Anyone have a road-loving housecat?

It depends on the individual cat. We came out with 2 eight years ago and one is still with us, the other became quite destructive and we had to leave him in a no kill shelter.

My cat loved to travel. I think that a lot of it is in your own attitude - if you're concerned that the cat isn't going to like it, he'll pick up on that feeling and be anxious; if you're relaxed, he'll be relaxed.

We'd let him roam around the truck while we drove down the road. He'd usually just curl up in my lap while I drove, or he'd sit and look out the window; on bumpy washboard, he'd usually lie down on the passenger floormat. The only concession we made was his litter box - we put it in the back seat of the truck. Apart from that, he traveled as well as the dog.

I miss that cat - but the ex took him when we split.

Other posters have given you excellent answers. We went fulltime when our cat was 14. The first year or so we let her travel in the 5'r, then discovered she was getting pushed around (broken teeth). After that, she traveled in the truck with us and did just fine. There are some cats that won't adapt and some dogs that yap all the time, depends on the animal.

You can't generalize and say cats don't like to travel. We recently got two 5 yr olds that have never been out of the house, and we travel with them and our dog often. In fact, the male likes to sit on the dash while driving. They're great company and will learn to like it. Also, we don't let them out at all. I put him in a harness and leash but he really didn't like being out in the big world.

Not a problem Our "old boy" is broken to the leash to walk and can't understand why he can't go into Arby's, his favorite.. He likes to walk the mall and talk to people.

It's all training. Teach them young and you'll find they are easier to handle then a dog.

cannesdo wrote:
I've contemplated getting a cat but know they aren't fond of traveling. And how do you know if the cat you get is one that can cope with the traveling? I don't move that often but don't like the idea of drugging it. Also not crazy about not letting it explore outside.

Any problems with RV parks?

Who says they don't like to travel?

We have a motorhome and one of the reasons we chose it was because our girls (we had two then) wouldn't have to move, just jump up on their couches in their home and away we go. Took one trip for them to understand (and they were 9 and 16 at the time) that this is what life was going to be about. Both learned to walk on a leash. 8 years latter, our youngster is now 16 (Kit passed away after 3 yrs on the road at 19) she has traveled over 80,000 miles, been in 46 of the lower 48 as well as 3 Maritime provinces, takes a 30 minute walk each evening around the RV park and this is just part of her life.

As long as you are there and you don't get upset, they adapt just fine.

Barb

It just depends on the cat. We had two that seemed to love traveling and one that hated it. We stayed at a motel one trip and when we were loading up to cruise around for the day, the hater would try to escape the car and run back into the motel room. The two lovers liked to ride in the front MH window and would go under the couch when they wanted rest periods. One was an outdoor lover (he roamed at home) that would try to get out though. If we just watched him from afar for a little while he would forget about us, start exploring and then we could walk up to him and pick him up.

Our first is a shelter cat gotten about four years ago. Got another shelter cat last summer for company for the older. Big mistake! Older hates the younger even after 10 months together. She is smaller than the young tom and will go out of her way to swat/hiss at him. He's laid back and doesn't retaliate a bit. Just life I suppose.

We full-time with 2 cats. We got them as kittens and they overwhelmed an older cat, so we took her to our DD's to live out her retirement.

They don't like the walk from the 5er to the Truck, but once in their soft-sided cage, they usually settle in for the day's trip. Sleeping, cleaning each other or meowing for a scratch.

Ours don't like to eat or drink (or use the litter box) on the road, so we don't like to drive much longer than 4-6 hrs. Once we stop and set back up for the night or for a few months, they sniff around the RV and then go jump on their cat tree to look out the window and see what bugs, birds or people are doing outside.

They make great traveling companions.

We full time with 3 cats (used to be 4) and we have had 2-4 cats at all times over the last 17 years. 1 loves to go outside which is OK, but only on a lease, the other 2 have never left the coach unless in a carrier. Even when brought home for the first time they explore, fight with each other and then curl up and go bad to sleep. Nice life!