Traveling With a Pet for the Holidays

For holiday travel with pets, the ASPCA's core advice is a sturdy, ventilated carrier fastened in place, plus an ID tag and a microchip. Practice with short drives, feed lightly three to four hours ahead and never leave your pet alone in a parked car.

If you are crossing state lines, the USDA says the destination state sets the rules, so call your vet as soon as your plans are firm. Starting early is the kindest thing you can do for a nervous traveler.

How early should I start getting my pet ready?

Weeks ahead, especially for cats. The Feline Veterinary Medical Association (formerly the AAFP) advises leaving the carrier out in a main living area, so it becomes a familiar, safe spot rather than a sign that something unpleasant is coming.

Its carrier training steps move slowly, from a favorite blanket to a closed door to a short car ride. Some cats learn fast, the guide says, while others need weeks or months.

If December travel is the plan, now is a good time to begin. Our guide to cat carrier training walks through each step.

For dogs, the ASPCA recommends a series of short drives first, gradually lengthening the time spent in the car before a long trip.

What paperwork does my pet need?

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) explains that it does not regulate pets moving between states with their owners. The receiving state or territory sets the requirements, which may include a health certificate and updated vaccinations.

APHIS advises contacting your local veterinarian as soon as you know your travel details. The ASPCA adds that you should bring your pet's rabies vaccination record on any trip that crosses state lines.

If you are flying, the ASPCA advises getting a health certificate from your vet dated within 10 days of departure. Airlines set their own rules, so check with yours before booking.

Check the microchip before you go

The ASPCA recommends a collar or harness tag plus a permanent ID such as a microchip, with current contact details. A study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association shows why the details matter.

Lord and colleagues tracked 7,704 microchipped animals entering 53 shelters. When owners could not be found, the most common reason was a wrong or disconnected phone number, in 35.4% of cases. A chip only works if the registry has a number that still rings.

How should my pet ride in the car?

The ASPCA calls a crate the safest option for your pet in case of an accident. Its current advice is a hard-sided, ventilated carrier, secured so it won't slide or shift, and big enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around.

Without a crate, the ASPCA says a dog should ride in the back seat in a harness attached to a secured seatbelt, never with their head out of the window. There is more on this in our guide to dog car safety.

Cats have a few extra needs. The Feline VMA guide recommends:

• securing the carrier on the floor behind the driver or passenger seat
• using a seat belt only with a crash-test-certified carrier, because a belt may otherwise crush the carrier
• one carrier per cat, even for cats who get along
• covering the carrier with a towel, which lets a cat hide and blocks stressful sights and sounds
• carrying it with two hands under the bottom, never just by the handle, and driving smoothly

What about food, water and stops on a long drive?

The ASPCA suggests a light meal three to four hours before you leave, and no feeding in a moving car. On longer trips it advises small snacks only.

Pack plenty of water. The ASPCA recommends bottled water or water from home, because water from unfamiliar sources can upset your pet's stomach. Dogs also need rest breaks along the way.

The ASPCA's travel kit list is a useful checklist:

• food, a bowl, a leash and waste bags
• any medication, a first-aid kit and travel documents
• your vet's contact details
• a favorite toy or bedding, so something smells like home

One rule has no exceptions in the ASPCA's guidance: never leave your pet alone in a parked car. It warns that parked cars can overheat or get dangerously cold quickly, even on mild days.

What if my pet gets carsick?

Merck's veterinary manual explains that motion sickness comes mainly from stimulation of the balance organ in the inner ear. Signs include nausea, excessive drooling and vomiting, and they usually disappear once the vehicle stops moving.

The encouraging part is that Merck says motion sickness can sometimes be overcome by conditioning a pet to travel, which is what those short practice drives do.

Fear plays a role too. Merck notes that some dogs and cats show signs even in a stationary vehicle, a learned response to the car itself. Our article on the causes of motion sickness in pets goes deeper.

One detail matters for cat owners: Merck states that antihistamines are ineffective for motion sickness in cats. Medicines that work in one species may not work in another, so ask your vet before giving anything.

The Feline VMA also suggests asking your vet about anti-anxiety medication before a trip if your cat is very stressed.

Call your vet promptly if your pet:

• keeps vomiting or drooling after the car has stopped
• seems weak, unusually tired or won't eat once you arrive
• panics in the carrier or car on every trip, despite practice
• is due for a long trip and has never traveled before, so you can plan together

Is it safe to fly with my pet?

The ASPCA's view is cautious. Unless your pet is small enough to ride under your seat, it says it is best to avoid air travel with pets.

If your pet must fly, the ASPCA advises:

• booking a direct flight whenever possible
• using a USDA-approved shipping crate large enough to stand, sit and turn around in
• marking it with "Live Animal" stickers, your name, cell phone, destination phone number and a photo of your pet
• closing the crate door securely, but not locking it
• telling every airline employee you meet that your pet is in the cargo hold

The ASPCA also says tranquilizing your pet is generally not recommended, because it could hamper their breathing. That decision belongs with your vet.

How do I keep my pet safe once we arrive?

A new house full of guests is a lot for any animal. The ASPCA warns that unfamiliar places can frighten pets, so don't assume your pet will never run. Keep them restrained near open doors, with their ID up to date.

Give your pet a quiet room to retreat to, as the ASPCA suggests for noisy celebrations. Ask hosts and guests to keep medication in a closed cabinet, and avoid letting your dog run up to unfamiliar dogs.

Holiday kitchens bring their own risks. Our list of Christmas foods dangerous for dogs covers what to keep off the floor.

Questions pet parents ask before holiday travel

Do I need a health certificate to drive to another state?

It depends on the state you are driving to. APHIS says the destination sets the rules, and some require a health certificate. Your vet can check for you.

Can my dog ride in the front seat?

The ASPCA advises the back seat, in a harness attached to a secured seatbelt, or a secured crate.

Can two cats share a carrier for a road trip?

The Feline VMA guide advises one carrier per cat when traveling with more than one cat.

Should I sedate my pet for travel?

Only with your vet's guidance. The ASPCA says tranquilizers are generally not recommended for flying because they could hamper breathing, and the Feline VMA suggests discussing anti-anxiety options with your vet before a trip.

Sources

• ASPCA: Travel Safety Tips
• ASPCA: Traveling With Pets? Follow These Expert Dos and Don'ts to Keep Them Safe, 2025
• ASPCA: Holiday Safety Tips
• USDA APHIS: Take a Pet From One U.S. State or Territory to Another (Interstate)
• Feline Veterinary Medical Association: A Cat Carrier Guide for Caregivers (brochure), 2026
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Motion Sickness in Animals
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Motion Sickness in Dogs (pet owner version)
• Lord LK, Ingwersen W, Gray JL, Wintz DJ. Characterization of animals with microchips entering animal shelters. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2009

This article is for general information and is not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own pet — they know the animal in front of them.

Choolip products are food supplements, not medicine. They are not intended to diagnose or manage any medical condition. If your pet has been diagnosed with a condition, their diet should be set by your vet.