Cats and camping

[Christian in FL]

Hi all, I am planning a long trip up the east coast and would like to take my old cat along. My concerns are his age, 17 yes, and his stress. The only trips he has gone on are @ 30 min one way to be vaccinated. In the carrier he 'yowls' at a desperate volume.

I am pretty sure I could keep him comfortable temp wise, and safe from critters. I want to fulltime next fall so this is something I need to figure out. Your input, experience and advice are welcome.

I will travel north camping in my truck to retrieve my Boler. I will also have my service dog, a 75 lb American Bulldog, with me. Traveling south we will have the TT. Thanks

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[Christian in FL]

My cat is 17 years old and healthy.

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[CindyL]

We take 3 of our cats camping. One howls for a while and then just crawls into his carrier and sleeps. The others travel well. We leave water, food, and a litter pan out for them to use. Two certainly do use the litter pan. Needless to say, as soon as deposited, we stop and hubby deals with it.

It can be done, but you could possibly travel with a howler for a while.


CindyL

[Kevin A]

As Cindy mentioned, we get some howling early on in the trip. Our cats are totally indoor animals and don't really like their pet carriers. When in the our van, we open the end of the carriers so they can see that they are not confined. This calms them quite a bit. One likes to wander in the van a bit, but we put extra sleeping places for her (blanket, pillow, etc.) and she settles down pretty quickly.

The thing to try is to drive a bit without the trip to the vet. I'm sure your cat has always associated the driving with the vet stop at the end. Maybe just take a leisurely drive to a park and sit for a while? Does the cat get along with the dog in the car? Maybe they could ride together in a carrier?

[Christian in FL]

Thanks for the input and the association is likely. He does tend to mostly sleep at home (he is an old man). I can keep him cool while driving with ac.

My dog and cat do get along, but probably not in the same carrier.

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[Eddie Longest]

Our cat is in training for a long East Coast trip. Like Kevin says make him think he is not going to the Vet. Get some cat treats to give to him after each trip. (Wally World) We bought a harness and leash from Amazon. Lay it by his food tray for several feedings, then rub the harness on him for a while several times then try to slip it on him. It took several trys to get it adjusted but it does not bother him now.
Amazon has some herbal calming pet treats but trying not to go there if we can avoid it.
Eddie

[Christian in FL]

I have used rescue remedy with good effect when he HAD to have a bath, a major traumatic event for my old man. I am wondering, did anyone have trouble getting into campgrounds? He is an inside cat and will be well contained.... I am planning on setting up a dog crate for him to hang out in at camp.

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[cpaharley2008]

Tidewater Jack travels with a Maine Coon cat in his Bigfoot. He installed a pet door under his bed that allow the cat access to the litter box. This space is also accessible from the outside via a compartment door for ease of emptying. The cat stays on his bed with the door open and sometimes he walks the cat on leash. while traveling he has the carrier on the back seat open and allows the cat free roam of the vehicle.
I'd suggest you get all your travel pets microchipped with your cell phone number in case they do escape.

[Marjorie M.]

There's a good ebook on Amazon called "RVing with Pets" that has a lot about cats. Would answer lots of your Qs. No affiliation, just thought it was worth mentioning.

[Christian in FL]

Thanks everyone. I have decided to delay my trip a few days in order to take my old man (cat) for a few short rides to places other than the vet. Hopefully this will make the trip easier on us all and will bring cooler weather.

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[pogophile]

I "inherited" our 19 your old neutered male from my Dad. On the four hour drive to my home, the cat never stopped yowling at amazing volume. I was surprised it did not kill him.

A week later I discovered he actually enjoyed a nice car ride! The secret was that he hated being trapped in his carrier. If allowed out, he would seek the nearest lap, place his nose to the nearest window, and study the passing scene for hours (between cat naps of course).

Water bowl and small litter box on the back seat floor, and he became a happy traveler.

Good Luck Lisa!

[Maur]

Arabella kitty, now 8 yrs, has been traveling since she was an infant. She wears her harness while in the car and is teathered with a leash attached in the backseat. She can get up to the front seat, on the console, to watch out. But this arrangement keeps her from flying forward in an emergency, and makes it easy to grab her to remove her from the car, should I have an accident. BTW she still complains for 10 minutes when we start out on a trip.

[Glenn Baglo]

Consumer show I heard recently revealed that there are no standards for animal restraints, sold for vehicles. Many of them kill or injure the pet, but no effort is made to redesign them and no government agency that tests them.

[Kardon]

When we realized that our (indoor) cat would have to travel cross country (Calif. to Maine) with us, I started at least 6 weeks ahead of time. I biught a carrier and took the door off and started feeding him in it. By the time we left, the door was back on and if it was off the latch he could get in and out on his own, he was eating and sleeping in it and we had a calm and comfortable trip across with him, his cat box and carrier, a teenage boy and two adults in my Ford Escort (no trailer then) He woulddn't use the box in the car but he was leash trained already and he enjoyed the motel stays which we had no problem with. He is pushing 15 now and I would (in fact have) travel with him again.

[Maur]

Re: no standard for restraints for pets- yes, I am aware. The lack of adequate, safe restraints for cats is unfortunate. Lots for dogs, but not appropriate for cats. I had to go with what feels right to me, and minimizes driver distraction, a big deal for me.

[Christian in FL]

I would not restrain any animal with a harness in a moving car. I have heard of too many dogs who end up dying of broken necks. The harness stops the body but not the head so....My plan is cat in the carrier, carrier belted in. My dog rides on the front seat or front floor, so I usually do the soccer mom arm extended save. I know this is not for everyone and I do not expect it to be so, I am sharing what works for me.
I suspect my old man is too old for leash training, but might try it in the future.

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[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Maur

The lack of adequate, safe restraints for cats is unfortunate. Lots for dogs, but not appropriate for cats.

The point is that there may be restraints for dogs, but they are not tested and many do more damage than they prevent.

[Christian in FL]

No problem, every pet and every driver have individual preferences. Thanks everyone for sharing what works for you. Now I'm off to take my old man for a car ride.

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[Gennaver]

Hi,

I'm planing on full timing it and suddenly have a cat. I figure he'll full time with me. Although I won't be going anywhere for the first year but will live locally at RV parks as I can until I move. Still, the cat is at the kennel for the next two weeks and will see how finding, purchasing and moving into a trailer in a weekend when I come back works out.

Thing is, I'm staying at a motel now and cats aren't allowed. I was planning to move into the future RV when I got it but, now I have to move out anyways.

Glad to read this thread and realize that a cat can stay in an RV. Heck, if dogs and people do, why not kitties? Thank you again.

edit to add: I got a carrier that can be seat belted in. Safety for driver without distractions is safety for all, right?

[Cathi]

It is a good idea to have a note signed by you attached to the pet carrier that says a vet can perform surgery or give needed care to your pet if you should be injured and someone else takes your (maybe injured) pet. Can include description, age and home vet. Same inside trailer.