Long-Distance Pet Taxi Guide: What You Need to Know About Taking Your Dog or Cat on a Car Trip
We’ll explain how to avoid misunderstandings with the driver and make the journey comfortable when booking a Long-Distance Pet Taxi. These tips are useful not just for taxis, but also for trips in your own car or car-sharing.
How to Prepare for the Trip
For us, cross country transportation is part of everyday life, but for pets, a car ride can be a major stressor—and if repeated, it might even develop into a phobia. To prevent this, gradually acclimate your pet to transportation: “Start by placing them in a parked car for a short time,” advises zoopsychologist and Pet Advisor Shandor Brenner. “Next, start the engine. Then, observe how the animal feels during a short drive. Gradually increase the travel time, and soon you’ll be able to head to the dacha or even a neighboring city without issues.”
You’re in the Car: What to Do Next
Dog
Stress might cause your dog to go to the bathroom or vomit. “This is due to physiological peculiarities, so never scold them for it,” says zoopsychologist and Pet Advisor Shandor Brenner. To avoid mishaps, skip feeding for 5 hours before the trip and pack disposable absorbent pads and bags. “If your dog starts to vomit, gently guide their head into a bag to protect the interior. Then comfort and stroke them, saying, ‘It’s okay, little one, don’t worry.’ Dogs are social animals—for them, the owner’s state matters greatly. So, stay calm yourself. Keep movements smooth and your voice soothing, as if speaking to a child.”
Distractions can help manage stress: petting, massage, and calm conversations. Aromatherapy works too—universal scents like lavender or ylang-ylang, but choose based on your pet’s preferences. Dogs have a keen sense of smell, so a single drop of oil on a blanket, carrier, or gear is enough.
Music therapy is effective as well. “Simple music calms animals—for example, classical piano solos. Play it softly, as dogs’ hearing is sharper than ours,” explains the zoopsychologist. Calming medications can be an option, but only after consulting a vet.
Cat
What to bring: carrier, disposable pad or litter box
For a cat trip, use a carrier lined with an absorbent disposable pad or fitted with a litter box—this makes cleanup easier if stress hits. Don’t scold your pet; instead, support and comfort them.
The golden rule: stay calm yourself. Otherwise, you’ll worsen things—cats sense when their owners are nervous. “Avoid sudden movements and speak to your pet slowly, stretching out words. Such intonations have a calming effect on animals,” explains zoopsychologist and Pet Advisor Shandor Brenner.
You can try petting or massaging your cat, but in stress mode, they often avoid touch. If that’s your pet, stick to soothing talk.
Like with dogs, soft music and aromatherapy can help—a tiny drop of essential oil on the carrier or pad. As a last resort, use calming meds, but only after vet approval.
What Else You Can Do
Chat with the driver—tell them about your pet and explain what makes the trip smooth, like no loud music. Opt for talk radio or silence instead.
Depending on the situation, ask to close (drafts aren’t good for rodents, birds, or reptiles) or open windows. “When a dog or cat is stressed, breathing quickens—they need proper lung ventilation, so fresh air is key. But in traffic jams? Use common sense,” advises zoopsychologist and Pet Advisor Shandor Brenner.
