Re: Travel with cats, dogs, lizards, birds, monkeys, etc. Reply #25 – April 17, 2009, 06:42:12 pm Yahoo Message Number: 101534"is it best to tow a car if you travel with a cat so that I would only be leaving him in the rv in the park. I know conditions can change as some have mentioned on this topic but if I can't go out and sightsee some (I know he would not like to go sightseeing) I may as well wait till I no longer have a cat." I'm not sure I understand what difference the car would make to the cat situation. If you don't have a car, you'll probably do less sightseeing overall... but your cat will be staying in the rig either way, so from his point of view it won't matter. I've done it both ways. I traveled full-time for almost two years with an elderly cat and no car. When she died at age 18, I acquired a 3-year-old cat and traveled for another two years with no car. Now I have a car, and my cat is 6. having a car has made possible a lot more sightseeing, but it hasn't affected my cat--either the old one or the new one. :-)You can read more about my cats here:http://www.andybaird.com/travels/skylarking/new-home/marie.htm>... and more about towing a car here:http://www.andybaird.com/travels/skylarking/2009/fit.htm>...and here:http://www.andybaird.com/travels/skylarking/2009/towing.htm> I know several other Lazy Daze owners who travel with cats in their late teens, so it certainly can be done. My elderly cat was actually happier living in my RV than she had been in my apartment, because everything she needed was close at hand, and I was usually within arm's reach as well.Hope this helps!Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Travel with cats Reply #26 – April 18, 2009, 02:34:38 pm Yahoo Message Number: 101547Quote Have any of you cat people traveled with a cat and no toad? If so does that mean you need a generator if you were to park someplace overly hot to sightsee? How does that work? Nancy-- wannabee in Atlanta > That's a very good question, Nancy. Thanks for asking!Quote This soon-to-be ex-wannabe with a geriatric cat (18 yrs) would be interested in other people's experiences leaving an animal alone during the day in the RV. I'm assuming we can leave the over-cab windows open, plus vents (assuming no rain). Is that correct? I've been out of internet contact for a few days, so sorry if this re-activates an old string. Our maiden voyage in our then-new '06 23TK (delivered in 3/07) was to the Utah parks via Las Vegas, where Loni had a convention. We took our 16 year old cat. Because we needed to be close to the convention, we had to stay at the KOA at the former Circus Circus RV park. Huge parking lot affair with virtually no trees, and none at our site. We plugged in to the power, started the A/C, left plenty of water and some open roof vents, and took off. Thank you, Dometic. While we were out, the start capacitor failed when it was cycling on. When we came back late at night (still 100+ outside), the cat was a limp noodle on the floor, and the interior was well over 100. Cat survived, but barely. Moral 1: You can't trust a Dometic product, be it a fridge or an A/C. The engineer types here will explain better than I can, but I was told to leave the fan setting on at least medium to keep the thing from freezing up, and never to leave it running on the "variable" setting. Don't know whether that would have prevented my start capacitor failure. Moral 2: Don't leave your pet unattended in the rig in anything but moderate weather. See Moral 1. -- Jon
Re: Travel with cats Reply #27 – April 18, 2009, 02:46:00 pm Yahoo Message Number: 101548Thanks, Jon. I for one am very happy you opened the thread again, because this is a tale worth telling... and remembering.I also appreciated Helen's and Linda's previous comments and tips!Martha
Re: A/C freezing up Reply #28 – April 18, 2009, 03:23:41 pm Yahoo Message Number: 101551"...but I was told to leave the fan setting on at least medium to keep the thing from freezing up, and never to leave it running on the "variable" setting..." -- Jon Guess we all have to deal with a/c freeze-up. Here's a tip I just read to minimize chances for freeze-up: "Set the thermostat to a reasonably moderate setting. Setting the thermostat to a temperature closer to the actual inside temp will allow the AC's compressor to cycle. This will give the AC a chance to shed any frost before kicking back on again. I've known some people who set the thermostat 40 to 50 degrees lower than the ambient room air, and then wonder why it freezes up and doesn't work. If you need to set the temperature lower, wait until the AC reaches the desired temperature and, after several minutes, turn it down a couple more degrees. If you won't be around to monitor your RVs cooling requirements, besides setting your temperature to a moderate level, you should also turn the fan switch from Auto to On. This will help the AC to disburse excess moisture and frost. With the fan control in the On position, the fan runs continuously while the compressor only runs when cooling is needed."Chris
Re: Travel with cats Reply #29 – April 18, 2009, 07:04:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 101561Hi My 2 cents worth! I really missed my old cat who passed on to the mouse heaven above. Two years ago I got 2 3m old kittens (brothers) & right away trained them to a harness, leashes & the car. All went well & that winter I took them south with me for the winter season. I bird so am often gone long hours during the day & figured they'd be company for each other. Things went pretty well but the thing I didn't anticipate was their activity level. They really needed a lot of exercise or they'd get bored, restless & discontent & get into "trouble" when I was gone. Nothing horrible or unusual but I found the best thing was to walk them lots & putting them out in their screen house which they really liked. They'd watch animals, etc. & vice versa. After returning, they kept growing & ended up being very large cats. Also they continued being very active enjoying running up & down the stairs at home, etc. & going outside on their leashes & screen house. This winter I left them at home. I couldn't imagine those big cats romping in the LD. Fortunately I have a gal that likes to escape her own home & come live with the cats at my house. I just got back 2 days ago & they have been very happy without me & with me. But for these cats home works best & also for me. Also, decided to let them free & be indoor/outdoor cats which they just love!just my exerience! Pat
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