Do Bengal Cats Travel Well? | Essential Bengal Cat Travel Tips

In this article we are going to answer the question of, do Bengal cats travel well? An untrained cat can obviously be problematic when it comes to travelling, but with the correct training, Bengal cats are a highly favorable choice as a travelling pet.  Bengals are very adventurous, active creatures who would love outdoor activities.

Travelling and Bengal Cats

If you are wondering do Bengal cats travel well? there is nothing to worry about. It all comes down a few factors:

• Training: Your Bengal will need training before even thinking about travelling. All of this along with other crucial tips will be covered in this post.
• Younger Bengal Cat: As a younger cat is still in it’s learning stage, there will be less difficulty and they will enjoy it more.
• Older Bengal Cat: An older Bengal cat will be more set in their ways which will make travelling a bit more difficult.

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why Bengal cats make good travelling pets.

• Social: Bengal cats are are very social creatures who are great with people.
• Intelligent: Bengals are one of the smartest cats on the planet which will make it easier to train them.
• Exploring: Bengal cats have a true love for the outdoors and love exploring nature such as streams and lakes.
• Love Of Water: Playing in water is one of the favorite activities of a Bengal cat. You’ll even find them jumping in with you when your taking a shower, so as mentioned above, they will love things such as lakes and streams.

Always keep in mind that all cats are different and you should never force traveling upon your pet.

The Hard Part of Traveling With a Bengal Cat

Bengals are intelligent creatures and are good at travelling but it obviously comes with a few drawbacks.

They Love To Climb: Bengal cats love to climb so this will always be a danger in the outdoors where there are a large variety of high places for your cat to climb.

Scratching: Bengals being very active and playful creatures like to scratch a lot. This can cause some damage to your cars interior. It’s important that you do not have them declawed though.

Not Adaptable To Change: Cats are creatures of habit and generally do not adapt well to change. Although Bengal cats are very adventurous, some of them can also be like this.

Important To-Do List Before Travelling With Your Bengal Cat

#1 Have Your Cat Microchipped

Travelling and being in the outdoors always poses a big threat of your cat going missing. A microchip is important as it has your pet’s vaccination status, health records, breed, and ownership details. The way it works is by a small device being implanted under your cats skin. For international pet travel an ISO-compliant microchip is mandatory.

#2 Make Sure Your Cat’s Vaccinations Are Up-To-Date

All mandatory vaccinations will be required such as:

• Feline viral rhinotracheitis
• Calicivirus
• Panleukopenia
• Rabis vaccine

Other countries may also ask for:

• feline leukaemia
• feline immunodeficiency virus
• Bordetella
• chlamydia

#3 Pedigree Documents

If you are travelling into another country and you do not have pedigree documents then you will be denied entry.

#4 Will My Bengal Cat Face Import Restrictions?

Import restrictions will be based on you Bengal cats filial ratings. This F rating is a term used by Bengal breeders in regards to which number generation your Bengal is from. See the chart below for details.

It’s important to know this because some countries such as Hong Kong, Australia, EU, and Singapore only allow the import of Bengal cats that are five generations or more removed from the Asian Leopard Cat. This is why it’s important to provide documentation to prove that you Bengal is a F5 hybrid or more.

#5 Pet Friendly Hotels For Bengal Cat

Travelling with your Bengal cat will more than likely include staying at hotels at some point. You will need to do the research on this well in advance of your journey so you are well prepared. One of the best sites to check this information is PetsWelcome. Who have listings of all the available hotels where pets are allowed.

Here are some tips to remember:

• Keep your cat crated to prevent room damage.
• Leave a TV or radio on for them.
• When you leave the room, make sure to put the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door to prevent any cleaners coming into the room and disturbing your cat.
• Try to duplicate your home environment the best you can to make your Bengal feel comfortable and to prevent any stress.

#6 Talk to Your Vet

It’s always important to talk to a veterinarian before you go on any kind of travel with your cat. If your cat is not good inside the car even after crate training, then your vet may recommend to sedate your cat. They will also give you information and advice on other things such as motion sickness and pheromone sprays to help calm your cat.

#7 Leash Train Your Bengal Cat

Your Bengal cat should be leash trained before you plan any kind of travel. It’s crucial to prevent your cat from bolting off due to something scaring them. The details of leash training won’t be covered here because we wrote a great article called How To Leash Train A Bengal Cat which will give you all of the details you will need.

#8 Carrier Training and Tips

When planning any kind of travel with your cat, carrier training is essential. It will provide a safe place for your cat and eliminate any distractions whilst you are driving.

Introducing the Carrier to You Cat:

• The carrier should be placed in a room where your cat usually likes to relax.
• Place your cat’s favorite blanket inside the carrier.
• Put treats inside the carrier to help your cat go inside.
• After a few days of doing the above steps you can then try placing your cat inside the carrier. If they struggle or fight, you can try wrapping them in a towel.
• Progressively keep your cat inside the carrier for longer and longer over the next few days.

Introduction to The Car and Short Rides:

• Put the carrier inside your car.
• Sit inside the car with your cat to help get them used to the car.
• Try to entice them inside the carrier by using treats.
• If the above step doesn’t work then put them inside the carrier whilst still in the house and carry them to the car.
• Be patient and allow plenty of time for them to get used to being inside the car.
• Once you have successfully done all of the above steps and your cat now feels comfortable being in the carrier whilst inside your cat, you can now start taking very short trips around your neighborhood.
• Associate car rides as being a positive experience by rewarding your cat with treats.

Tips For Travelling With Your Bengal Cat

#1 Pack Extra Supplies

It’s sometimes great to just get up one day and decide to have a trip or travel. Unfortunately you cannot be this spontaneous when it comes to travelling with a cat. You should be prepared well in advance and have plenty of supplies ready for your cat.

#2 Make Pit Stops

Always make regular stops to check on your cat, especially with long journeys. A general guideline is to stop around every 2-3 hours. Not only will this give them a break to go to the toilet properly, it will also give them a break from the motion of the car. You can also place a small portable liter box inside the carrier.

#3 Keep Your Kitty Hydrated

Always keep a travel water bowl inside the carrier during travel to ensure your cat stays hydrated during the journey.

#4 Reward Your Cat

Traveling is hard work for both you and your cat. Always take plenty of your cats favorite treats and reward them for any kind of good behaviour. Treats are helpful for:

• Their crate
• Their leash
• The car
• New surroundings

#5 Cat Toys

Your cats favorite toys should be taken on the journey to keep them entertained. It’s also a good idea to get new toys.

#6 Tips For Inside The Car

• If possible, the carrier should be placed in a position where your cat can see you. This will hopefully keep your cat more calm and eliminate any kind of anxiety.
• Loud music in your cat can add to a cats level of stress and anxiety. Always make sure the music is not too loud. Another way to eliminate noise is to keep the car windows up.

For further information on this, we wrote a great guide called How to Stop a Cat Meowing in the Car | Stress Reducing Tips.

Conclusion

Hope this guide as answered your question of do Bengal cats travel well? If you are planning on travelling with your Bengal cat you should now have all the information you need to plan a successful journey.