ✅ Collapsible water bowl
- ✅ Bottled water for the first day (sudden water changes can cause stomach upset)
Litter
- ✅ Collapsible litter box
- ✅ Enough litter for the trip (zip-lock bags work well)
- ✅ Waste bags and small scoop
Health & Safety
- ✅ Any prescription medications
- ✅ Gabapentin or other travel anxiety medication (if prescribed)
- ✅ Basic first aid kit
- ✅ Vet contact info + emergency vet at destination
Documents
- ✅ Current rabies vaccination certificate (original)
- ✅ Health certificate (issued within 10 days of travel for most destinations)
- ✅ USDA endorsement (if required for international travel)
- ✅ Microchip documentation
- ✅ Titer test results (if required)
- ✅ Photo of your cat on your phone (in case of separation)
- ✅ Copies of all documents stored separately
At Your Destination: Arrival Checklist
- ✅ Safety sweep: close all windows, doors, check for gaps
- ✅ Set up litter box before opening carrier
- ✅ Set up food and water
- ✅ Leave carrier open as a safe base
- ✅ Spray Feliway on bedding
- ✅ Give cat 20–30 minutes to explore before interacting
- ✅ If hotel: put Do Not Disturb sign on door, inform front desk you have a cat
Travel Gear Worth Having
- Best Cat Carriers for Travel — soft-sided picks for every transport type
- Best GPS Trackers for Cats — non-negotiable in unfamiliar environments
- Best Cat Harnesses — escape-proof picks for travel
- Best Calming Aids for Cat Travel — from Feliway to gabapentin