Traveling can be an awesome way to bond with your pet. While on the road, you can enjoy real quality time together, exploring and visiting new destinations. But traveling with a pet can also be challenging. You’ll need to make regular pit stops for your pet to eat, drink, exercise, and go to the bathroom. Finding accommodations that will welcome a pet can be another obstacle you’ll have to hurdle.
To minimize the challenges you face while on the road, preparation is key. And that is why we’ve put together this pet travel guide that includes tips for traveling with your beloved furry friend, as well as advice about the pet travel accessories you’ll want to bring with you.
The Essentials for Traveling with Pets
While you’re busy packing up the car with your suitcases, toiletries, and snacks, don’t forget to bring the essentials your pets will need for a safe and comfortable ride. The following are the pet car supplies you will need to bring for your best buddy.
Hydration is Key
On some long stretches of road, potable water is not always easy to find. So, it’s a good practice to bring a bottle of water for your pet. You’ll also want to have bottled water on hand for any hikes you decide to take or for emergencies, such as a car breakdown that could leave you and your pet stranded for hours. In either case, Highwave’s water bottle water bowl is a great addition.
Portable Bowls for Pets on the Go
Regular bowls are not suitable for travel because when they’re placed on the floor of a car or a crate, they can be easily knocked over. A better solution? A water and/or food bowl that attaches to the side of a pet’s crate. It also collapses down for easy storage when not in use. This portable kennel bowl is also easy to clean. Because it is made from silicone, you can just toss it in your dishwasher.
The Purr-fect Carrier for Traveling
Allowing a pet to travel unsecured in an automobile can be dangerous. When loose they could inadvertently cause an accident by distracting a driver or be thrown and injured if the car has to stop suddenly. According to the ASPCA, one of the safest way for a pet to travel is in a secured, well-ventilated crate. This portable cat house boasts many well-thought-out details. For instance, it has built-in seat belt straps to keep Fluffy safe. It also folds down flat when not in use. This carrier, which is big enough for two cats, also has mesh windows, so your feline can enjoy the views. But, if necessary, a flap can be rolled down to give your cat a little privacy.
Get a Paws-i-tive I.D.
Pets get lost. Sometimes they wander off because someone has carelessly left a door open. Other times they run off because they’re scared of something, such as a storm or fireworks. That’s why your pet should always be wearing some form of ID when you’re on the road. Ideally, they should also be microchipped, so that if found, they can be returned to you with a quick scan at a vet’s office or at a shelter. The next best thing is a silent pet tag that identifies a pet without it announcing itself with a jingling collar at every turn.
Pet Travel Accessories for Your Hotel Room or Tent
Before you book a pet-friendly hotel or campground, carefully review the small print. Hotel pet fees can vary greatly and you don’t want to be in for a nasty surprise at check-out. You’ll also want to bring the following cat and dog travel accessories.
Yak Attack: Smart Snacks for Happy Hounds
When you hit the road, you probably like to bring some munchies along to break up the boredom and to nip any hunger pangs. Your dog could also use some snacks to gnaw on during your journey. And these high-protein Himalayan Dog Chews are the perfect road trip treat for your pup. They are all-natural and made from only four ingredients—yak and cow milk, salt, and lime juice. These yak cheese snacks are also dense, so one snack could potentially keep your dog entertained for hours in your hotel room or tent.
Potty Solutions for Your Purr-son
Traveling with a cat? Then this is one of the most important travel accessories you can bring with you on your trip. It’s a box that becomes, wait for it, a litter box. You read that right. This 100% biodegradable box can be set up in 20 seconds to become your cat’s disposable litter box. It contains pine pellets that turn into sawdust when a cat urinates on them. And then the sawdust falls through the false floor of the box and into a catch tray. You’ll also get a scoop and bags for disposal. It’s truly the best litter box you could take with you on a trip.
Keep Your Canine Comfy
Your dog, especially if it’s a senior, will be paws-itively pleased to have a soft place to sleep if you’re camping or staying in a hotel room with faux hardwood floors or tiles. So make sure to bring along a mat such as this super plush cushion. It’s made in the USA from eco-friendly recycled materials and is available in a variety of colors and patterns. Plus, it’s easy to clean. You can simply toss the entire bed into the washing machine.
Pet Travel Accessories for Hiking or Going on Walks
If you’ll be taking a long road trip, don’t forget to break up the journey with a few walks. If you have the time, you may even want to go on a hike or two. Your pup will surely enjoy exploring new sights and scents. Here are a few supplies that you’ll need for those jaunts.
The Ties that Bind
Your dog should be under your control at all times when you’re hiking or camping in an unfamiliar setting, either on a leash or on a tie-out. And if your dog is a puller, bring a harness. This rugged harness is perfect for camping. It’s water- and odor-proof and it is also reflective so your pup will be visible at night or in situations where the lighting is low. Its martingale-design will also keep your dog from leaning on the leash and dragging you down the trail.
Keep Your Pets Pest-Free
Walking and camping with your pet can come with some hazards—namely, ticks and fleas. These little buggers aren’t just nasty, they can also transmit diseases. Even worse, these pests can also spread to your home and yard. So pest control is a must when you’re out on the road. This flea and tick preventative is created from all-natural ingredients—such as castor, geranium, and rosemary—and is suitable for both dogs and cats. It is even safe to use on puppies and kittens that are at least three months or older.
No Rinse Washing
Hiking and camping can be dirty business. Plus, some dogs are experts at discovering the stankiest of stuff then rolling in it. So what can you do if you’re in the middle of nowhere and have no access to running water? You can use these special no-rinse bath mitts. To use, you simply need to add a little water to the mitt and rub it over your pet’s fur, then towel dry. These mitts are pre-soaped with a shampoo that is gentle, hypoallergenic and pH-balanced for your pet’s fur. No rinsing is necessary because the mitt’s shampoo won’t leave a soapy residue.
Rain Protection for Your Pooch
Most dogs aren’t fans of rain. But unless you have somehow managed to train your pup to use a toilet, it’s still going to have to venture outside to do its business, even if it is raining cats and dogs. To protect your pup from getting soaked on stormy days, we recommend clothing it in this lightweight raincoat. It has an adjustable Velcro strip to customize the size to your pet. This raincoat even boasts a hood that can keep your pup’s head dry. When not in use, this raincoat folds down and can be stored in a small carrying pouch.
Your furry best buddies want nothing more than to be by your side at all times. So don’t leave them at home the next time you go on vacation. Instead, pack these great pet travel accessories and hit the road together. Your pets are sure to appreciate every second of this special time they get to spend with you.
[…] vacations, so why not give them the best gift of all ― the ability to come with you! With these innovative pet travel accessories, you’ll be able to take your companion on a guilt-free vacation with […]