Owners Not Prepared for Cat’s Reaction to First Car Ride: ‘Shotgun’

A cat who demanded a specific seat during a long car ride with her parents has quickly gone viral.

Calliope the calico cat was traveling with her parents on her first long journey in the car in a February 13 TikTok video. In the clip, which was posted to the account @calliopethecalicocat, Calliope was sitting in the back, strapped to a pet box on a short leash. But that’s not where she wanted to be.

She delicately placed her paws on her owners’ shoulders. It was her way of demanding that the seating arrangement needs to be changed. All she wanted was to be riding “shotgun.” And like the good parents they are, they listened.

The owner told Newsweek via TikTok that she stayed in the back a solid 30 minutes out of the four hours. They realized she wasn’t going to settle down, which is why they moved her to the front. Talk about a passenger princess!

“She slept on my lap most of the way but would pop her head up to watch when we went under tunnels or went over bridges!” the owner said. “We haven’t traveled with her since, but I’m sure she would still demand to be up front with us.”

The clip quickly gathered over 1.4 million views, 167,300 likes and 379 comments. People knew that this cat wasn’t going to stop demanding the front until she got her way.

“She looks like she’s about to ask you to stop at McDonald’s and a bathroom break so she can stretch her legs!” wrote one viewer.

“Paws on shoulders: ‘Guys, you sure this is the right way?'” added another.

Others were going to put up a fight if she didn’t get shotgun: “Thank you for taking her up front! She is clearly a front-seat princess! Initially, I was appalled at the disrespect.”

Plenty of cat parents will be the first to say felines aren’t necessarily known to be passenger princesses. And speaking from experience, getting your cat in the car typically includes a lot of yelling meows and attempts to escape. But there are ways to hopefully get your cat prepared for a road trip.

The Preventive Vet recommends getting your cat used to both the carrier and the car before ever starting the trip. Having a cat in a carrier while driving will keep both passengers and the fur baby safe. It will minimize any distractions.

You’ll also want to get your cat warmed up to the idea of being in the car through positive associations. Start by having them in their carrier and inside the car with the doors and windows closed. Make sure the car is turned off as well. You’ll want to put your hand in the carrier, playing with them, petting them, giving praise and giving them treats.

As your cat gets comfortable, you can start introducing them to the sound of the car. Turn on the engine. If you have another person with you, you can have them keep giving the cat praise. The final step is to get the car moving. Start with short trips to get them used to the drive and then slowly increase.

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