How To Travel With a Cat Litter Box in the Car

If you’re getting ready to travel with your cat in the car, you may be wondering about the litter box setup.

Having a litter box in the car for your cat is a great way to allow your cat to go to the bathroom whenever they need to. Whether or not they’ll actually use the litter box in the car depends on how comfortable they are.

In this article, I’ll cover how to set up a litter box in your car, how often your cat should be going, and additional tips for traveling in the car with your cat.

6 Tips for Traveling With a Cat Litter Box

If you plan on setting up a litter box in your car for a trip with your cat, you can start preparing immediately. In fact, the earlier you set up your travel litter box, the better. You can check out our top picks for travel litter boxes here.

Here are six tips to travel with a cat litter box in the car:

1. Purchase (or make) a travel litter box as soon as possible

Whether you plan on buying a portable litter box or litter tray for your cat or making it yourself, go ahead and do that as soon as possible.

Once you have your litter box purchased or created, set it up in your house so that your cat can start getting used to it. If they recognize the litter box from their home, they’ll feel safer using it in the car.

2. Use the same brand of litter your cat is used to

When you set up your travel litter box, make sure you use the same litter that you use for your cat’s litter box at home. The familiar scent will let them know that’s where they’re supposed to use the bathroom, and they’ll be more likely to be comfortable doing so.

In fact, if your cat has used the portable litter box in your house, you can scoop out the waste and keep the same litter in it for the trip. Your cat will definitely know that’s where they’re supposed to go.

3. Withhold your cat’s food for four hours before travel

On the day of your trip, withhold your cat’s food and water for at least four hours before you load them into the car. This will reduce the likelihood of them getting sick as well as the need to go to the bathroom immediately.

Before you travel with your cat, be sure to schedule a visit with your regular veterinarian. Ask them if your cat is healthy enough to travel, and make sure they agree that you should withhold your cat’s food. If your cat is on medication, they may need to eat or drink within that timeframe before the trip.

4. Position the litter box in a secure space in the car

On the day of your trip, set up your litter box in the car before you bring your cat out. If it doesn’t have a cover, you’ll want to position it in a place where it won’t shift or tip over during the drive.

Place the travel litter box on the floorboard of your back seat if at all possible. You may also position it in the back seat, in the front passenger seat, or in your car’s trunk.

If your portable litter box doesn’t have a lid or cover, you may also want to consider bringing a heavy-duty plastic bag to cover it during the trip or to transport the litter if you plan on using the litter box only when you stop.

5. Spray Feliway in the car

If your cat is especially anxious or new to traveling in the car, a calming aid like Feliway can really help. You can buy Feliway spray at Amazon.

“I really like Feliway; I would definitely spray down the car. It can help decrease their stress levels,” recommends Natasha Diehl, DVM. “Sometimes if they’re having accidents outside of the litter box, Feliway can help to get them retrained to go back in the litter box.”

So you may even consider spraying your travel litter box with Feliway too.

6. Bring spare bags and a travel scoop

Don’t forget to pack a few extra bags and a travel scoop to use on the road. Since you’ll be in the same car as the litter box, you’ll likely want to clean it out as often as possible.

For more tips on how to travel with your cat in the car, check out my full guide here.

Will Cats Use a Litter Box in the Car?

Just because you buy or make a travel litter box (even if you perfectly position it in the car, spray it with Feliway, use the familiar litter, the whole nine yards) your cat still may not use feel comfortable using it.

“Your cat may not use the litter box until you get wherever you’re going to, whether that’s a temporary hotel or you’re actually getting to your location,” says Natasha Diehl, DVM “That’s definitely going to be cat-to-cat dependent depending on how well they handle the stress.”

If you have a long trip planned, like a 12-hour car ride, you’ll need to plan frequent stops to either clean out your cat’s litter box or let them use it. But how long can cats go without a litter box?

On average, healthy cats should have access to a litter box every 2-4 hours. Cats who have urinary issues, kidney disease, or if they’re on medication that would increase their urine output will need to stop more frequently.

Cats can go up to 12 hours without using the litter box, but that would be quite uncomfortable even for a healthy cat. If at all possible, make sure your cat has access to the litter box in a relatively calm and private space every 2-4 hours at least.

The Best Portable Litter Boxes for Cats

If you need a portable litter box for your cat, the options can seem overwhelming.

