The holiday season is around the corner, which means many of us have travel plans coming up, fast. For pet owners, there’s an entire added element of travel-related stressors – whether you’re leaving your pet with a sitter, or you’re bringing them along for the trip.
I’ve shared insights before on easing separation anxiety in pets, but I wanted to provide additional guidance for those of you whose pets are travelers, too. And as much of an ordeal as traveling with pets might sound, don’t worry – there are plenty of ways to make it a much more easeful and comfortable experience for you both. All it takes is love, careful preparation, and a little bit of intuitive magic.
The Effects of Travel Anxiety on Pets
First, let’s review some of the standard ways anxiety manifests in our animal companions:
Bathroom accidents
Yowling, barking, or crying
Destroying household objects
Chewing, biting, and scratching
Agitation and aggression
Depression and whining
Pacing
These signs may be especially apparent when you’re about to set off. For example, if your cat sees you pulling out the carrier and packing up your own luggage, they know something is about to happen. They don’t know how long you’ll be leaving, or where you’ll be going. Naturally, that can cause a lot of anxiety!
Not only is it painful to witness our pets going through this, but it has an impact on our travel experience, too – not to mention the travel experiences of those around us. So, how can we help them cope? In my work, I use a combination of animal communication, intuitive readings, and energy healing to dive deeper and find solutions that work for you and your pet.
But before we explore the intuitive work around easing travel with pets, here are a few practical tips.
Your Pet Travel Checklist
Pre-pack your essentials. In the time leading up to your trip, organize your supplies:
Food, treats, and bowls
Bedding, blankets, and toys
Bathroom necessities (waste bags, pee pads, litter box, etc)
A pet-friendly first aid kit, including any medications (sealed & labeled)
Leashes, harnesses, and collars with identification tags
Any flower essences to help ease the stress of travel
Plan ahead. In addition to the usual planning you’d do (i.e. checking the weather or traffic report), it’s good to know where emergency vets or other helpful resources for pets are located along your route or at your destination. When you need to make a pit stop, avoid crowded areas, especially ones with lots of other pets. And of course, always keep them on-leash.
Additionally, you’ll want to carve out extra time for any pauses your pet may need. It’s easy for them to get overwhelmed when traveling – just like it can be for us humans! Having additional time to find somewhere quiet to soothe and co-regulate your nervous systems will make the experience much easier and more comfortable.
Some of these practices include:
Establish a safe, calming environment for your pet filled with familiar scents and toys. Familiar things amidst all the unknowns can be very grounding.
Encourage positive associations with your trip. Incorporate treats or toys that bring them joy, or plan exciting pet-friendly activities while you’re traveling.
Incorporate flower essences to help balance their energy and alleviate anxiety.
Use animal communication to communicate to your pet that they are safe.
Before leaving, spend a few moments connecting with your pet's energy. Visualize a protective and comforting energy field around them. Telepathically show them pictures of you both going out the door and coming back in; assuring them this isn’t forever.
How do you ensure they’ve gotten the message? Keep the message in your mind’s eye and then look at your pet with the intention that they should receive it. Take a moment to connect with them, and then trust that they received it. It’s honestly that simple.
Flying With Pets
A special callout here: air travel requires extra planning and consideration. Beyond the usual stressors, you’ll need to make sure that you and the airline are compliant with all the necessary safety regulations around pet travel. This can affect where your pet travels, the size of their carrier, and more.
Most airlines require separate tickets for your pet to sit with you in the cabin. While the cabins may feel cramped, it’s often best to have your pet with you rather than in cargo. They will feel much safer with you there, and you can feel confident that your pet is in the best care possible – yours.
Make sure that any emergency supplies and important documents are on hand when your pet joins you in the cabin. Keep them calm throughout the duration with the practices we’ve discussed above, or with any medication prescribed by your veterinarian.
Navigating Pet Travel Anxiety With Intuitive Readings
I communicate with animals through visual images and frequency. This is a great way to help them understand the terms of our trip, know that they will be safe the whole time, and ensure they know that we are coming back.
Here’s how I do this with my own pets when we travel: If I’m going away for 3 days and 2 nights and they will be joining me, I send them visual images of us walking out the door, our destination, and me caring for them by providing treats, walks, and other comforts along the way. I communicate the length of time we will be away by showing them suns (for days) and moon (for nights).
I also connect with their higher self or Soul, which allows us to understand why they’re responding the way that they are. This might include seeing what they experienced before coming to live with you, or what their fears of traveling might look like.
Learning these things helps us understand what we can do to help them release their trauma and live more easefully. In addition to the practices I shared earlier, my work with your pets might involve energy healing, psychic channeling, and applying flower essences. All of these can support your pet’s wellbeing as you prepare to travel with them at your side.
How I Support Pets With Travel Anxiety
Traveling this holiday season? If you’re looking for answers about your pet’s behavior or looking to help them manage their anxiety around travel (or separation anxiety), I’m here to help. I work with pets and their people virtually, in-home in the Tucson area, and at The Ninth House. Learn more about booking a session here!
