Keeping pets cool while parked, no AC in rig?

[Naio]

Hello all --

My kitty who was attacked by the pit bull has developed diabetes. My guess is that he was going to anyway, and the stress put him over the edge.

I was planning to leave him, and my other cat, in a friend's care this fall/winter, as I did last year, but now I am not sure. I am considering taking him with me.

It would be tight, the two of us in a small van. And I would have to take him on a trial run to see if he can adapt to camping. Maybe you folks have suggestions?

My main concern is keeping him cool during the day when I am out. I don't think he would go for an outdoor cage. I do have a large folding one, but the one time I put him in it overnight (indoors, for a painful paw injury) he clawed at the cage all night until I decided he was doing more damage to his injury in the cage than he would if I let him out. So, that did not go well.

Inside the van, how would I keep him cool? Is there some kind of tiny AC I can run off a generator? A small S&B one seems too big, and too heavy. I don't suppose I can leave a generator going when I am out, but at least I could come back midday and turn it on for a while to cool the rig down.

I tried googling but just found a zillion little swamp coolers, which sounded mold-inducing to me, in a vehicle.

What do you all think? Ice packs?

I figure when I am at camp he can be outside on a leash. I've done that at home (since the attack) and he finds the leash mildly annoying but no big deal. But of course it would be unsafe if I am not there!

[GypsySeniors]

I know this is a rough time for you and Kitty...so glad he is improving...I would want to take him with me too...he will need regular blood checks at a vet to monitor his sugar...The hot van issue is a worry though.

[Naio]

GypsySeniors wrote:
Do you live in your van year-round? If the temp in your van is 90 degrees plus...I don't think it would
Be healthy to leave him in there at all even with a fan...are you giving him medication for his diabetes...that is a tricky condition to regulate in cats especially if you are on the road and moving around a lot...you really need to rethink this.

Well, it is either bring him with me and I medicate him, or leave him and someone else medicates him. I kind of trust myself more, you know?

OTOH, if traveling stresses him, that would not be good. He might adapt but I don't know yet.

Rethinking is what I am doing... lots of rethinking...and I am glad to have input.

[GypsySeniors]

Do you live in your van year-round? If the temp in your van is 90 degrees plus...I don't think it would
Be healthy to leave him in there at all even with a fan...are you giving him medication for his diabetes...that is a tricky condition to regulate in cats especially if you are on the road and moving around a lot...you really need to rethink this.

[Naio]

Golden_HVAC wrote:
I have three Fantastic fans, and a solar system to keep the battery full.

It worked great, and kept the inside within 2F of the outside air temp!

Fred.

That's a good point -- enough air movement and it can be the same temp as outside. I was just overthinking.

It is 100 degrees where I am now, so I am biased towards AC and my brain is slightly curdled ;).

darsben wrote:
Where are you going IN THE WINTER that will be so hot a fan will not cool the cat off.

I was going to leave early fall. And I think my van got to 90 in daytimes in the southern bits of the US last December, when it was 80 outside.

That and a good haircut/shave will keep your cat a real cool cat.

Yeah, the vet suggested this. I dunno if longhaired cat wants to change his furstyle...

Thank, guys :).

[darsben]

Where are you going IN THE WINTER that will be so hot a fan will not cool the cat off. That and a good haircut/shave will keep your cat a real cool cat.

[Golden_HVAC]

I have three Fantastic fans, and a solar system to keep the battery full.

It worked great, and kept the inside within 2F of the outside air temp!

Fred.