I recommend putting the crate out and letting the babies hang out in it before you move - forget the meds - they can cause more problems than they can potentially solve. make certain they have some water and a hideyhole with a comfy blanket...newspapers on the bottom of the crate for accidents. I just assisted my friend in moving her 2 cats from California to New Mexico - they should settle down within an hour of take off and they should be fine. If it is sunny, park them under a deep shaded tree to keep them cool if you must stop. Good luck and I hope they dont talk too much of the way.

5 hours is nothing -- really. I wouldn't give them the meds, because it's more likely to cause problems then not. Mazer's suggestion of having the crates out for a few days before the move is a good idea -- I'd also recommend putting some of your shirts or clothes in there as well to provide comfort (something that smells strongly of you, that you won't get too upset if it gets peed on). Personally, I wouldn't feed them immediately before leaving; the movement of the car might cause some vomiting (that may just be my cat, though).

Do NOT let them out of the crates. For only a five hour drive, they should be fine without needing to get out of the crate. If you let them out of the crates in your car, there's too much likelihood of them going ballistic or climbing under your gas pedal or clawing off your face while you're trying to drive on the highway. And you really don't want to risk them getting out, far from home.

I moved from Michigan to California 10 years ago with my two kitties. It was a 4 day trip for us (in a Uhaul that wouldn't go above 55), with about 8 or 9 hours of driving every day. My kitties survived it, although we certainly got a lot of "glares of death" and some meowing throughout the ordeal :) So I mean it when I say 5 hours is nothing -- it's a quick single shot, and your kitties will quickly forget about it.

I'd suggest feeding them about an hour or more before departure. I've found my pets travel better with something in the stomach vs an empty, acidic stomach. Another reason I prefer feeding before a trip is because most pets are a little stressed when they arrive at their destination, and it will probably be awhile before they settle down enough to eat. So.....I think it's best to get a little nourishment in their system while you can!
As others have said.....5 hrs is a short trip and I think you'll find it uneventful if you're able to stay calm during the trip.

Back in 2000 I emigrated from the UK and brought my (then) 3 year old neutered tomcat with me. The vet was reluctant to sedate him as some pets have an adverse reaction to this, and unless I was taking him on a long haul flight this could be the worse of two evils. So as I packed all my worldly belongings into a Vauxhall Astra for an 8 hour journey by road and car ferry I thought the cat would be better fully awake in his cage, on the wife's lap in the passenger seat of the car (we got some funny looks checking the car in at the ferry terminal). He was fine the whole journey, not even a toilet accident but I had plenty of absorbent paper in the bottom of the cage just in case. Just make sure that in the run-up to the journey the cat is relaxed and has access to plenty of food and water, and make sure lavatory facilities are made available as a priority at your destination.

Just be sure to keep cats in for at least 3 days before letting them out in their new environment.

thanks everyone....i'm sure we'll survive....three boys, three different personalities....i'm sure i'll have 3 very different trips all in the same car!!!

well the cages are out (one of the fellas is sleeping in it as i write)....the toys and beds are almost all packed.....and soon we flee!! thanks again for your input....

take care all

L