How To Secure Your Cat for Car Rides
You're wearing a seatbelt, so shouldn't Mister Whiskers have one too?
Few people would argue the importance of wearing a seatbelt or putting kids in booster seats. Yet, seatbelts are debatable for America’s beloved cats and dogs.
You wear a seatbelt so that you don’t go flying through the windshield in the case of an accident. What do you think will happen to Fido and Mister Whiskers if we’re not wearing one?
Why You Should Strap in Your Pets
One day, Missus decided to fully unzip my carrier, so I could do as I pleased. Well, it pleased me to be as close to her as possible. Naturally, I scrambled over the gear shift and hopped down to the floor to curl up by her feet…while she was driving. She promptly pulled over and put me right back into the carrier.
This was not the first time Missus completely unzipped my carrier. But, it was the first time I decided I wanted to go hang around the gas pedal and brake pedal while she drove. She has not fully unzipped the carrier since, and I would also like to think I learned my lesson.
Another good reason is that emergency stops or car crashes could send Mister Whiskers flying into the dash or through the windshield. Even if he survives being launched out of the vehicle, there’s a strong risk of serious injuries, long-term disabilities, or never finding him again.
How To Secure Your Cat
The easiest way to secure your cat is to keep them in a pet carrier during travel. You can then belt in the carrier. Another great option is to put a harness on your kitty and then secure them via the harness. There are seat belt harnesses designed for this exact purpose. Missus straps me in via both a harness and the pet carrier. Better safe than sorry!
There is an ongoing debate about whether strapped in pets should ride shotgun or in the back. Airbags are the primary cause of this debate because they can cause more harm than good to your furry friend. The FJ Cruiser only deploys an airbag on the passenger side if it detects a person there. The solar generator often triggers the sensor; I never do.
While riding in the back is okay, I much prefer being within petting distance of my missus. The decision is entirely yours to make.
Traveling with your pet is one of the best adventures you’ll ever experience. Even so, a lot can go wrong—especially if you don’t plan and put safety measures in place. Maybe your kitty loves riding up on the dash or likes to roam the cabin during travel. But, you will likely come to regret that decision in the event of a car crash.