How does one move a cat?

[tomandtish]

Having learned the hard way that a small DOG (20 lbs) can crawl under the car seat from the back to the front and get under the pedals at the most inconvenient time, I second making sure the cat is restrained.

[dehro]

also, the police will quite happily tear you a new one if they catch you with an unrestrained cat in the car.. the ways things could go wrong are too many to count

[Scarlet Knight]

also, the police will quite happily tear you a new one if they catch you with an unrestrained cat in the car.. the ways things could go wrong are too many to count

Yes, it could lead to a "cat"-tastrophe.

I'm sorry.

I'd say I'm sorry your cats care about you so little, except...

...that why is evident.

(No, there is no "skeleton of truth" to your earlier post. That your cats are not particularly bonded to you says something about you--not anything about cats.)

OW. I am cut to the quick.

I do my best to be kind to animals. I just don't forget that they're animals.

[dps]

If a human is available though, the cat will probably be much happier with the carrier on a lap where they can smell a friendly human.

You really don't want to underestimate how much "smells like home" is important to cats.

Happier, perhaps, but any animal in a car is safer in a carrier that is strapped down with seat belts, much as you would strap in a child carrier. Having a cat or dog on your lap, even in a carrier, is like riding with a child in your lap.

[Keltest]

I do my best to be kind to animals. I just don't forget that they're animals.

I mean, people are animals too. Its not like theres a binary between "capable of fully complex, human-like emotions" and "is one step above a plant". Cats are fully capable of forming attachments to people and other animals. They aren't motivated to seek it out the way ie: dogs are, but they can and do value the companionship of specific individuals.

[Peelee]

Happier, perhaps, but any animal in a car is safer in a carrier that is strapped down with seat belts, much as you would strap in a child carrier. Having a cat or dog on your lap, even in a carrier, is like riding with a child in your lap.

Worse, side the child has a nice harder time getting under the accelerator or brake pedals.

[WarKitty]

OW. I am cut to the quick.

I do my best to be kind to animals. I just don't forget that they're animals.

For what it's worth, I've heard this is more common with outdoor cats, especially those who may have been feral originally. They don't bond as strongly as indoor cats and especially not as strongly as cats raised around people.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has a cat cling if I go on vacation and get a sitter, though. They can definitely miss individual people.

[Honest Tiefling]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has a cat cling if I go on vacation and get a sitter, though. They can definitely miss individual people.

My cat is one I picked up from outside because it was obvious no one was feeding him. He loves being a lap cat and will sometimes follow me outside and will mope if I leave. But cats are often like people and can show affection in different ways. My parents have a cat who refuses to be a lap cat but will get quite upset if not in their room at night.

However, it is also important to remember that cats are NOT pack animals like humans or dogs. They can react differently to things, such as eye contact. And a change in their environment for a prey species is not always a good one and they might try to find a place to hide...Not realizing those pedals are important. Humans are animals too, but you can't expect a yak to act like a monkey.

[WarKitty]

However, it is also important to remember that cats are NOT pack animals like humans or dogs. They can react differently to things, such as eye contact. And a change in their environment for a prey species is not always a good one and they might try to find a place to hide...Not realizing those pedals are important. Humans are animals too, but you can't expect a yak to act like a monkey.

I've been told this is actually the source of why cats seem to like people who don't like cats. Human friendliness looks like aggression in cat language, whereas ignoring and looking away are how you communicate safety.

[Aedilred]

Yes, it could lead to a "cat"-tastrophe.

I'm sorry.

The paramedics made that joke. I didn't find it particularly funny at the time

and I still don't.

[Peelee]

The paramedics made that joke. I didn't find it particularly funny at the time

and I still don't.

Well, it is the easiest line when you know about the catalyst.

[ve4grm]

Well, it is the easiest line when you know about the catalyst.

The "cat"-alyst?

[Florian]

For what it's worth, I've heard this is more common with outdoor cats, especially those who may have been feral originally. They don't bond as strongly as indoor cats and especially not as strongly as cats raised around people.

Jepp. I've got two feral ones and they're very different from your regular house cat. Different doesn't mean "not bond". Nike will get a hissy-fit when I try to touch her and she's always staying at least at arms length from me, but guess who's the first to occupy my feed once I'm on the couch or in bed, purring like a she-maniac? Right.

[Peelee]

The "cat"-alyst?

Yes. I just like subtlety.

[dehro]

Yes. I just like subtlety.

meh, I'm not feline it

[Goblin Slayer]

I'll have the two previous poster know that moving a cat is serious business. If not done right the consequece could be a cat-tastrophe

[dehro]

So what you're saying is that I shouldn't have used a cat-apult?

[Scarlet Knight]

True, but at least you'd know the root "claws".

Not to take this elsewhere, my vet bill came: $600....FOR...A...CAT!

[Vinyadan]

Humans are animals too, but you can't expect a yak to act like a monkey.

"Yaks on a Tree" -- Now showing at a cinema near you!

[Keltest]

True, but at least you'd know the root "claws".

Not to take this elsewhere, my vet bill came: $600....FOR...A...CAT!

Did they have to do a cat scan?

[MikelaC1]

I had a cat once, and moved from an apartment of all carpet floors to a townhouse, with hardwood. At the old place, the cat used to race around, using its claws to pivot, I would hear the carpet each time. Came to the new house, and the first night, the cat was racing down the hall and tried to execute one of his hairpin turns to enter the living room. With none of his usual traction, he skidded on the floor and hit the wall...no broken bones but a wounded dignity and for a cat, that's much, much worse, especially when the human is laughing. He stalked around the house for several days, glaring at me, and the message was clear...I know you've done something and when I figure it out, I will gladly slit your throat.

[dehro]

I had a cat once, and moved from an apartment of all carpet floors to a townhouse, with hardwood. At the old place, the cat used to race around, using its claws to pivot, I would hear the carpet each time. Came to the new house, and the first night, the cat was racing down the hall and tried to execute one of his hairpin turns to enter the living room. With none of his usual traction, he skidded on the floor and hit the wall...no broken bones but a wounded dignity and for a cat, that's much, much worse, especially when the human is laughing. He stalked around the house for several days, glaring at me, and the message was clear...I know you've done something and when I figure it out, I will gladly slit your throat.

Heh.. reminds me of a cat we had some 20 years and a few houses back... black cat, who would hide really well on the black granite flore in the entry hall..
He'd ambush my dad's wife jumping at her from the shadows.
Occasionally he'd runacross the appartment and we'd hear the paws slid on the slick pavement, doing the full cartoon thing with the legs spinning under His body.. and occasionally he'd be too fast to make the turn into the next corridor and slam face first in the door towards the living room.
He was a hoot.