Based on customer reviews, safety features, and convenience, here are three of the best portable litter boxes for cats:

Pet Fit For Life Collapsible Portable Cat Litter Box

16″ x 12″ x 5″
Easy to set up, fold, and store
Made from durable, easy-to-clean nylon fabric with a waterproof poly-plastic liner
Holds up to 5 pounds of litter
Additional included collapsable water/food dish
There’s no cover, so it could get messy quickly
Some customers say they could have made their own of a similar quality

Petleader Collapsible Portable Cat Litter Box

17.7″ x 11″ x 11″
Top and front enter/exit design
Litter box slides out for easy scooping
Zipper closures to prevent spilling and odors
Holds up to 30 pounds of litter
Waterproof with PVC lining to prevent leakage
Not intended to be used as a cat carrier

Petisfam Portable Cat Litter Box

19.7″ x 15.8″ x 5.1″
Leak-proof design
Cover and zipper closures help prevent leaking and odor control
Lightweight with attached handles for easy travel
Easy to clean and store
Customers still recommend an additional liner for protection and easy cleaning

If you haven’t purchased a cat carrier yet, you may also be interested in the best cat carriers with a litter box included.

5 Alternatives to Buying a Travel Litter Box

If you don’t want to buy a portable litter box made specifically for travel, there are a few DIY options you can consider.

Here are a few things that you can use for a traveling litter box that you probably already have at home:

A plastic storage bin. You can fill it with litter directly or line it with a heavy-duty garbage bag and it should prevent any leakage. You’ll just need to find a size that works in your car.
A cardboard box. If you have any boxes from recent deliveries or purchases, you can also line them with a heavy-duty garbage bag to create a portable litter box. Just make sure it’s big enough for your cat to be comfortable in. Also, be sure to clean it regularly as the cardboard won’t hold up if it’s exposed to urine.
A drawer. If you have a plastic or wooden drawer or crate, you could empty it out and line it with plastic.
Oven sheets/bakeware. You probably aren’t going to want to cook with them again after the trip, but you can create a small litter tray for your cat with an oven sheet or baking dish. Again, just be sure to line it well and make sure it’s large enough for your cat. This would honestly work best for a kitten.
A heavy-duty garbage bag. While this won’t have the best sport (or any support), you can just fill a heavy-duty garbage bag with some litter and open it in a way that your cat won’t be inside the bag. This is a great cheap alternative because you can just tie off the bag and toss the litter once you arrive at your destination.

How To Prepare Your Cat for Traveling

Start preparing your cat for the trip long before it’s time to actually get in the car. The more you do at home to help your cat get ready for the journey, the more stress-free it will be on the road.

You should start by scheduling a visit with your veterinarian. Even a seemingly healthy cat should be checked out and caught up on medications as well as flea and tick prevention before leaving the house. You’ll also want to make sure your cat’s microchip is up-to-date.

It’s especially important to talk to your veterinarian if you have a cat who’s older and has medications or chronic illnesses they deal with. They may not be healthy enough to travel in the car, or they may need additional accommodations like more frequent stops or a sedative to help keep them calm.

Second, you should purchase your cat carrier and travel litter box as soon as possible. I know I mentioned this earlier, but it’s so important. The sooner you can help your cat get familiar with what will become their safe spaces in the car, the less stressed they’ll be amid all the other changes.

If your cat is completely new to traveling, try to introduce them to the car long before you take them on a long trip. Start with short trips around the neighborhood, and give them food or treats to let them know they’re okay during the process. If you work your way up to longer trips, they’ll be more likely to stay calm in the car.

On the actual day of the trip, withhold your cat’s food for four hours prior to getting in the car. This will reduce the likeliness of them getting sick or having to use the bathroom immediately.

If you’re getting ready for a move, be sure to check out our guides on what to do on moving day as well as everything I wish I knew before moving across the country with my cats.

Tips for Traveling With a Cat in the Car

On the day of your trip, there are a few things you can do to help your cat stay calm in the car.

Spray the car with Feliway. Feliway is a pheromone-based product that helps reduce anxiety in cats. You can spray it in your car, your cat’s carrier, their travel litter box, or on a blanket/toy that your cat will keep close by. It’s veterinarian-recommended, and you can buy it at Amazon.
Take breaks every 2-4 hours or as needed. A healthy cat should have a litter box break every 2-4 hours, and older/ill cats may need breaks more frequently. You can line your cat’s carrier with pee pads, but they’ll still need to stretch their legs and use an actual litter box throughout the trip if you’re traveling for longer than four hours.
Check-in on your cat regularly. If your cat is showing signs of anxiety like crying, panting, or getting sick, it’s time to take a break. Just pull over, safely let them out of their carrier, and let them rest in a place that isn’t moving for a bit. Alternatively, if it’s time for a scheduled break but your cat is asleep or completely calm, it may be okay to keep driving a bit longer.

For more tips on how to travel with a cat in the car and when you should stop, check out our guide on how long you can travel with a cat before needing a break.