Many of the training tips that I mentioned in my previous article, "Training Your Dog to Be a Good Traveler," will also apply to training your pet cat. The younger you begin training your cat, the more accustomed she will be in traveling with you, and will make a better traveler, especially if you can begin when she is still a kitten.
The most important thing to consider in training your pet cat to be a good traveler is patience. Cats in general tend to be more easily stressed and frightened by new people and new places. After all, even young humans are so much larger than your pet cat, so of course she will be a little frightened by these new monsters.
Slowly introduce your pet cat to new people, warning them to not make any sudden movements or loud sounds that could frighten her. If she has good experiences in meeting new people in your home, she will be less likely to be frightened by new people outside of your home.
Accustom your cat to her carrier before attempting to take her anywhere in it. If you force her into the carrier, she will associate it with a negative experience, and will not want to get into it again. Place the open carrier in a room where your cat feels safe and comfortable and let her investigate it. Place some t-shirts that you have worn or towels that your cat has slept on inside the carrier so your cat has a familiar, comforting scent to reassure her. Try feeding your cat inside the carrier so she has positive associations with the carrier. If she wants to sleep in the carrier, that is a sign that she feels comfortable with it.
Take your cat on short trips around town in your car, keeping her in her carrier. If she becomes frightened, having her in the carrier will prevent her from escaping and becoming lost or injured. You might need to begin by sitting in your driveway in your parked car to slowly accustom your cat to being calm in the car. Playing classical music on your car stereo may help your cat to relax. (Purina Kitten Chow offers a free CD of music for your pet. I know my female cat Motley is listening to it because she flicks her ears when she hears the birds chirping on the CD.) Go slowly with your cat, so she does not become stressed and associate traveling with negative experiences.
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