Miki and Cars: It’s All Fine If We’re Not Driving

Hi, I’m Dr. Maja! Read my introduction to learn more about me and Miki, the kitten who made me a cat person.

Miki just hates going on car rides. Although I started taking him from a very young age, for his vaccinations and neutering, then his lump removal, and during a temporary move to my brother’s farm, to and forth between the farm and my house for day trips, his tolerance of car journeys has only gotten worse. On the other hand, he loves sitting and grooming himself on the top of the car or even sleeping underneath it.

How It All Started

Last summer, when Miki came to my house for the first time, being driven by a local villager, in a cardboard box, after pranking me that the kitten got killed by a fox, it was a sight I will never forget. Or, should I say – the smell. Although I fell in love with this kitten from the first moment I heard his meow and saw his handsome little face, and the excitement of having him arrive at my house was overwhelming, the odor coming from the box was even more memorable. You can’t really describe it easily in words, the strong pungent nose-pinching smell that seems to consume everything. Well, that’s cat poo.

Cat Box Disaster

Although it wasn’t a proper cat box, just an improvised cardboard one with holes for him to be able to breathe properly, it was one that went straight to the bin. There was a concoction of all the bodily fluids you can think of. For very sensitive readers, I suggest skipping the next sentence, for your own sake. Well, there was a decent amount of urine, combined with a poo that was far from normal, imagine the consistency of an ice cream when it falls out of the cone and splashes on the ground, as well as vomited stomach content. Poor Miki stepped in it and was very displeased from the get go, as our first bonding experience was me cleaning his paws and tail. It was love at first sight.

Nausea Sucks

Since then, Miki’s opinion of moving cars has not improved. We tried all sorts. Him in the cat box placed on the floor in the front seat passengers’ side, so he can’t see anything outside. Then with him in his box on the car seat, so he can see outside. Even worse. Me talking to him constantly, and reassuring him, while giving him a cuddle through the box’s door. Well, that ended up in blood, and let’s just say, it wasn’t Miki’s. Then the boot with and without Lava, the dog he absolutely adores. And the final option we tried, which I would never recommend to anyone or use for any of the usual car rides, was Miki loose in the car. Oops.

What Not To Do

This I tried only on 2 occasions so far, each being a very special circumstance. As I live very rurally, and have nearby woods and fields, which Miki loves roaming in, it’s not always easy to get him to come back home if he wanders too far off. Once I went to pick him up with the car, as there was a horrendous thunderstorm that came out of nowhere and the poor guy was exploring in a field when it happened. This was the first time he must have been grateful to be inside of the car, and he didn’t make a sound. The drive home only took less than two minutes. The second time was him wandering off on his nighttime adventures, and me not feeling super keen on looking for him in pitch black, while seeing shadows of wild animals not too far from the path. I returned home and got the car. This time, he wasn’t so happy, as I interrupted his hunting.

Cars Can Serve A Different Purpose

Let’s just say, we are trying to minimize our car journeys as much as possible. However, it’s not to say that Miki hates cars. Quite the contrary. He loves sitting on top of the hood, on the car roof and the roof box in particular. It must be warm and cozy up there. He will also lay under the car on hot summer days, next to Lava, the dog.

He has even gone in on his own accord a few times, when my windows are down or doors are open, and the car is not running. And he is especially curious when there are working vans or visitors’ cars at my house he’s not familiar with, and will sniff through them briefly before running off. This way I always need to check where he is before I let anyone leave my property, in case he’s in someone’s car. But he seems to have figured this part out, luckily.

Car Ride Planning

Now, when I need to take him for a car journey, I’m not sure who feels worse. Miki while we’re driving, or me when planning it ahead. It’s a whole process that starts the night before. No food after midnight, to reduce his likelihood of vomiting or nausea, as well as giving him a particular feline anti-nausea tablet that he just hates. I can’t even describe the look on Miki’s face when he goes to an empty food bowl. It’s utmost disapproval and disbelief. Then mandatory morning exercise and ideally pooping. Otherwise, who knows what might happen. And for me, mental preparation for a very distressing meowing performance, for the whole length of the journey. Who wouldn’t want to be in our shoes?