He's pretending to catch his own dinner:)

I've met very few cats who enjoy car rides, so if it's only twice a year, I wouldn't spend the time and create the anxiety that it would take to get him used to it. Just my thoughts.

I had a cat who reacted terribly to car rides: he would vomit, pee and poo inside the carrier and wail the entire time, even if it was just a 10 minute ride. It didn't matter how big the carrier or how pleasant the destination. I was moving alot at that time and was desperate to find a way to make it easier on both of us. I finally did, and here's how: First, I would start dosing him with Rescue Remedy at least an hour or two before getting into the car. If you haven't yet tried this, you can find Bach's Flower Essence Rescue Remedy in any health food and most better pet stores. It's supposed to be a calming tonic for humans and animals alike. Then, I had to be a passenger while someone else drove. I kept the carrier on my lap, with the top open (I always use a carrier that opens from the top anyway, because its easier than fighting to get a cat in sideways when its legs are splayed out over the small opening!) Then I would just pet my kitty while we drove, and I found that he was much more relaxed. It worked like a charm. In fact once I moved 5 hours away, he did absolutely fabulous on the entire ride...I was even able to get out and have some lunch while he napped! I think it's being contained in such a small area that freaks them out the most, so if you have someone else that can help you by driving while you comfort Max, that may help a lot. Incidentally, I did try on my last move, to just dose him because my BF & I had two vehicles filled with stuff so we both needed to drive. That time poor Napoleon didn't do so well - he went back to spewing bodily fluids out of every orifice possible, so I tend to think it was more the open carrier with comforting caresses that did the trick. Good luck!