I just started to full time 10 days ago and I couldn't get my cat on a flight to his new owner before the house sold......soooo...I had to take the cat with me. He's an 8 yr old very vocal Siamese.
I started out with an airline crate and all the cat did was sit in the kitty litter, and complain. I finally found a tent like pop up crate from Walmart for dogs, for about $24.00. It folds flat and is about 12 inches round when folded, but opened it's a whopping 24 wide, 24 tall and 40 long!
What a life saver for me AND the cat! It's nylon and pops up and has mesh screens on all three sides, and has PLENTY of room for the cat, his bed and litterpan. I even put him outside in it, he's in heaven.
He his completely content in this new set up and dosen't even want to come out of it. Give it a try it will make you and your cat's life a lot more pleasurable.
I would NEVER use this tent crate for a dog, too flimsey and all a dog had to do was sneeze and he'd fall out of it, but for the cat it's perfect.
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* This post was
edited 05/10/08 09:05am by rockhillmanor *
31 ft Four Winds
Chevy Tracker 4x4 BlueOx Aventa LX We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
Our cat's favorite spot to ride is in my lap, curled up snoozing. We travel with a fifth wheel, so when we stop, her leash is hooked up to her harness before the door opens and she gets out with us and heads to the fifth wheel to use her litter box.
She has a harness on all of the time except when we're going to bed. As soon as we're up, her harness goes on.
If we're going in and out of the fifth wheel, she's attached to a long string which is attached to the fifth wheel.
Her first trip with us was challenging ... she was chased up a tree by a squirrel and broke her "moorings". We knew we only had to wait for her to come back down the tree, but she spent a good couple of hours up there surveying the land.
We learned it's best to not give chase, as that increases her anxiety. Instead, if she gets out without string attached, we praise her profusely, talk calmly, approach softly and start scratching her in her favorite places. Then we gently hook her up again. She needs to know we're a good place to be and prefer our companionship over the unknown wilds.
When we travelled in a MH, her favorite spot was the cabover bunk. It became her space.
Joy wrote: I would give her some more time to adjust, too. Since it seems it is the crate she is objecting to, you might try allowing her to be loose for a short leg on a trip - say a couple of hours between rest stops - to see what happens. Odds are, she will choose a place she is comfortable in and stay there.
This is a good observation.
We used to keep our unhappy cat in the crate until we were well underway, and then let him out. Now we just carry him to the MH and let him find "his safe spot" right away and he is just fine.
fpresto wrote: Cat,
I totally disagree with your assumption that the replies that you didn't like were from non cat people. I travel with a dog and two cats and would give similar advice. In my opinion the idea that forcing any animal to remain in a situation that they find threatening or are uncomfortable with is not what having an animal companion is about. It is not fair to either the animal or the owner and at some point in time the animal will escape and probably die.
I do agree with giving more time for the cat to adjust to the experience but realize that some animals for whatever reason will never make the transition. It that case I strongly recommend finding the cat a good home.
That's fine fpresto, sometimes people disagree, no big deal.
I don't suppose it would come as a surprise for you to find out that certain people are known to post their negativities about cats & dogs for that matter, at every opportunity. Just think of all the complaints about dogs, their owners, etc. you see on this forum. Often times it is the same folks over and over again. Matter of fact, a few of them only come to this part (Pet Stop) of the message board to do just that. I suppose it is entertaining to them.
So, speaking from experience of seeing certain people spout their dislike for animals, prompted my opening sentence.... nothing more, nothing less. Like I said, it's fine to disagree, even strongly.
Back to the topic, Toni I hope you will try something like Feliway along with giving your cat some more time to adjust. Others who travel with their cats have given you some scenarios that worked for them, perhaps a combination of some of the advice will work for you. I know that I would absolutely do everything I could to make one of my beloved pets comfortable in my home before giving up on it.... I think you will as well. Best of luck!
Cat
(Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
Our '04 Sunline T2499 & Silverado picture is on the profile page
Live simply, love wholly, give generously, care deeply, speak kindly.
I too would say give kitty more time. Our inside/outside cat traveled once a year to the vet for his first 15 years. That was the extent of his travel. When we retired & started traveling a great deal the cat only had his trips to the vet as reference to travel & was very fearful. The 1st few days were terrible but now the cat is 100% happy with traveling. Help the cat find a hiding place he likes when you are in motion, that may help. Maybe in bed under the bedspred if you have a MH, or in his crate. We usually put the cat in his crate before we stop & get gas or setup so he is not tempted to dash out. At first he would try to escape every time we opened the door but that too has passed.
Feliway is definitely da bomb, and worth a shot. Cheapest place I know to get it is at www.petsuppliesdelivered.com.
I just employed this loverly substance while hauling my cats from Agoura to Ridgecrest in preparation for the road trip that ended yesterday. I hosed down the inside of their travel crate thoroughly, including the towel that goes on the floor.
It cut the vocalizing substantially, cut the snarling by about 80 percent (Sput used to sit in her crate and just growl for about an hour each trip, this upset the dogs to no end) and upon arrival, both cats were happy and un-stressed. Needless to say it will be used for all future car trips.
Leaving the cat loose is another option, but honestly not as safe. I'd try the Feliway first and see if some sort of compromise can be reached.
susan
What I want to know is, when are they going to start selling Comfort Zone for HUMANS????? 'Cause some days...
Our five year old started traveling with us last year. He is an indoor/outdoor cat. He howled up a storm the first hour and still does until we let him out of his crate. He sits in the back and has his pillow, quiet and content. When we stop he is up and around looking to see what is going on. Lately, he has found his perch on the console betwee the two seats where is up higher and can see out the windshield and be petted.
I gave my Persian more than a year. She was a very unhappy 5 year old kitty, she would nip me when I passed her. I gave Cleo to my dd, she lives in a big 2-story house; this cat has changed completely, roaming and playing. It is a good thing!
Rebecca
Ronnie & Rebecca
Check out our journal: North to Alaska
FMCA #388387
Full-time RVer's since 2004
Monaco LaPalma Workhorse chassis 37' 2-slides
One of our cats traveled with me quite a bit. He hated the ride but loved the campgrounds. The other cold not really handle either.We moved to a new town two thousand miles away and decided to make the trip into a months vacation. Here is what we learned.
Our cats feel safer in the carriers with a towel that they have used before. The carriers should touch so they can commiserate.
We got a big, metal folding dog cage so that they could hang out outside. It holds litter, food, water, cats and protects them from roaming dogs. Put it on a picnic table in the shade and Aim a fan at it. They are comfortable in the cage even in different places. It's a known place to them. The only problem it that everybody in the place has to come up to scratch them. They love it.
Our vet told us to use Dramamine at the rate of 1/2 pill per 10lbs of cat on ride days. They still wail a bit but not like they do without it and they do not barf on themselves or worse. Check with your vet first of course.
It will take at least a month for them to get use to the change. They may never like the motion but will improve over time. If the mournful sounds are too hard to take put them in the bedroom and shut the door but we prefer to keep them on the floor within reach of the passenger seat because they rest easier with an ocasional scritch.
Good Luck
We did what Rockhillmanor did. when we got to the campground we opened the door to it and she didn't want to come out. she also likes to get under the spread when scared or there is lightening. She hates the standard crate so now if she goes to the vet we just take her in the fold up crate. We have been using it for 2 yrs now. Ours is big enough for a golden retriever cost $17.00 at Target. Whats nice about it is if you don't have enough rm you can squish it up to the size you want. Good Luck
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