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Travel with cats
Yahoo Message Number: 56071
Hi Lilla, Sounds like you are well prepared to introduce your cats to RVing. The cat I've taken along with me is still under a year old, and is odd in that she showed no fear of traveling when I adopted her in LA and drove her home to Sacramento. RVing may not be her choice of activities, but she adjusts nicely once she is put in the rig.
 Those  folks I've talked to who RV with cats all made sure the cats had a safe hiding place that they could retreat to when frightened. They all venture out sooner or later, depending upon how brave they are.  My Amelia's choice is under and behind the club chair. (She plays with the dog leads hanging along the wall there.) Other than that, I keep a well fitted harness on her when she travels, and always attach a lead whenever I take her out of the rig, even if just carrying her for a few minutes.
 I know one woman who turned her previously feral cat into an RVer, so I suspect that they all will adjust to it eventually. Have fun in your travels.
Doris
Travel with cats
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56072
You make a very important point.
 We always keep a collar with a tag that has our cellphone number on our cat if there is the slightest chance she might get out or be let out.
She normally never goes outside anywhere, at home or away, so the chance is minmimal. But one never can tell.
 As for a leash and harness ... well she can be dragged but she will not walk on a leash.  ;-))  She will follow me around our fairly large house all day long but she will not tolerate a leash.

I keep a well fitted harness on her when she travels, and always attach a lead whenever I take her out of the rig, even if just carrying her for a few minutes.
Re: Travel with cats
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56073
A few years before my last two cats went to the great cat box in the sky, I thought it would be a great idea to take them along on trips and save the $15.00 per day cat sitter fee.  They were older cats, and yowled (ear-piercing, pitiful, throat-rendering wails!) in their crates when going to the vet, so I thought that taking them (sans crates) on a
3-hour shakedown cruise around the neighborhood and to a local mall to
 park for a while would be a good test to see if we all could make it in the RV.
 One of the cats remained in a state of "catalepsy" on the floor of the cab for the entire test drive/park; the other drooled, hissed, spit, squalled, shredded a curtain and pooped in the driver's seat.  I went home and wrote a check to the cat sitter.

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Travel with cats
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56074
that's hilarious. I'm sure mine will wail awhile as they do on trips to the vet. Hopefully they will wear themselves out quickly. Or, maybe I should pack earplugs!

Thanks to everyone for the advice. Harnesses are a good idea. And, I'm going to get new tags with the cell number, instead of my home number. I think they'll settle down. I'm going to be gone for about 4 months.

It will be an adventure!

Lilla
Re: Travel with cats
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56081
We've always had cats, and they always checked out everything with their noses.  So when we would move, or they had to stay at the vets for a few days, I would have my husband wear one of his old T-shirts overnight so it would have his smell, and I would do the same with an old gown or house dress.  Then put in the carrier, or box, whatever, and they would settle in pretty good.  Also, it seemed like material that was all cotton worked the best, and no fabric softener.
 Oh, and a vet told me to buy up enough that you don't have to change brands for their diet or litter for at least a week, preferably 3 or
4.  And you might start adding bottled water to their bowl so they
 will get used to the taste.  Then just add some to their water while traveling.

What she was getting at was that the more you can keep the same for the cats, the less stress they will go through.  If they have a favorite pillow or toy, whatever, take it with you, no matter how much you want to throw the stuff in the trash, you can do that later down the road one piece at a time, after they have adjusted to all the big changes in their lives.
 Oh, and she said this is not the time to change "our" smells either.
Use same brand soap, toothpaste, you get the idea.

Hope some of this helps.

Shirl
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Travel with cats
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56091
Joan wrote - (snip) . . . save the $15.00 per day cat sitter fee., One of the cats remained in a state of "catalepsy" on the floor of the cab for the entire test drive/park; the other drooled, hissed, spit, squalled, shredded a curtain and pooped in the driver's seat.  I went home and wrote a check to the cat sitter. . . .

Joan - your description is so great! It had me howling,

Sarah
 
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Travel with cats
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56094
It's good to know there are so many kitties out there happily traveling.
The way I look at this is that this trip of 4 months is going to be stressful on all of us for a while. But it would be more stressful for me if I didn't have my furry pals with me.

thanks for all the suggestions.
Lilla