How to Keep Pets Occupied in the Car

Is your dog or cat running you ragged, bouncing off the walls of your car or truck cab, getting into your arms while you drive? This is actually a dangerous situation. You have two main choices; cage the animal or find ways to get it into the back seat away from the driver. Some pets will entertain themselves well in your vehicle, and some won't. Pay attention to your pet's personality to help fix hyperactivity problems.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Bring a "bed" or comfortable space that your pet likes. He/she may consent to ride calmly in a basket or bin with a blanket or other accessories, sparing you a lot of headaches.

2. Bring a friend. See if two of your pets will play together in the back of the vehicle. This can work well or totally backfire, so you'll want to have a plan B.

3. Hang a "fake bird" or other toy from the roof. A cat may find it entertaining to attack a hanging fuzzy toy while you drive. Make sure this isn't too distracting to the driving process.

4. Get a "puzzle" toy, a plastic contraption that houses a crunchy treat. If your dog is a chewer, he/she might spend a long time working with this kind of toy, hunkered down safely in the back seat or on the vehicle floor.

5. Get a passenger to hold onto your animal. Some animals respond well to being in the arms of a human traveler.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the windows closed! Don't allow your pet near open windows while driving, no matter how smart they are, they can still fall out.
• None of these methods are a substitute for keeping a traveling animal in a car case. No, your cat or dog may not like it, but since animals can't wear seat belts, for optimum safety, it's recommended to get your pet into a traveling cage and put it on the floor in case the driver takes any quick turns or stops.