{"id":661459,"date":"2024-10-08T16:48:22","date_gmt":"2024-10-08T20:48:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/?p=661459"},"modified":"2024-10-09T10:00:09","modified_gmt":"2024-10-09T14:00:09","slug":"can-cats-get-car-sick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/cat-health-care\/can-cats-get-car-sick\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Cats Get Car Sick? Vet-Verified Facts & Info"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n <\/span>\n \nWhy Car Rides Are Stressful for Cats<\/a>
\nRisks of Motion Sickness & Stress<\/a>
\nHelping Your Cat Remain Calm<\/a>
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A car ride often represents three things to your cat: change, a lack of control, and loss of freedom. Felines hate all of them, and this ramped-up anxiety and stress are even able to trigger vomiting or motion sickness in your kitty.<\/strong> It\u2019s easy to see why when you consider it from a feline perspective. Dogs often go for rides for happy reasons, like trips to the dog park. However, the chances are your cat only goes to the vet when they leave their home, which teaches them that the car is a very stressful space over time.<\/p>\n

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Why Car Rides Are Stressful for Cats<\/h2>\n

Remember that cats are both predators and prey. Thus, they exhibit different coping styles when faced with unfamiliar situations, like riding in a car. They may take a proactive approach with a fight-or-flight response. It can include excessive vocalizations, hissing, and spitting. Felines may react passively by remaining motionless and curling up, perhaps to protect themselves.<\/p>\n

Cats don\u2019t like change because their survival depends on their awareness of their environment, whether hunting or fleeing a predator. Putting them in a carrier takes away their control over their choice of how to react. That leaves them feeling vulnerable, thus causing stress and anxiety. From your pet\u2019s point of view, it\u2019s a big unknown. It can also be the memory of a past adverse experience.<\/p>\n

Think of how you might feel in such a situation. Your heart may race and you\u2019re on high alert for anything you can detect about what might occur. It\u2019s the same with your cat, especially if you rarely take them on car rides. You add things like sensations of the vehicle moving, and that leaves the makings of the perfect storm for motion sickness.<\/p>\n

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The Risks of Motion Sickness and Stress in Cats<\/h2>\n

Motion sickness in itself isn\u2019t harmful to your pet, but it is uncomfortable and incredibly stressful. The signs of motion sickness in cats include the following:<\/p>\n

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