Pet Accessories For Travel Every Owner Must Have

Some animals love to travel with their owners, and owners love to bring them along for the ride. What many owners forget, however, is that you need certain items to make the journey easier. Animals can get anxious, tired, or even uncomfortable on long road trips, which is why you need to buy items ahead of time. 

Food, water, and a leash aren’t enough. You need to factor in bathroom stops, places to move in the car, and also the anxiety they might feel as well. 

Here, you’ll learn about the best travel accessories to make traveling with your pet an experience you both will enjoy. 

What You Need for Your Pet Before Traveling 

Before you even leave your driveway, make sure you have these items for your pet: 

• Water in a water bottle 
• Carrier or crate for traveling 
• A pet harness or seat belt 
• A car hammock or backseat cover 
• Collapsible water and food bowls 
• Waste bags or travel litter boxes along with cleaning supplies 
• Toys, blankets, and other items to offer comfort 
• Calming chews or supplements to help with anxiety 

Safety Comes First 

Safety needs to be a priority when traveling with a pet. Sudden jolts, turns, and sharp motions can scare them, and they might get thrown into the car door, which can hurt.

Some owners also let their pets run around, which is also a big problem. That can lead to distracted driving and accidents. 

Most dogs can wear either a pet seat belt or a harness to stay in one place. This limits their movement so they don’t go places they shouldn’t. 

Cats and smaller dogs are better in a travel carrier. They like to have a secure space, which this offers. If they don’t want to see outside, some carriers come with flaps to hide them so they don’t have to look outside. It is the best way for cats to travel with minimal stress. 

Backseat barriers and hammocks are good for larger dogs, and keep them in the backseat so they don’t jump into the front. 

Get Comfortable 

You also need comfort items for long trips. This helps with keeping them relaxed and less anxious, a problem owners face because anxious animals tend to make messes, cry, and overall are upset. Not a good time for anyone.

Travel beds and blankets are the best, especially for cats. Put one in their carrier or around them, and they’ll feel calmer, because it’s a familiar scent. 

Ventilated carriers are important to prevent overheating, especially if you’re traveling to places that are warm.

Stop for breaks during long journeys so your pets can stretch, change positions, and get some rest. Just like us humans, our four-legged companions need rest breaks to stretch their legs. 

As a rule of thumb, if the trip is longer than three hours, you should buy all of these items to improve comfort. 

Food and Drink 

Pets need food and hydration during trips, just like we do. 

I like to put a pet’s water in portable water bottles. Sometimes, I like to get a big, plastic container, then fill it into a small pet-friendly bottle so they can drink. It makes pit stops easier, too. 

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Collapsible food and water bowls are super convenient and can clip on carriers, making them great for eating food while traveling. 

On longer trips, food containers in portions are great, as they help you keep a consistent feeding schedule without having to dole out dry food in a bumpy car. 

Some animals struggle to drink water on these trips. What I found works is to stop, offer some water in small increments, and let them drink. I also don’t have them eat a ton before traveling, so they don’t get motion sickness. 

Cleaning Messes 

Accidents happen, no matter how on the ball your feeding and bathroom break schedules are. 

For situations like this, I use a pee pad in emergencies and carry waste bags that I can just toss away when I stop at different places. 

I also have some cleaning wipes and deodorizing spray for when messes happen. 

Anxiety Reduction and Entertainment for Pets 

Just like humans, pets get bored as heck with traveling, especially when the journey isn’t familiar. 

Interactive or chew toys are good for bored animals to give them something to do. Toys from home also come with familiar smells. 

Try to make sure at least one favorite toy or blanket is in their carrier or space so they feel less anxious. 

I like to use calming sprays and chews before the trips. Giving these to pets can help with nerves. 

If your pet gets stressed because of movement and noise, it can be a challenge. But with these items, it makes the journey easier on everyone. 

Breakdown of Best Travel Accessories for Pets 

These don’t apply to every pet. Cats don’t always need a seat belt, and dogs don’t always fit in a travel carrier.

Here’s a quick list of what you minimally need for a pet when traveling: 

Dogs: 

Small dogs require: 

• A carrier 
• Seat belt 
• Pee pad 
• Chew toy 
• Blanket 
• Calming chews 

Big dogs usually require: 

• Seat belts 
• Harnesses 
• Backseat covers 
• Doggie beds and blankets 
• Chew toys 
• Calming supplements 
• Bags for quick pit stops 

Cats: 

• Secure and enclosed containers with good airflow 
• Calming supplements and aids 
• Portable litterbox and extra litter for long trips 
• A favorite toy 
• Blanket or items with a familiar scent 

Small pets (rabbits, birds) 

• Small and secure cages with proper ventilation and temperature control 
• Waste disposal means 
• Calming tools 
• Adequate food and water 

How to Choose the Best Accessories 

Travel situations require different accessories. 

Here’s what you need to factor in when buying such accessories: 

• Length of trip. Longer trips mean more accessories 
• Size of pet and breed: larger pets need more space and better restraints than a cat or small dog 
• Way of travel: cars, trains, and planes all have different travel factors to consider: 
• Weather: is it hot or cold? 

Mistakes Pet Owners Make When Traveling: 

There are a few mistakes pet owners make when traveling, which are: 

• Letting pets move around in the car. It causes accidents 
• Using bowls that cause spills when moving 
• Feeding your pet too much before travel 
• Keeping the car too hot or cold 

To mitigate these issues, make sure you do the following: 

• Take a break every few hours to move and hydrate 
• Have an emergency first aid kit 
• Keep your pet’s medical records on file 
• Keep the routines familiar 

FAQs

How can I safely travel with a pet in a car? 

Most pets can safely travel in a car using a carrier, pet seat belt, or harness. 

How long can a pet travel before we have to take a break? 

Pets need a break every 2-3 hours to go to the bathroom, stretch, and hydrate. 

What do I need to pack for my next road trip? 

You should make sure you have water, food, waste bags, bowls, items to calm the pet, and safety accessories for car travel. 

Do you need Travel accessories for road trips? 

You should make sure you have a harness or carrier for short trips. 

The Right Accessories Mean Better Travel 

These travel accessories can make even the longest trips fun for you and your pet. 

We have many pet travel accessories at PetVetMart ready to help give your pet the ultimate comfort while on the road. We can also help you find the best carrier for your large dog or the best travel food for your guy. 

Traveling is fun, and with the right preparation, you spend less time worrying and more time enjoying the fun adventures with your pet.