Travel with Pets - Excessive travel time in kennel for cat

We are flying from HNL->ORD->RDU in one week with our cat in cabin in a kennel.

Due to circumstances with hotel check-outs, car rentals, etc, and long layovers, our cat will be in the kennel for almost 24 hours- from 11 am Hawaii time to 12 pm EST (or 7 am Hawaii time).

Any ideas? I can't imagine the mess she will create and the stress this will put upon her, as I know I can't take her out of the kennel in the airports or planes.

Thanks!

Do you have to bring her with you? Can you get a cat sitter and leave her at home? It is really torture to make poor kitty stay in a carrier sitting in her own filth for 24 hours.

If you can't leave her at home and have someone come in and feed her, give her water, and play with her, you may consider trying to leash-train her before you leave. That way she isn't stuck in the cat carrier for 24 hours. Ask your vet about drugs you could give her to relax her.

How awful for your cat! Assuming that you're moving, I echo the above poster's advice, and...could you perhaps break your journey in ORD? Get a cheap hotel room overnight and allow the cat to calm down before recommencing your journey to RDU?

At a minimum, you need to find a way to clean out the kennel every so often. Do not make the cat sleep/lay in that. In addition, the smell in the cabin could become overwhelming.

I would suggest carrying some type of wipes and old towels... that way you can just take out the "soiled" towel and throw it away.

We are moving, so have to take her with us. We are traveling on official military orders so we don't have any say with regards to getting an extended layover/overnight stay in the middle. Unfortunately us flying through Chicago means she has to fly in the cabin and going outside during our layover will not be pleasant I'm sure.

I do plan on lining her carrier with puppy pads/absorbent material and changing it often. I will have moist towelettes to clean her if she becomes soiled. I have a leash for her, although I'm not sure when/where I could use it. I plan to take her out a few times in the bathrooms to let her "stretch" her legs.

This is all I could think of, not sure what else I could be doing...?

I remember there are tablets which are the equivalent of Valium for cats and dogs who fly. It will make them more docile and sleepy. It is the same as having a few glasses of wine when you fly.
Check with your vet before you fly out and see what they suggest.
Good Luck.