Essential packing list for traveling with pets

Overpacking is a knee-jerk reaction when traveling. After all, you may really need that thing you haven’t used in two years on your week-long vacation. The same idea usually applies to when we pack for our pets. Planning ahead and packing just the right amount can make a huge difference in alleviating stress and curbing any unnecessary spending when away.

Before taking your pet on a trip, you should visit the vet to ensure that they’re in tip-top health and up to date on all vaccines. Take note of any vaccine requirements for the location where you’re traveling. Airlines usually have specific requirements for traveling with pets—including what their health status should be—so get in contact with them to get the most up-to-date information. Additionally, you should start the preparation process with your pet ahead of time.

For dogs

When planning to take your dog, this could include taking them on short car rides to familiarize them with what it’s like. If traveling by air, make sure they feel safe and comfortable in their crate or carrier. Some dogs may not be good travelers, so you should leave them at home in the care of someone you trust.

For cats

When it comes to your cat, it may be best to make plans for them to stay at home or leave them with a friend. Generally, dogs are more adaptable to new people, environments, and situations than cats are so they may do better with travel than their cat counterparts. If you do want to bring your cat, get them acclimated ahead of time to carriers, crates, and general travel can go a long way in helping them feel comfortable. With both cats and dogs, consider chatting with your vet about calming supplements or anxiety medications and make sure you keep their routine as best you can when away.

For longer trips, you’ll want to be more discerning in your packing list and pay special attention to what you pack to ensure you don’t miss anything. Each packing list will look different depending on how long the travel time is and where you’re headed. For the time between you leaving your house to the time you reach your destination, your pet may need:

• Food. Packing a couple of meals (kibble, wet food, etc.) to have handy for easy access can help keep routine.
• Collapsible water bowl. While you might want to limit their water intake when traveling to reduce bathroom time, make sure you still give them access.
• Health information. Have their vaccine and health records handy.
• Leash/harness/collar. When in a new place, keeping your pet restrained and identified can prevent a lot of situations.
• Treats. Your pet might need a little extra love when traveling and their favorite treat does the trick.

Throwing it back to the basics, think about what your pet uses every single day. That’s how you can start your list. These things include their food, health information, and treats, as well as:

• Comfort items. Whether it’s a blanket, bed, or toy, these will help calm your pet during a stressful time.
• Bedding. To keep your pet comfortable, take their bed with you.
• Medications. Any medications your pet needs—prescription or otherwise—should be packed.
• Poop bags/disposable litter pans. You never know when your pet has to go! For cats, you can even use disposable baking pans as a makeshift litter box for easy cleanup.
• Grooming supplies. You never know when a muddy puddle might strike, so bring grooming wipes, a brush, and shampoo for a quick cleanup.
• An extra harness/collar/leash. Sometimes accidents happen and things get lost or break. Have an extra on hand to avoid a trip to the store.

Depending on location, you may need to pack your pet’s food for the entire trip. In some cases, you may be able to have pet food delivered to your rental ahead of time or arrange for it to be delivered shortly following your arrival. This can help remove one less thing from your packing to-do list, creating room in your luggage for other things.

While traveling, you’ll want to be sure that your pet’s food (and medications!) are stored properly whether they need to be refrigerated, frozen, or kept at a certain temperature. Coolers and ice packs can help keep things safe during transit.

While these aren’t directly related to the daily health and wellness of your pets, some pet-related supplies can make life a lot easier while traveling. From cleaning to safety, consider bringing these—or buying them when you get to your destination:

• Crate fan. Keeping your pets cool can be tough, especially when camping or at the beach. Invest in a fan to lower their temperature.
• Paper towels. Messes happen! Have paper towels (or old rags) on hand to wipe them up.
• Painters tape. Rentals can have many cables that your pet may be itching to chew on. Use painter’s tape to keep them out of reach.
• First aid kit. While no one wants one to happen, planning for an accident can make facing it easier.
• Windex. Pet noses love finding their way onto glass. Bring along Windex or another glass cleaner to get those smudges off.
• Air freshener. Fight stinky fur with air fresheners or candles.

Not all pets will be good travel buddies, and that’s okay. Their health and safety are the most important things, so if you think your pet may not be cut out for it, have them stay in the care of someone you trust. But if you’re confident they’re up for the adventure, make sure you’re prepared with everything they need to thrive alongside you.