Just like people, some animals, including cats, can get car sick. Cats are especially prone to getting car sick as they tend to not enjoy being in the car as much as most dogs do and tend to get themselves worked up and stressed out while in the car. You can help prevent car sickness in cats by getting them used to car travel gradually, not feeding them close to when it is time to travel and by discussing the issue with a veterinarian who is likely to be able to help you prevent car sickness in cats.

A good way to begin to prevent car sickness in cats is to place your cat in his carrier in the car without starting or moving the car. When your cat is used to this, take a short car trip with the cat. It is important that the cat does not associate car travel with always going to the vet as this will probably never prevent car sickness in cats. The cat is likely to see the car as part of the experience of being given a shot or of somehow feeling stress and/or pain during the veterinarian's examination.

Cats, like other animals, have a quick vomiting response in the throat. One way to help prevent car sickness in cats is to not give cats food for three hours before the car trip. Check on the cat often during the trip to be sure he or she is not vomiting or in distress. Also be sure that the carrier does not become overheated as the temperature may be hotter in there than in the rest of the vehicle.

A veterinarian may prescribe medication for motion sickness to prevent car sickness in cats that seem to experience motion sickness from car travel. Sometimes a cat will get over being car sick on its own once he or she becomes used to traveling in the car regularly. If you must travel with a cat and the cat seems too stressed or hyperactive to settle down after all attempts at relieving its car sickness have failed, your veterinarian may recommend a feline sedative. A veterinarian-prescribed feline sedative may be the only way to prevent car sickness in cats that are not suffering from motion sickness, but rather are extremely anxious about traveling in the car.