--- title: Traveling With a Cat: When to Bring, When to Board url: https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/traveling-with-a-cat/ business: Happy Paws Kennels address: 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 phone: 707-678-6600 hours: drop-off and pick-up every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2:00-5:00 PM type: Dog and cat boarding kennel on about 10 country acres; caring for pets in Dixon since 1971 rates: 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026 (dogs from $52 a night, cats $35 a night) --- - [Home](https://happypawskennels.com/) - [Guides](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/) - Traveling with a cat # Traveling with a cat: when to bring, when to board Take your cat along only if the trip is long-term, such as a move, and he can tolerate a carrier and a car; for most vacations a cattery stay is easier on him. Plan for carrier training, steady temperatures and a litter box within reach. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) Many cats dislike travel more than owners expect. Weigh the trip honestly before you decide to pack the carrier. ## When bringing your cat makes sense A move or a long stay away from home may mean your cat should go with you. Even then, ask your vet about the trip, and check carrier habits first. International Cat Care advises preparing a cat for travel in stages and taking the cat to the vet beforehand if there is any health concern. A cat with a medical condition or very high stress may be better off staying put with daily care. ## When boarding is simpler For a vacation, a hotel stay or a work trip, a cat is usually calmer at home or in a quiet cattery than in a car. The cat avoids long drives, unfamiliar rooms and the risk of escape. At Happy Paws each cat has an individual four-level condo with its own litter box and blanket, at $35 a night on the 2026 rates, and the staff give medications at no extra charge. A short trial stay shows how your cat copes. ## If you do travel together Keep your cat in a secure, ventilated carrier, fastened with a seatbelt or wedged so it cannot slide. Do not let him roam in a moving vehicle. Bring a litter box, food, water, a blanket and a harness with ID, and keep the temperature steady. Never leave a cat alone in a parked car; California Penal Code 597.7 prohibits confining an animal in an unattended vehicle under heat-endangering conditions. ## Before any trip Check the microchip registration, pack vaccination records, and carry a recent photo. Confirm your destination welcomes cats. Make the carrier a normal part of home well ahead of time with the steps in [choosing and using a cat carrier](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/cat-carriers/). If you decide to board instead, see [boarding a cat for the first time](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/boarding-a-cat-for-the-first-time/) and [microchips and ID tags](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/microchips-and-id-tags/). ## Hotels and relatives If you stay in a hotel, ask in advance whether cats are welcome, and put out a litter box and water in the bathroom first so your cat has a small, safe room to explore. Hide-and-seek is a real risk in a new room, so close vents and gaps before you open the carrier. At a relative's home, give the cat one quiet room and keep other pets out until he settles. ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [International Cat Care, traveling with your cat](https://icatcare.org/articles/traveling-with-your-cat) - [California Penal Code 597.7 (animals in vehicles)](https://california.public.law/codes/penal_code_section_597.7) - [Happy Paws Kennels 2026 rate sheet (PDF)](https://happypawskennels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2026-Rates-EFFECTIVE-1-1-26.pdf) ### 2026 nightly rates - First Class kennel $72 - Business Class kennel $59 - Economy Class kennel $52 - Cat condo $35 All-inclusive: food, medications and walks. 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026. [All 2026 rates](https://happypawskennels.com/rates/) ### Visit or call 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) | Drop-off and pick-up, every day | 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM | | --- | --- | | Tours, every day (no appointment) | 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM | [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin) ### Related - [Choosing and using a cat carrier](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/cat-carriers/) - [Boarding a cat for the first time](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/boarding-a-cat-for-the-first-time/) - [Cats in Central Valley heat](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/cats-and-heat/) - [Cat boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/cat-boarding/) - [Which vaccines does a cat need for boarding?](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/cat-vaccines-for-boarding/) ## Read next - [Cat colds (upper respiratory infection) and boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/cat-upper-respiratory-infection/) - [Senior cats and boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/senior-cats-and-boarding/) - [Boarding a cat on medication](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/cats-on-medication/) - [What is a cattery?](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/what-is-a-cattery/) - [Cat condos & towers](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/cat-condo-vs-tower/) - [Boarding two cats together](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/multi-cat-boarding/) - [Signs of stress in cats](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/cat-stress-signs/) - [Bringing your cat home after boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/bringing-a-cat-home-after-boarding/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) (every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2-5 PM) or see the [boarding FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/). ### Can I take my cat on a road trip? Yes, with a secure carrier, water, a litter box and frequent checks. Many cats still do better at home or in a cattery. ### Is boarding less stressful than traveling? For many cats a short stay in a quiet space is easier than a long trip. Every cat differs. ### Do cats need to be vaccinated for boarding? Yes. Rabies and FVRCP must be current through the end of the stay.