In 2 weeks, my husband and I will be full-timers along with our cat. My husband has a morphine pain pump to help with the "left over" results of 2 cancers. When you have a mechanical and need repair, what do you do with your cat? Is it easy to find repair shops on the road and hotels that will take a cat? My husband's stamina is low, only can travel about 3 hours a day, and our RV (2007 Four Winds Magellan) seems to have constant problems (it has been in the shop more than out of it since we bought it). I am nervous about what I will do with both my husband and the cat when the RV needs repair. Can anyone tell me what you do with your cat when you have a breakdown? Can anyone give the the magic words to relax and enjoy this great opportunity!? thanks for your help
If the cat is not crate trained, start now. Some take to it readily, some do not - but it is the safest way to keep them from harm. If it will ride loose in the rig without causing any problems, that will work, but when you must take it out, a crate is a godsend. If it is loose inside, you must be very watchful every time the door is opened and never open a slide unless you have it penned in a safe place. Those cozy dark places around a slide are so tempting to a cat!
We have a large easy-fold BackYard Pet crate we put her in. It's large enough to hold a litter box, food and water. However, when we are in the waiting room she feels it's her right to be on a leash and snoop around. She has made some great friends along the way. She also travels on either a leash or in a carrier. I simply don't want her to get behind one of the slides or hidden away where I can't find her.
Hopefully, you will not encounter too many mechanical issues.... and best of luck in your new lifestyle.
When I sold my house to full time the people who were going to adopt my cat didn't show up. Soooo, I've been on the fast track to find ways to travel with him full time until I can place him.
For the unexected service repairs on the MH buy an 'airline carry on bag' for the cat. Petsmart and Petco all have them.While you are waiting for the MH to be repaired you can stick him in that if you want to keep him near you in the waiting room. It's small and portable and the cats seem to stay quiet in them. Many motels accept pets and there are websites to look them up on.
For inside the MH they make those pop up soft side crates that has plenty of room inside for a litter box, food, and a bed for them.
You can just pop him in there to stay safe while the MH is being repaired, during driving times or for the time you stop to eat etc., so he doesn't run out the door.They have screens all the way around and surprisingly my cat is doing quite well living in his own pop up camper in the MH while waiting for his forever stick built home.
Plenty of forum members travel with cats sucessfully so you will be able to get all kinds of ideas on the 'how to'. So don't be afraid you will enjoy full timing with your pet. Happy Camping!
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.
Go with the kennel if you're going to have it in a shop. If they are going to need it overnite you may be able to stay in it, depends on the RV shop. If your cat isn't used to the RV you will need to watch it very close. I have a cat that we thought got out when we bought a new 5th wheel and they were doing some service on it. Didn't miss the cat until a few hundred miles down the road. Called the dealer and had them set out food to see if they could catch her. Well when we parked and opened up the bedroom slide out she came. With the mh she would crawl up under the dash until I blocked it off. She finally got used to travelling in the MH and now hides under the blankets on the bed.
Check out the Marriot properties. You can actually search for avaiable rooms with an option for "pets welcome". There is a fee per stay ($50-75, once we had a $100, but were there for a week), instead of the Kennel fee per day.
Residence Inn by Marriott is one we use frequently.
Some Fairfield Inns participate and several other of their properties are accomodating.
Hopefully you won't need it too much and your travels will smooth out.
Try to put on the happy face and remember, there are no problems, only opportunities to excell. At least that's what my DW reminds me that I said earlier before the steam was comming out of my ears.
Sawdust, you made me laugh! thanks I needed that. This week, the Beast (as I call the motorhome) has been in the shop for the hood (where you open to change the oil) fell off and the generator keeps popping. It is one thing after the other and it is a new RV. Will try to remember opportunity, opportunity, opportunity. New mantra. thanks for your input!
BonnieWe, if the MH breaks down and has to be in a shop overnight, or longer than DH can sit in the lounge area of the repair shop; here is my advice:
Call your insurance carrier, (Progressive has 2 day hotel coverage just for these kinds of things - I don't know about all of the carriers), then call the nearest hotel for pet friendly information, pack your meds and necessities, and a change of clothes, put kitty in his/her carrier on the taxi seat next to DH, hop in. When the taxi gets to the hotel, go straight to the reservation desk, ask for assistance with bags and kitty. Give the repair shop the hotel phone number.
Rent a movie and order delivery. Don't forget to take something to read.
It might just be an adventure you have overlooked.
If kitty tries to hide when the carrier comes out, hide it instead. Then open a can of her food, grab her when she comes running at the sound and then pop her in the carrier. This by itself could be an adventure. lol
You didn't say how long you have had your coach and how much you have used it. It is a darn shame you are having so many problems on a NEW coach.
My DW and I will be full-timing in 5 weeks. Our problem is the opposite --- a 10 year old fixer-upper coach.
I suggest taking it out for as many trips as you can before you FT so you can discover, and fix, as many problems as possible.
We have a cat and a dog. Our coach is configured so the bathroom door closes off the bathroom and bedroom from the main living area. On a couple of occasions now, we've left the pets locked in the bed/bath area. If we had an extened repair on the road, either we would do the same, or seek pet friendly lodging.
You sound a little stressed BonnieWE. Exactly like what I sounded just before launching into fulltime There is a lot to get ready for, but trust me, it only gets better - like pretty much immediately as soon as you start!
I don't have much to add about the cat, but with our pooch, we have been able to keep him in his crate during repairs, or on a leash in some waiting rooms (Monaco service and Cummins repair). I wanted to give you some hope about your coach repairs. We have found that once repair facilities find out you are fulltimers, they seem to be pretty accommodating with making sure your coach is available each evening to sleep in. Most places have electricity to plug into. We stayed 4 days in the Cummins Service Center parking lot while they fixed our fuel tank. They were great about towing the coach outside so we could stay in it.
I am sure you will find similar experiences. Hopefully, everything will just start working out and you won't have to worry about any of this ;-)
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There is a lot to get ready for, but trust me, it only gets better - like pretty much immediately as soon as you start!
