Would it be safe for two cats to be inside of a car being towed behind a u-haul?

Question

We are driving from Minnesota to Texas. U-haul towing a Pontiac. We think the cats would like having the run of the car. We thought about putting the litter box in the trunk because there is a pass through in the back seat, and we could put the food/water in the front seat. Normally in the car the older cat likes to lay on the back seat and the younger cat likes to lay on the front seat, sometimes look out the windows. We love them, and we would check on them every couple hours. My largest concern has to do with the temp. inside the car and the exhaust from the U-haul.

Scenario 1- We have considered leaving the car on, and the A/C so they stay cool, but can you tow a vehicle that is running? Would the Exhaust from the U-haul get sucked into the towed vehicle through the A/C intake?

Scenario 2 - What would the temperature be in the car if we left the windows open two inches each? Would the exhaust from the U-haul collect inside the towed vehicle without the A/C on?

What else?

Answer 1

No, no, no...that is considered animal cruelty.

Keep the cats in the tow vehicle. Cats do not necessarily have to be kept in carriers. My cat is allowed to be free inside my car when we travel. After a few minutes of meowing, she settles down, finds a comfortable spot and goes to sleep. When she's not sleeping, she's looking out a window. Being free to roam also allows her use of the litterbox and gives her access to water. I stop every so often, put on her harness and leash and let her stretch her legs.

Leaving the windows down an inch or two would still allow the temperature to quickly rise and put the cats' lives in danger. The exhaust from the tow vehicle can be toxic and your cats might not arrive alive. When you travel with pets, you should expect a few inconveniences. However, aren't those incomveniences worth your cats' health and lives?

If you are moving, consider having the cats flown to your destination. Delta offers "Delta Dash", which is animal transport. My cat flew the Dash one time and she was fine.

EMT

PS Make sure you have the proper vaccination records before you travel.

Answer 2

That's a novel approach to the "animals in the cab of the U-haul" problem but it seems likely it would kill the cats.

Cars can get VERY VERY hot when their ventilation system is not run.  Try it yourself, drive your car around with the fan/vent system turned totally off and the windows shut.   You can cook eggs in a sitting car, especially in Texas.

Running the A/C the whole time is just crazy.  I don't see why you can't tow a running vehicle, but all sorts of things could go wrong.  It could run out of fuel or the engine could quit for some reason, you wouldn't know, and you'd come back to find your cats cooked.

Two inches is not enough IMO, but again, see for yourself driving on a hot day.  As you drive, replicate the conditions you would put the cats in.   Fan off, windows 2" down.

Of course, conditions on the road could be totally different than your experiments.

I also think that passersby would be very concerned to see animals in a car being towed, and would call the police on you.  So I don't think there's any way to have them be in the car.  

It's a tough problem.

What I suggested to someone else is to leave the car and cats with a friend, drive the U-haul alone (much easier to drive that way) and fly back and get car and cats.  In my experience the savings on the dolly will pay for the airline ticket, and the savings in fuel for not towing the car will pay for the car's fuel.

Answer 3

I have actually been in a towed vehicle, and yes, it collects the exhaust..( caused major headache) So sorry..I don't see any way to avoid it and keep the car cooled and ventilated. Heading to Texas, it will get hot as Hades..

Is there a space behind the seats where the travel kennels will fit? We have traveled this way, as the pets get the benefit of the AC in the cab.

You might keep their own litterbox handy, to put them on a leash at rest stops. When traveling with my pets, I stop every two hours during daylight, and they only need a couple of stops druring an all night drive. ..Yeah, I travel with all six of them a lot..

Answer 4

1. Dont do that because they will be dead.

2. Dont do that either because they will be dead.

Place your cat in the carrier with the harness on. Chances are it won't want or need to use the litter box until you stop for the night, so you don't need to worry about that. Providing water isn't a bad idea, although giving food may bring on car sickness.

Answer 5

I would not consider scenario 1 as it could be very dangerous to tow a running car. When a care is towed, especially if it is on all 4 wheels gear must be in neutral position with engine off. Even if you have a car dolley, leaving it running is not a good idea.

Scenario 2 is fine. I would not worry too much about exhaust as long as you are on highway. By the time exhaust reaches the pontiac it would dissipate mostly. You probably should keep the window open one quarter. Two inches may not be enough to keep the car cool.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Only if the windows are open (or the engine running to let the air conditioning work), but if they are travelling with you, why can't they travel in the vehicle with you?

Even if the windows are open a bit, the temperature inside the car can rise to over 100 degrees in 5 minutes.

Answer 7

Don't do it. It's too risky. Cats should be in carriers for their safety. How about someone just drive the car down with the cats inside with them in carriers?  That is safe and responsible. No excuses. I've moved with cats many times.

edit: If I saw you doing this then I would be one of those that wouldn't hesitate to call the police. I would keep tabs on you as well. That is wrong. Someone needs to drive the car with the cats in the car in carriers. I drove with 2 cats from North Carolina (Charlotte) all the way up to Massachusetts. I've done this more than once.