traveling with cats

We have 3 cats and have never taken them camping with us. I always wanted to know if others cat owners took their cats with them. Now I know!! LOL!! We seldom go far from home and always check on the cats every day or two. I would be heart broken if they got out of the TT and something happened to them. All 3 have been indoor only since they were tiny kittens.

I am amazed at all those who have litter boxes in their tow vehicles. DH is fond of the cats, especially our little kitten, but there is no way he would ever let me put a litter box in his truck. Our kitties have only been in a vehicle to go to the vet.

Wandalust, my cats are 2 yrs old. They were born to a feral mom. I have had them since 7 weeks. They eat Avoderm premium food plus Wellness dry food, given in a ball that rolls so they have something to play with. They have towers and toys everywhere. They are orange brothers. Their favorite thing to do is wrestle with each other.

Their teeth and health are fine.

They mostly like to chew rubber bands, phone charging cords, strings hanging on anything, and headbands. Needless to say, they have made me have a neater house.

The last thing they chewed was the plastic drain pipe from my washing machine. Maybe they were bored, but we are home full time and can't entertain them 24/7. Now a Scat Mat sits on top of the washing machine. The new hose and service was $200.

I live on a farm. I have had lots and lots of cats. These are my first destructive ones. They are the only two in the house, no dogs. For me, thank heaven, I had them declawed early, or else they would have ended up in the barn. They have no idea they are declawed, and scratch on everything. I think they would have been happier as barn cars, where they could be outside chasing stuff, but now they never go out.

They also jump up on the kitchen counter all the time unless I have a scat mat on it. They have made me much neater. I thinks its the feral inheritance.

I'm a dog person, so this might not apply, but if I HAD to travel with cats I would probably keep them in the freezer! ;) ;)

isljumper wrote:
Take your cat now and then when you drive around home, my cat would hang on my arm like a dog looking out the window, but I started him as a kitten, if he rode in the trailer when we traveled, he would crawl under the bed spread, when we stopped, he would come out stretching, lol. Never tried going outside, even when home, wife would take a squirt bottle filled with water when he went near the door as a kitten. We would also take him to the cottage with us, and he was the same way. It all depends on how you train them.

I hope you have a harness and leash on any cat who hangs on your arm looking out an open window. Keep it tied to something so the cat can't go flying out should someone have a blowout or backfires. When you see dead cats along the interstates you can be sure a certain number of them fell or jumped out of a vehicle.

Take your cat now and then when you drive around home, my cat would hang on my arm like a dog looking out the window, but I started him as a kitten, if he rode in the trailer when we traveled, he would crawl under the bed spread, when we stopped, he would come out stretching, lol. Never tried going outside, even when home, wife would take a squirt bottle filled with water when he went near the door as a kitten. We would also take him to the cottage with us, and he was the same way. It all depends on how you train them.

keast wrote:
Picking up a new 25ft TT after Memorial Day and wondering about how to deal with our 2 cats when we travel. We had a 28ft MH for 5 years and they did best there if we let them roam while we drove since they could come find us when they needed us. Not sure being alone in the trailer is a good choice. Other choice is caged in the backseat of the pickup, also not a good choice, since they can't move around much, use litter box, get a drink, and are quite vocal about being cooped up.

Anyone have any advice, experiences to share?

We took our cat with us the last few times. It was a 4 hr ride. We put him in a crate and road in the vehicle with us. Yes, the first tiem he was a little mouthy. But the last couple times, he did real well. I would cage them and put them on the backseat.

Bank of Dad wrote:
Timely topic for me. Previous cat used to ride in large dog crate in MH. New cats did the same. Now I have a new TT and plan to put kitties in dog crate in truck. My guys can be quite destructive when left on their own, so probably in crate at night, as well as some daytime hours if we leave for long.

Don't they have cat toys and cat-condos/cat-trees from the pet store, and scratching posts etc? Cats are only destructive when BORED and when spending too much time alone.

Any strings (like blinds) or small piping, will have to be covered over. My guys like to chew.

Have you tried getting them a bunch of toys? I've had cats since the early 1960s and they were not destructive chewers. You may want to discuss this with a vet and have their teeth checked. Or it could be the wrong kind of food - dry kibble loaded with grains and vegetables. In desperation they may be seeking animal protein.

www.catinfo.org

As long as they always use the litter pan, I can adapt to the rest!

I would look into this chewing. It's really not normal behavior for cats past teething age. Many teething don't even chew things.

3&acat wrote:
He enjoyed being tied up and out at the camp sites....

This is not recommended by most people because dogs do get loose or are let loose by the clueless in CGs. Your cat is TRAPPED when tied out and cannot even run up a tree. I hope you or someone in your family stays outside with the cat "just in case."

Drum wrote:
Our dog goes with us in the TV. Our cats stay home. My mother-in-law checks on them every couple of days.

We would miss our cats if they weren't with us. They're like family and go everywhere with us. :)

If a cat "blocks", which is common in male cats, while you are away, it will die in 24 hours without treatment. Your MIL may not even notice anything is wrong.

Our kitty rides in the truck with us, would not let her ride in the TT due to sudden stops and turns. We have a litterbox and water for her behind the driver seat and her carrier is left open so she retreat to it when she wants. The only restriction is that she is not allowed on the driver side or the passenger side floor. Kitty is old and is well behaved on trips and when staying in TT at site.