Can I safely travel long distance with my pregnant cat near due date?

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If it is possible to avoid the car journey, it will be definitely the safest option. Prolonged stress like this can trigger premature labor and dystocia in cats. Ideally, Bella should be allowed to have kittens where she is.

Medications should be used very cautiously and sparingly in pregnant cats, and because I can't see your cats in person, I can't say if it's safe to sedate Meeyao. I would put her in a cat carrier to transport her, and put a light blanket over top so people cannot see in and she can't see out. That may make her more comfortable. Just make sure she doesn't get too hot in the blanket. Keep the a/c running in the car during trip, and you can put her carrier near the vet to keep her cool. Best of luck, I hope this helps.

In looking up the distance from Calgary to Red Deer, I see that it's only about an hour and a half drive (about 147km). Because it's a relatively short trip, it will be fine to take Angel and her kittens with you. I would get a crate that is large enough to hold Angel and her kittens, and make it very comfortable with lots of blankets. Make sure the kittens are kept warm at all times, and they have access to their mother to nurse. You can put a round cat bed in the crate to help keep them close to their mother during the trip. Don't blare loud music, and try to keep the car as quiet and calm as possible.

They should be fine to travel together in a pet carrier. I would recommend using one a little larger than you would use if it was just Celestia. You could also put them in a moving box and secure a towel over the top to prevent Celestia from trying to get out, though this isn't as secure as a pet carrier.

How lovely of you to look after this stray cat! She's beautiful. You are absolutely right that she should see a vet, as that will be the only way to know for sure how far along Shadow is in her pregnancy. You could see if there is a mobile vet clinic in your area that can come to your house to see her. Some of these mobile vets will have a fully decked out mobile unit including an x-ray machine. If you don't have one of those in your area, then I would bring her into the vet. Hide the kennel out of sight, and set up it up so that it is standing up with the door open at the top (I hope this makes sense lol). Pick her and carry her over to the kennel, and then gently lower her into the kennel. Have her seen by a vet as soon a possible. I hope this helps!

Most cats are close enough in size that it shouldn't be an issue and you should not have to do anything to assist in a normal pregnancy. I would NOT recommend trying to cut open your cat as you will likely injure her and endanger both her and the kittens and this is considered animal cruelty. If she is showing signs of dystocia (difficult birth) and goes into labor for several hours without producing a kitten, seeking emergency care from your vet is needed.

I would not recommend such a journey in an older cat especially if her routine will be changed from a free ranging cat to an indoor cat as this would provide an ongoing environmental stress even after the journey. Contact local humane societies and shelters to see if they can help provide a foster home for her or inquire of your neighbours if anyone is willing to monitor her and take responsibility for her ongoing care and health needs as she gets older.