What workarounds did people try for "How to do a long distance road trip with a cat and dog"?

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Community members documented 43 workarounds:
1. Using a large dog crate or mesh pet tent in the car equipped with a small or disposable litter box
2. Administering sedatives or calming medications like gabapentin or trazodone prescribed by a vet
3. Staying exclusively at national pet-friendly hotel chains like La Quinta or Best Western
4. Leaving cats secured in their carriers during driving segments and letting them roam only inside hotel rooms at night
5. Using sedatives from a vet
6. Over-the-counter pheromone products
7. Letting the pet out of the carrier during the drive
8. driving solo over multiple days
9. using a pet sitter or boarding service
10. using private charter pet airlines
11. giving the dog sedatives or calming medication
12. getting updated vaccine records and a health certificate from a vet
13. using a good carrier and a collar or harness with ID tags
14. updating microchip information
15. Bring a travel litter box
16. Use a garbage bag with a cardboard box and a plastic bag underneath
17. Getting medication from a veterinarian
18. Turning the seat extender into a full bed with a zip-tied memory foam pad
19. Using imitation leather materials for easy cleaning
20. Placing bathroom floor mats over the seat to catch mud and moisture
21. Doing a trial run with a new kennel setup
22. Packing a dedicated duffel bag for the dogs containing food, blankets, and toys
23. Getting sedatives and car sickness remedies from the vet
24. Using a pet delivery service
25. Driving the dog yourself
26. Packing belongings in a storage pod and driving the pet out in a single trip
27. Driving pets personally in the car and making stops along the way to let them stretch and use the bathroom
28. Using specialized pet transport services or rescue transport groups found on social media.
29. Hiring a flight nanny
30. Flying with cats in-cabin and requesting private screening at TSA
31. Having a parent move to a pet-friendly apartment
32. Using sedatives like gabapentin and Feliway spray
33. Keeping cats in large crates during driving hours and letting them out only during stops or at hotels
34. Feeding wet food during stops to ensure proper hydration
35. Taking cats on shorter practice car rides before a long trip
36. using puppy pads inside a crate so the puppy doesn't need to touch the ground
37. holding the puppy on a lap with a blanket underneath for accidents
38. bringing a collar, leash, and toys just in case
39. Selling most belongings before the move and buying new at the destination
40. Shipping a car so both adults can ride in the same vehicle
41. Flying a family member out to help drive the car with the baby and dogs while an adult drives the moving truck
42. Stopping every two hours to let dogs out and feed/change the baby
43. Flying everyone and paying for seats for the dogs instead of driving

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