Anyone have a road-loving housecat?

[cannesdo]

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?

[Ohiojude]

We travel with our 3 furboys, all are 4 years old. We put the litterbox in the bathroom. Have had no issues in the 5vr or traveling. We live in PA and they have traveled all over the east coast and several southern states. We put a litterbox, water and feed bowl on the floor in the back and they are fine.

[Dustytuu]

Our 14 year old tom cat travels well. He sometimes rides in the truck and other times if the weather is not cold or hot he rides in the bathroom area of the 5th wheel in his nice soft cat bed.
He also likes to ride on the console in the truck in between the front seats, so he can see outside and down the road. Or in back seat with the dogs. He is a large Maine Coon cat who weighs 22 pounds and is not over weight, just a big kitty.

[vegasken34]

Our 9yr. old cat hasn't known any home but the motor home. When the engine starts she runs to the bedroom, but after a few miles , she is on the dash
taking in the scenery. She loves going out on her leash and investigating the out side world. I can't imagine a happier cat.

[Skid_Row_Joe]

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?

I'm not fond of people drugging their animals, when it's not necessary. I've travelled with a cat for years in the coach and never had the problems that some seem to have with theirs. I certainly don't lock it up in a cage while moving either. My cat was a perfect travel companion when motorcoaching on the road.

[CA_Traveler]

Modification: Our last cat was 2 years old when she adopted us. She had never had any human contact and lived outside with her mother. I opened the door and with time she was a family member.

My point of these 2 posts is that in spite of what normally gets posted cats can be trained.

OK, not really as they train you but it all works out. :B

[CA_Traveler]

We took our young cats everywhere in the car and motorhome. They youled for a month and then were over it. Then they would just sleep while in any vehicle.

Our cats were family members and only went outside on a leash. When they would get tangled with the leash, etc it wasn't perfect but they were family members.

We never used cages, except on a airline, period. We left a red leash on in the MH as it was easier to identify where they were when we stopped and no slide moved until we knew where they were.

So without problems we had them in vehicles, boats and yes airplanes. Several trips under the seat from CA to FL. Sometimes kids would see them in the Atlanta airport and it was good for all of us, psst... don't tell Delta.

For us it was just a matter of training.

Our last cat would see the MH getting ready for a trip and she would run to the door to be inside! We'd just close the MH door and bring her in for the night before we left the next morning. Sadly she is no longer with us and for many reasons I get sad writing this post.

[sowego]

We've had 2 that did ok with whatever we did and where ever we went. But the latest cat can't stand it and I don't know if she'll ever be great. It could be on our next long trip (she's only been on short trips) she'll figure out how to get along with it ok.

I'd get a weanling kitten and if you are traveling it should more easily learn to adjust. Older cats that can't stand noise or movement may not be as easy to do that.

[JAL_Camper]

We've camped with three cats. First one, God rest his soul, loved it. Second one we took camping hated it -- Would pant like a dog in the car and meow all night and never settle down. Third one we now take is a one year old who absolutely loves camping. All are indoor cats and we put them in pet carrier when transporting them to/from house/TV/trailer.

It really depends on temperament of cat. If we ever do full time, I'm sure we'll have a cat with us.

[Sez_Hoo_]

I think if you get your cat as a kitten it will gro acustomed to traveling. When we first started full timing our house cat would get motion sick about an hour after getting on the road. After 2 yrs she never did adjust to being on the road. Our new cat started out as a kitten. It took her a few roadtrips but she is comfortable being on the road.

[RVfunx2]

Our cat has been just fine when we've taken extended trips. She's a total house cat but loves sitting at the screen door checking out the world. She also travels in the fifth wheel in the bedroom/bath area where we find her perched up on the bed when we stop. Life is good for Sophie....:)

[luvglass]

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.

[Brynjolf]

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.

[missourijan]

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.

[jbbrick]

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.