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rwj146's avatar
rwj146
Explorer
Jul 25, 2017

Taking Cat With Me

I have a two year old cat that is, for lack of a better word, a 'fraidy cat. She's very skittish about being outside although when I open the door she always bolts to the threshold then puts on the brakes.

I've had her since she was 2 weeks old, hand raised after her mother was killed and has never been hurt or harmed in any way.

I bought a small travel trailer and want to travel a bit while my health allows me. I want to take her, she's not your normal lapcat, she will lay down beside me on the sofa but if I pet her more than a couple of times she leaves.

I worry about her riding in the cab of my truck and freaking out or scaring her badly, things I don't want to do.

A neighbor has offered to adopt her and that may be the best thing as I am pretty sure she will outlive me.

Does anyone have advice on how to keep her calm in the truck?

Thanks
  • mama_sylvia's avatar
    mama_sylvia
    Explorer
    Jul 27, 2017
    We just bought a motor home (although we have had them before) and I too am wondering if our 2 cats should come along or not. One is a fraidy cat (an enormous Russian Blue mix) and the other is a bully and the reason they don't get along. I am planning on an overnight "test trip" in August and figured I'll try bringing them along. But I sure miss our sweet dog, she loved travelling in the motor home and quickly recognized it as "pack territory" so she was perfectly content even when we went outside and left her there.
  • BizmarksMom's avatar
    BizmarksMom
    Explorer
    Jul 26, 2017
    I have one cat who does not travel well at all. He completely freaks out.
    I have 2 others who are fine. I put them in their carriers and they fall asleep.

    The one cat had to be heavily sedated when I moved, and I made sure I drove that in a straight shot. (13 hours in a stuffed to the gills pickup with 3 dogs and 3 cats in the back seat) It was the road trip from hell. He'll never go farther than the vet from now on.

    The other 2 might come along with me when I head to Alaska next year, along with the dogs.
  • susan-y's avatar
    susan-y
    Explorer
    Jul 26, 2017
    I've gone cross country a couple of times with cats. They were "free range" while traveling but when I stopped I would poke them in the carrier before opening an outside door. When I was in for the night they were free to roam again. Worked great.
  • Whaler's avatar
    Whaler
    Explorer
    Jul 26, 2017
    We are resuming travel and will have to take our cat too. She has only gone a short distance in the MH and was not happy. She will visit us inside while parked in the driveway just to be nosey. She is not a lap cat and all attention is on her terms. We bought all the recommended beds, cages and lavender plus will take her familiar items. I hope she adapts but don't think she will and I am concerned she will escape. Most likely will not return if so. Good luck with your kitty.
  • rwj146's avatar
    rwj146
    Explorer
    Jul 25, 2017
    She is such an odd cat, every time she sees me coming in I am greeted at the door by her wanting out. Normally I hold the door open for her and she comes about half way out sniffs the air from a crouch and sees or hears something and shoots back in.

    I came home after grocery shopping and had an armful of sacks and my lousy hip was on fire. When I opened the door she went out, I came in and the door closed but didn't latch. I sat down for a minute to let my hip calm down and she came through the door, pushing it open and was a small grey flash to under my bed. I looked outside and there was nothing and no one around.

    She's good company and her little quirks are funny.
  • Michelle_S's avatar
    Michelle_S
    Explorer III
    Jul 25, 2017
    All you can do is give it a try. We're traveling with two American Shorthairs. Like you, our two may very well out live me. Neither were ever outside cats and traveling they ride in a cage in the back seat area of our truck, would never leave them in the camper when traveling. One just lays down and passes out and hardly moves, the other rests, but never seems to close her eyes, they each have a bed and water, food, and litter box. Both have logged more miles than many people.
  • garyemunson's avatar
    garyemunson
    Explorer II
    Jul 25, 2017
    Some cats take to travelling, some never do.. We're lucky to have adopted one who loves to travel. Probably will be our last as, like you, if we got another, it would probably outlive us. I feel so bad for pets whose owners die.

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