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Traveling with a cat

We have a 4-year-old inside cat that rarely goes anywhere with us. We took her on one short RV trip with us, and she meowed almost the entire time we drove. I am looking for any suggestions to make travel easier for her.
Brian & Lisa Freeze
1996 U295 36FT Build #4914
Motorcade #18760

Re: Traveling with a cat

Reply #1 –
Time and patience. I once drove 3000 miles with my girl cat meowing once every 30 seconds.

Ours usually settle down after about an hour, sometimes even sooner. There are are drugs available but I would not like to use them rountinely.

We usually spend the night before travel in the coach with our current two cats. It makes closing up the house easier and gets them acclimated to the coach before we start our travel day.

Once we are moving, they tend to camp out with the copilot.

Rich
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

Re: Traveling with a cat

Reply #2 –
Depends a lot on the cat. We fitted ours with a harness and let him out every few hours. Didn't take long for him to figure things out. Rich has a good idea getting the cat used to the motorhome a day ahead of time.  With our granddog, he was scared all the time and tried to get under the pedals and went crazy when I hit the rumble strips. Took a couple of years to calm down but never completely relaxed. The wolf took to the coach right away and was happy on the floor or sofa. Our new Husky, Luka loves the car and coach starting on day one.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Traveling with a cat

Reply #3 –
 My current cat thinks I am stupid for leaving her well setup in and out home by the beach. So she complains mightily. After a few days she seems to adjust to the smaller area becoming less complaining. Previous identical looking cat liked the coach and used the provided  kitty tree when traveling at times.  I think she gets motion sick at times. Less food before moving seems to help
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Traveling with a cat

Reply #5 –
You might want to try a calming  pheromone diffuser. They work for some cats.
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: Traveling with a cat

Reply #6 –
Our cat is now 18 years old. In our previous coach's he would hide under the passenger seat until 5 pm, then come out and scratch on my arm to tell me it is time to stop. He always hid in the house if he thought we were going to go. With our coach we now have, he waits by the door going out of the house to make sure he doesn't get left behind. He rides a lot of the time on the dash. He has really changed this past year.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: Traveling with a cat

Reply #7 –
Cats that have not gotten used to traveling at a very young age may not ever fully adjust. We had a cat before we started full timing, and after a year and a half of traveling all over the country, she would still hide somewhere totally out of sight as soon as I started the engine. Unfortunately, after a year and a half we lost her. We adopted two very young kittens a few months later, so all they ever knew was riding in the Foretravel. Neither ever acted scared or hid. It may be possible to get an older cat to adapt to riding in the coach, but cats are notorious for not liking change.
Dave and Kathy Bennett
2004 U270
Build #6253
1600W Solar
700 AH Battle Born Lithium
2015 Jeep Wrangler

No matter what happens, remember you always get the trip out of it.

Re: Traveling with a cat

Reply #8 –
All this driving is exhausting...
George Mann
2002 U320 #5934
2017 Rubicon
2013 BMW GS
Waterford MI

Re: Traveling with a cat

Reply #9 –
Full-timing 5 years and little has changed.  By instinct, Violeta knows when its a travel day and heads for the spot under the couch to wait it out.  Fine for up to 5 hours or 250 miles, whichever come first, and at that point emerges to let us know this must end wit ha scolding.  As soon as we park, she's at the door and wanting a walk on the leash to explore and make sure the new location is acceptable by cat standards.

We've learned to adjust.  250 mile max on any travel day.  Litter box resides in the bottom of the nightstand where a safe used to be.  Kitty bed under the couch.  She's actually a good traveler and loves the lifestyle.  Just not so much the "getting to" part.
Joe Phebus and Jaime Trujillo
2002 U270 3410  Build: 5953 Motorcader # 18595
2100 W Solar, 600 AH Battleborn Batteries,  Victron Multi-Plus II 3000 Inverter, Cerbo GX, & MPPT Chargers
1992 Geo Tracker

Re: Traveling with a cat

Reply #10 –
Maybe try a Thundershirt.
Dave and Kelli
1997 U295 40' Build #5188 CSGI
1995 U240 36' Build #4621 SBID-SOLD
2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

Re: Traveling with a cat

Reply #11 –
We now crate our cat when driving and putting slides in or out, because  he once hid inside the bedroom slide before we put it out.

Re: Traveling with a cat

Reply #12 –
We always lure ours to the back of the coach with a couple of treats and close the door before operating the slide.  They know the drill.

Rich
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

Re: Traveling with a cat

Reply #13 –
Ask your vet for a sedative, works like a gem
David & Emma Roche
Dino (Golden Doodle)
1999 U270 WTFE 36' Build # 5534
Xtreme "Lights, Stripes & Roof"
Motorcade# 18321
Dayton, Ohio
Towd: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Two Townie Electra Bikes

Life is made to enjoy, the Foretravel helps!