DO NOT transport trapped cats in the open bed of a truck or the trunk of a vehicle, covered truck beds are ok but not ideal. Doing this can cause extreme stress for the cats due to fear and can trigger illness. Don’t believe us? See statements about this at various TNR programs across the country below.
“8. Transport cats properly. NEVER transport cats in the trunk of a car or the open bed of a pickup truck—it is dangerous and highly stressful for the cats. Make sure the traps are stable and won’t shift around or fall—use restraints like bungee cords if you have to. Don’t play loud music and try to avoid bumpy roads or sharp turns. Learn more about safely transporting cats in traps.” https://www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/keep-community-cats-comfortable-while-in-their-trap/ (bottom of page).
“While driving, avoid sounds that are unfamiliar to the cats, such as a blaring radio, and use common sense to make the experience less traumatic. Cats should never be transported in a vehicle’s trunk or in the open bed of a truck.” bestfriends.org
“DO NOT transport cats in uncovered truck beds. They are already traumatized by being caught and handled. This will only increase
their fright and could cause them to injure themselves in the trap (bloody noses and mouths).”
http://operationcatnip.weebly.com/items-of-importance.html is Operation Catnip of Richmond
“Transport. Line your car with plastic sheeting (a tarp, shower curtain, etc.) with newspaper or some bedding on top before transporting the trapped cats. Remain calm and move slowly while moving the cats and transporting them to surgery. Limit noise while transporting animals like keeping the radio off. It is important to minimize stress. Never transport cats in trunks of cars, or the open beds of a pick up truck.”
https://tucsoncares.org/trapping-tips/
“7. Tips for safe transport. Never put trapped cats in the trunk of a car or the open bed of a pickup truck—this is unsafe and it terrifies the cats. If traps must be stacked inside the vehicle, be sure to secure the traps with bungee cords or other restraints, and place puppy pads, heavy plastic, or newspaper between the stacked traps. If an unsecured trap tips sideways or upside down, it can open and release the cat (this is especially true of the brown Tru Catch traps). If it seems precarious, it won’t work. Don’t take the risk. To keep the transport vehicle clean, place sheets of thick plastic, or plastic and newspaper, under the traps in case any of the cats eliminate in transit. If you do stack traps for transport, be extremely careful when stacking and unstacking. Trap doors can easily get caught on each other and accidentally open” https://www.aspcapro.org/sites/default/files/TNR_workshop_handbook.3.pdf
“6. Never move trapped cats in the trunk of a car or the open bed of a pickup truck—this is unsafe and it terrifies the cats. If traps must be stacked inside the vehicle, be sure to secure the traps with bungee cords or other restraints and place puppy pads or newspaper between the stacked traps. If an unsecured trap tips sideways or upside down, it can open and release the cat. If it seems precarious, it won’t work. Don’t take the risk.”
httphttps://web.archive.org/web/20180417071903/http://www.sosohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Feral-Cat-Trapping-Guide.pdf (archived pages://sosohio.org/pdf/feralTrapping.pdf
“Traps/carriers should NEVER be placed in a vehicle’s trunk or the open bed of a truck!”
https://web.archive.org/web/20230201194358/https://ffrescue.org/trap-a-feral.html
(archived page) Their new website no longer has TNR instructions
“Transportation Requirements:
We do not allow cats to be transported in the bed of a pick-up truck. They must travel in a climate-controlled vehicle.” https://ocgainesville.org/trapping-trap-depot
“Transport safely. Never transport cats in an open truck bed or a closed, unventilated car or truck.” https://www.hsvc.org/feral
“Prepare the vehicle you will use to transport the cats. Use plastic to protect your vehicle, as well as newspaper or some other absorbent material. Cats should NEVER be transported in the open bed of a truck or in a closed, unventilated car trunk” https://www.vcas.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Humane_Trapping_Instructions.pdf
“During transport to the surgery clinic, we recommend putting newspaper, towels, tarps, old shower curtain liners under the traps to protect car seats. Do not put traps in the bed of a truck. Do not transport traps in a trunk that is not open to the inside of the car.” https://www.cap4pets.org/education/feral-cats-info/trapping-instructions
“Never transport cats in an open-bed truck or closed, unventilated car trunk. These are not safe situations for cats and are and extremely terrifying to cats.” https://feralcatfocus.org/humane-trapping-trapping-basics/
“Transport safely. Never transport cats in an open truck bed or in a closed, unventilated car trunk.” https://www.feralcat.com/pdf/surgery-instructions-feral.pdf
“Transport safely. Never transport cats in an open-bed truck or closed, unventilated car trunk.”
https://fixnation.org/about-tnr/pre-post-surgery-instructions/
“9. Never move trapped cats in the trunk of a car or the open bed of a pickup truck—this is unsafe and it terrifies the cats. If traps must be stacked inside the vehicle, be sure to secure the traps with bungee cords or other restraints and place puppy pads or newspaper between the stacked traps. If an unsecured trap tips sideways or upside down, it can open and release the cat. If it seems precarious, it won’t work. Don’t take the risk.” https://www.whiskersandtailsfoundation.org/info/display?PageID=16825