Do you keep Cat caged while traveling

[Geobiker]

We're going on a long road trip in our Class C and will take our cat with us. She loves snuggling up in her bed IN the clothes closet while we are at our campsite, but to keep her in her small cat carrier day after day while we are on the road is worrysome. Naturally we would stop every couple hours so she could use the kitty box, stretch her legs, etc., but we're wondering what others are doing who travel with a cat??? She has only gone on short trips thus far so we really don't know what to expect. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[sue_t]

Dearly departed Fang did many RV miles with us. She was never crated, but was harnessed. A door was never opened without Fang being leashed or tethered. She also walked well on leash so we had a small flexilead for her and she'd join our dog walks. She did all her cat things leashed ... using a tree for a scratching post, chasing mice, spitting at strange dogs, etc.

In the Class C it was easy for her, she liked the upper bunk.

With the truck and fifth wheel, she would ride in the truck with us, on a blanket between her humans. The dog rode in the supercab portion. She was always leashed inside the truck, with the other end of the leash attached to my seat lever. When it was time to go to the fifth wheel, I'd hook on the flexilead and disconnect the leash, and out we'd go.

At night, her harness was removed but it went back on again first thing in the morning.

She learned to do all her business when we stopped.

Her last long trip was at age 19, her kidneys were fussy then. So we had a littler box in the truck and in the fifth wheel. And we usually tried to park the fifth wheel so she could lay in the sun on the back of the couch.

[SueMcD]

rockhillmanor wrote:

Do you keep Cat caged while traveling

Yup. Soft side crate with open mesh was the only crate my cat finally agreed upon for RV'ing! :B
Room for comfy bed, food/water and at the other end litter box. Crate folds up complete flat in a 12" round for out of the way storage when parked at CG. I DIY'd mine to stay in place with piece of plywood with 2 legs to fit in corner of bedroom. Makes for a nice clean place for litter box and to contain cat when needed.

I was looking for something like this. Can you tell me the brand name or where you bought it?

[WandaLust2]

l001952119 wrote:
hem in cages as they need to have freedom of movement when they choose! The only potential problem leaving cats loose is when they can hide in a concealed area of the slideout, that prevents you from opening the slide.

This what our boy cat Zebulon does. 😞 He crawls in the space under the sofa and manages to get under the oven. The sofa is on the kitchen side and both are on the slide. To get him out we have to unscrew the wood front under the oven... a real PIA. He would be crushed if we moved the slide with him under there. So before we even bring them in from the TV, we run the slide out and install their outdoor kitty-cage to the bedroom window. As soon as they're free they run to the window to get in the outside cage and check out the scenery. 🙂 After 15 to 20 minutes they're ready to eat, drink and hit the litterpans. Then they go back out an take naps, enjoying the fresh air. That outside cage keeps them from being underfoot all the time in such a confined space. Our TT is 8X28 with only one slide.

[rockhillmanor]

I'll just add that even if you make sure all doors are locked etc......
If you are involved in an accident the first thing that is going to happen is the EMT's are going to open the door and OUT goes any cat or dog onto the highway that is not secured in a crate while traveling in a vehicle.

[D_E_Bishop]

Our 16yo tom went to AK and back and I only crated him twice, once to go to a kitty hotel and once to leave the kitty hotel and go back to the MoHo. The kitty hotel was necessary because we flew around for ten days. His hotel was actually a hospital as he needed daily care for kidney failure. His bed was under mine in an empty cabinet but he preferred mine.

[wny_pat1]

Once underway, we let them out of their soft sided carriers and let them have free range of the motorhome(don't have slideouts). It stays that way until we get back home when they go back into their carriers to go back into the stick house. They are alway very happy to get back home. They are not super happy about traveling anywhere, but once we get to where we are going, they settle in to the new environment. Biggest problem I have is keeping them out from under my feet!! Have to be careful about that, as it could be dangerous!!!

[WandaLust2]

Geobiker wrote:
We're going on a long road trip in our Class C and will take our cat with us. She loves snuggling up in her bed IN the clothes closet while we are at our campsite, but to keep her in her small cat carrier day after day while we are on the road is worrysome. Naturally we would stop every couple hours so she could use the kitty box, stretch her legs, etc., but we're wondering what others are doing who travel with a cat??? She has only gone on short trips thus far so we really don't know what to expect. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

We have 4 cats and make several trips a year where we're on the road for several days. We have 2 large cages, one with 3 shelves. The cats travel in them. There is room for small litterpans, which they will use as the TV rocks and rolls down the Interstate. The male rides by himself in his own cage w/a small litterpan. 4 cats in the bigger cage is too cramped. Of course at night they're brought in the TT with us where they have their regular litterpans and food and water bowls and even a tall three shelf cat-condo.

We have a class-C also that we plan to use on the cross-country trip. In that case, since we'll be on the road so much, they'll ride in the back bedroom - loose. I don't know how that will work out but there is no room in the CC for their cages and keeping them in carriers that many hours a day would be cruel.

[Geobiker]

Many thanks to all who have responded to our concerns with some really good suggestions. We have bullet proofed the area of concern around the BR slide so she can't squeeze in there and will start out by giving her the freedom within the coach rather than penning her up in her small cat carrier. We've put an extra latch on the screen door so even if we try to enter the coach from the outside it will be a reminder to us that the cat is out. Hopefully this will work. Happy travels to all. Thanks again

[LastOfTheBohica]

We have both of the items that RockhillManor posted pictures of.

We use the open mesh crate (large enough for two cats to move around ) while we are driving. We will open it once we are on the highway and the chances of sudden stops or opening doors is at a minimum. Once we are in the city, back in they go and the flap gets zippered up.

We take a disposable litter tray with us and set it up on the floor. In the seven years we have traveled with them, the cats have used the tray at most five times. It is insurance only.

At the campsite, they stay in the crate until all the slides are deployed and everything is set up.

We use the cat tunnel at campsites when the male seems really nervous about going loose on his leader, but still demands to be outside.

[l001952119]

We had a class-C and travelled with two adult cats. They used the overhead bunk area as their "hideout." But, we did leave two cages in the overhead area with the doors open for their ultimate security area. I would definitely not lock them in cages as they need to have freedom of movement when they choose! The only potential problem leaving cats loose is when they can hide in a concealed area of the slideout, that prevents you from opening the slide. A scared cat is not cooperative and will decide when and if it wants to come out of a closed area. Just give them their freedom of movement and they will adapt. Enjoy your travels. Cats behave better than children!

[rockhillmanor]

I've seen RV'ers using this for their cat at Cg's.

[DougE]

If your cat does get out try this trick that worked with my (normally outdoor at home) cat. I would ignore him for a few minutes rather than chasing him immediately. He would shortly get distracted and start exploring. Then I could walk right up to him and pick him up.

[rockhillmanor]

Do you keep Cat caged while traveling

Yup. Soft side crate with open mesh was the only crate my cat finally agreed upon for RV'ing! :B
Room for comfy bed, food/water and at the other end litter box. Crate folds up complete flat in a 12" round for out of the way storage when parked at CG. I DIY'd mine to stay in place with piece of plywood with 2 legs to fit in corner of bedroom. Makes for a nice clean place for litter box and to contain cat when needed.

[bamcote]

One cat is in one of those collapsible wire dog crates and the other one is loose. The crated one gets breaks frequently. She just is not a good traveler to have running across the dashboard or near the feet of the driver. The other one is on the lap or absorbing heat off the doghouse or eating, like we aren't't even moving.