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Cat proofing a FT with slides

November 26, 2020, 09:42:07 am

Seeking advice on cat proofing slides for travel.

We just swapped out our two slide FT for a longer 2011 with 4 slides.  We travel with cats and they will get into any cubbyhole to hide, especially when the engine and gen are running.  My DW is absolutely paranoid the cats will get into the slide mechanisms or someplace we can't get them out.  One of them is a genius at hiding.

Cat proofing the previous FT for travel was pretty easy.  Only the wall behind the driver was accessible and we could block it off with a piece of insulation foam and some pillows.

The new one is much tougher.  There is an open space under the sliding bed, the walls of the slides are more open and there are more of them.  We're on our maiden voyage home from MOT and we blocked up all the spaces with LOTS of insulation board and painters tape.  It took 1-2 hours to cut them into shape and a good half hour to put them back in place after camping for the night.  ... and she still worried (the important part).

When I get it home, I'm going to have to do something more permanent.  My first thought is building some trim around the bed so it has much tighter clearances & maybe some hinged pieces that can be flipped up or down to move the slide.  On the slide walls, has anyone ever mounted a permanent barrier on the sides to prevent cats getting into the mechanisms?

Of course, if DW would let me kennel her two babies while traveling, it wouldn't be necessary.  She assures me that portable kennels will be a last resort.  I couldn't find anything on this topic with a search.  Interested in what others do when traveling with cats.  Thanks & Happy Thanksgiving!

Dave

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Re: Cat proofing a FT with slides

Reply #1 – November 26, 2020, 12:15:07 pm

I have the same problem with the Wife and Cats.  I know a solution but wife will not allow it.  We have a Lab to travel with us why do we need cats.  The last few trips we have hired a cat sitter.  That is about the same price is boarding them.

Not a great solution when taking longer trips.  Like from Texas to Alaska and back.

We used to have a big house and for years we hosted Exchange Students.  We solved the problem by inviting a student and family to vacation in our house and House sit.  That worked pretty well.

We have down sized.  Tiny house but a 50 acre ranch. Rent to land for Cattle Grazing so the owner  of the cattle takes care of the pasture and watches the place when we are gone.  He hates cats or he could take care of them. :-{

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Re: Cat proofing a FT with slides

Reply #2 – November 26, 2020, 07:58:45 pm

TME, that could result in you sleeping with the cows!!!
Chris

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Re: Cat proofing a FT with slides

Reply #3 – November 26, 2020, 09:46:38 pm

Yeah, I'm afraid that's not an option for me.  She'd put me in the kennel and I'd never get out.  We also have a couple of dogs but they aren't a problem.  We may try some of those flexible cloth kennels. When you don't need them, they fold up tightly for storage.  When we tried it before, one of the cats really tore it up trying to get out.  But she's older now ... maybe it would work.  Cat carriers would work but they are cramped and DW won't go for that.

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Re: Cat proofing a FT with slides

Reply #4 – March 24, 2021, 11:28:52 am

I thought I would update the forum on what I did to cat proof the coach ... just in case someone runs into a similar situation.  I know this wasn't a common problem because it got very few responses & I couldn't find anything in history.  Its a big problem for us, however, because one cat is small & is a master at hiding in tiny spaces.  My wife is a big softy and would not accept putting them in a kennel for the trip.

I used a bit of simple wood working for some permanent fixes where it was possible and pool noodles/insulation board for temporary barriers where a permanent fix couldn't work.  Honestly, Foretravel could do a better job of making the slides pet friendly.

The bed took the most effort.  Its on a frame with a lot of air space/gaps & slides in & out with the rear driver's slide.  Lots of equipment under the bed for a cat to hide in.  It isn't a Joey bed, so on our first trip when the small cat got into it ... it was a serious chore getting her back out.  I closed off the gaps with thin plywood on the base and on the sliding frame.  The overlap & slide by each other.  That works pretty well.  The foot of the bed was challenging.  There was a large gap ... but when the slide come in, the metal frame fills the gap.  I ended up with a board on hinges.  When the slide is out, the board hinges up and fills the gap - held with leather straps that are hung on a screw.  When the slide is in, the board is held up flat against the metal frame to close off gaps in the frame.

There was a gap  under the sink that I closed off with plywood. When the slides are in, the drivers front slide has a large area where a cat can push back the accordion covers.  We close those off with insulation board that is stored in a closet when camping.  One of the areas - by the fridge is a complex shape and we had to get creative with the insulation board.  There are some gaps that we fill with a pool noodle. 

We just spent 3 weeks traveling around and it all works pretty well.  It only takes a few extra minutes to cat proof the slides for travel & when we're camping, the cat barriers go into a closet.

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