For many people it can be tough to travel because they have to leave their furry friends behind. However, there are many options available to make your traveling worry- and guilt-free, even having to leave your cat behind.

Utilize this checklist to make sure your cat is left in the proper conditions and will be happy and healthy for your return:

1) Does your cat need any medication? If so, assign a sitter to come medicate your cat as needed, or you can find a friend that will take your cat into their home for closer supervision.

2) Does your cat like to claw/tear at furniture and the like? You may want to look into a kennel for you cat to make sure you are not coming home to a mess.

3) Can your cat handle a large bowl of food without spilling it over or over-eating? If so, you can leave your cat for [...]

Many who enjoy the luxuries and benefits of travel do so with one thing missing: Their furry friend! It’s common for pets to be kenneled, or for a sitter to be found, which can be nice, but wouldn’t it be nicer to be able to bring them with you? If you’ve ever wanted to try it, you may want to look into getting a Pet Passport.

The idea of the Pet Passport came from the United Kingdom; since there are so many surrounding countries it is necessary for a safe and easy way to travel without having to leave pets behind. The passport is designed to allow your pet to travel without having to deal with the red tape and time-consuming list of “procedural security measures”. The “member” countries, or countries that the pet passport will allow travel to easily are: The U.K., the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, most of the countries in Western [...]

If you’re planning on traveling for a long period of time, it may be a good idea to take your pet with you rather than kenneling or boarding them, which can get very pricey. However, you will have to make certain adjustments so that your furry friend can make an easy transition from home life to traveling life. Here are some tips to care for pets while taking them on your traveling adventures:

1) Plan ahead, whether you will be in an RV going camping or driving from city to city on a national tour, be sure to check where the nearest pet hospitals are, and plan your routes accordingly.

2) Bring something familiar from home, like the same bed/crate, the usual food and toys, etc. Animals don’t usually like to have their way of living to be interrupted, and bringing a bit of home with them on the trip will soothe and relax them.

(To read Part I of this Travel Tips series, click on this link; to read Part II, click here; for Part III, go here)

For our final set of Travel Tips for Traveling with Pets, we’ll look at how to handle some emergencies that may arise while you’re away from home.

1. Your Dog/Cat Becomes Ill

Just as humans can get sick while traveling, so can pets. If your dog or cat seems particularly ill, a call to your veterinarian at home is in order. He or she can advise you whether you should contact a local vet at your family vacation destination.

2. Your Dog Bites Someone

This is every pooch owner’s nightmare, but it can and does happen.

Should your dog bite a person or other animal during your family vacation getaway, you may be the target of legal action. Therefore, it will behoove you to write down as much information about the incident [...]

(To read Part I of this Travel Tips series, click on this link; to read Part II, click here)

Okay – you and your fur buddy have arrived at your family vacation spot! Hurrah! Now is when the real fun (with pet in tow!) begins… as long as you keep these reminders in the back of your mind at all times.

1. You Must Take Your Pet Along Most of the Time

You didn’t take Fido on vacation to sit in your Canadian lodging place while you toured solo. This means that practically whatever you choose to do during your family vacation will need to be pet-friendly.

Now, obviously you can go out for dinner, lunch, touring alone. But only if you’ve spent a good amount of time entertaining your pet. Remember that this family vacation getaway should be as thrilling for your kitty or pooch as it is for you.

2. Not Everyone Loves [...]

(To read Part I of this Travel Tips series, click on this link)

Now that you and your four-legged buddy are ready and rarin’ to go to your family vacation destination, it’s time to think about the actual travel part of the trip. Here are some areas to consider for maximum comfort and ease:

1. Planes Can Be Miserable for Pets

Many pet owners would like to believe that their dogs or cats are as comfy as they are while journeying to their family vacation destinations. However, plane travel can be tough on pets.

Ask your veterinarian for medicines to help make air travel a little calmer for your feline or canine companion. Though you may hate the thought of medicating him or her, it could be the travel tip that saves your buddy from a frantic flight.

2. Car Rides Should Include Plenty of Breaks

Are you planning to travel by car to your [...]

Do you love your four-footed friend? Then you might want to take Spot, Bear, Fuzzers or Fluffy with you to your next family vacation destination. However, bringing your fur-baby to a family vacation getaway requires more planning and forethought than you might think.

In part I of our 4-part Travel Tips: Taking Pets on Vacation series, we’ll look at how to plan for Fido’s Big Adventure.

1. Pick a Pet-Friendly Family Vacation Spot

Seems obvious, right? But many people forget that dogs, cats and exotic animals (e.g. snakes, pot-bellied pigs) aren’t going to necessarily have tons of fun if you pick a family vacation destination that’s boring for them.

For instance, most dogs want to walk and run; therefore, a high rise condominium that allows pets but is located in an area with very little grassy space won’t be the best choice. Remember that you have to think everything through from your little four-legged friend’s [...]