Step 0: Support a balanced stress response

When a cat feels stressed or unsafe, their nervous system is focused on coping rather than adapting. In this state, even positive environmental changes can be harder to absorb.

Before environmental adjustments and routine changes can have their full effect, some cats benefit from reaching a more stable emotional baseline. This can support exploration, flexibility, and the ability to settle as the home setup improves.

Some families choose supplements to help support a normal stress response during periods of change.

How supplements may be used

• Daily support: a consistent daily amount to help maintain emotional balance
• Situational support: temporary additional support during predictable stressors (e.g.2 hours before the car ride)

BSAVA Principle:

Emotional regulation & readiness for learning

Discover Supplements

Step 1: Make the Carrier a Safe, Familiar Space

Goal

Remove fear associated with the carrier before travel begins, reducing the risk of panic later.

Exercise: Carrier Familiarisation

• Leave the carrier out at home at all times
• Add soft bedding with familiar scents
• Allow your cat to enter and exit freely
• Never force your cat into the carrier outside of emergencies
  

A carrier that feels safe at home helps prevent stress before travel even starts.

BSAVA principle: Environmental predictability & perceived control.

Step 2: Reduce Stress Around Entering the Carrier

Goal

Prevent fear escalation at the moment of confinement so travel does not start with panic.

Exercise: Calm, Voluntary Entry

• Allow your cat to enter the carrier voluntarily whenever possible
• Use slow, predictable movements
• Avoid chasing, grabbing, or tipping the carrier
• If distress appears, pause and try again later rather than pushing through

Reducing pressure at this stage helps prevent panic before travel begins.

If Your Cat Refuses to Enter

• Pause and reduce pressure — refusal means your cat is over threshold
• Adjust the setup (door removed, top-opening carrier, carrier placed on its side)
• Leave the carrier available between attempts so entry remains voluntary
• Break the task into smaller steps, such as calm presence near the carrier
• Accept that some days are not training days

Forced entry may succeed short term, but it increases fear and makes future attempts harder.

BSAVA principle:

Choice and control reduce stress.

Step 3: Prepare the Travel Environment

Goal

Reduce sensory overload so your cat can remain as calm as possible during travel.

Exercise: Low-Stimulation Travel Setup

• Secure the carrier so it cannot slide or tip
• Cover part of the carrier to reduce visual input
• Keep the environment quiet and calm
• Avoid last-minute rushing or sudden changes
• Maintain a comfortable temperature inside the car

A stable, predictable setup helps prevent fear from escalating once travel begins.

BSAVA principle:

Arousal reduction through environmental management.

Step 4: Keep Car Rides Calm and Predictable

Goal

Prevent additional stress during movement so fear does not escalate once travel is underway.

Exercise: Predictable, Low-Arousal Travel

• Drive smoothly and avoid sudden stops or sharp turns
• Keep voices low, steady, and neutral
• Do not open the carrier during travel
• Avoid music or loud sounds
• Keep handling to a minimum
  

Your presence should remain calm and predictable. Reassurance comes from consistency, not interaction.

BSAVA principle:

Predictability supports emotional safety.

Step 5: Focus on Recovery After Travel

Goal

Allow your cat’s stress levels to return to baseline and prevent stress from accumulating across trips.

Exercise: Post-Travel Decompression

• Return your cat to a quiet, familiar space immediately
• Allow hiding and rest without interruption
• Keep lights, noise, and activity low
• Resume normal routines gently, without handling or demands
  

Recovery time is part of travel support, not a sign of failure.

BSAVA principle:

Stress recovery & cumulative load management.

Step 6: Build Tolerance Gradually

Goal

Increase your cat’s tolerance to the carrier and car without triggering fear.

Exercise: Gentle, Optional Practice

• Practice short, calm periods in the carrier at home
• Progress to brief car exposure without driving
• Gradually increase duration only if your cat remains relaxed
• End sessions early and calmly
• If fear increases, return to an earlier step
  

Practice is optional and should only happen when your cat is calm and able to disengage.

BSAVA principle:

Systematic, graded exposure.

Gradual exposure below the fear threshold allows adaptation without creating negative associations.

Step 7: Get Extra Help if Travel Stress Is Severe

Goal

Maintain safety and welfare when travel-related stress exceeds your cat’s ability to cope.

Exercise: Know When to Seek Support

Contact your veterinarian if:

• Your cat panics intensely during travel
• Travel stress worsens over time
• Recovery takes hours or days
• Handling feels unsafe

Some cats require additional medical or behavioural support to travel safely.

BSAVA principle:

Multimodal behavioural support.

Severe or persistent stress may require combined behavioural guidance and veterinary intervention to protect welfare and safety.