Herding cats.
There is a reason why people don’t herd cats. Because it’s impossible. Because cats are stubborn and obstinate. Nonetheless, ornery or not, cats are some of my favorite creatures. I love my two cats immensely, and so does my husband, Pat.
Pat is convinced that our two Maine Coon cats, Prada and Scout, should be RV cats. Knowing what my cats are like just riding in the car is enough for me to just stop the conversation and say no, but he is persistent and certain our cats will be good travelers if we just give them time to get used to it.
I’ve agreed to let the cats go with us on our upcoming RV trip to Phoenix. I hope I’ve not made a colossal mistake. We’ve purchased a collapsible travel carrier that has mesh sides and has room enough for the two kitties to ride in the backseat of the truck together, hopefully making them more comfortable and less scared. The carrier has anchors that allow us to seatbelt the cats in, so they will be secure in the back seat.
The whole concept is much more pleasant than trying to shove each cat into a crate. Shoving a cat in a crate is one of the least pleasurable experiences on the planet. There is no such thing as gently placing a cat in a crate. It’s more like forcing a rabid raccoon into a little hole with hopes that you emerge unscathed.
Last weekend we did a trial run with our two fur-babies. We didn’t use our RV, but we took the truck that pulls our RV, since that is where the cats will be when we are driving. I swear that my cats have a sixth sense. They know when there is a can of tuna in a grocery bag, and they know when we are ready to take them in the car. The little stinkers immediately sensed something was up and decided that running from us and hiding under the beds was the best way to show us that they didn’t like what we were up to.
Great idea, cats. Thank you! Let’s get all worked up and see how enjoyable the outcome is.
Once we wrangled the cats and brought them to their carrier, they were far less freaked out than they usually are. I really think that riding next to each other in a bigger space was less scary than in individual crates. Oh, but the meowing. Prada would meow and then take a breath, and then meow again. At one time, she was panting like a dog. Once she settled down and realized that Scout wasn’t as mouthy as she was, she only meowed ten or fifteen times in a minute. I think she just meowed to make certain we knew she was in the back seat. In the end, we survived the trip, and the cats didn’t seem too upset that we took them with us.
As we embark on our week-long RV adventure, we are hoping the cats will enjoy the car ride, and settle in each night to the 5th wheel, enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, and be happy with the fact that they were with us each night instead of home alone with a stranger feeding them.
So this is where we throw the post back to our readers and other cat-lovers who successfully travel with their felines. Any tips or tricks to making this a fun adventure for all of us? What is the best way to keep the cats comfy in the truck and in the RV? Do you have litter boxes in your trucks and cars while you drive, and then one inside the RV? Do cats actually use the litter box while the car is moving? Should we invest in some of the pheromone spray that is a calming agent for worked-up cats? Do we need harness and leashes for both fur-balls?
Your expertise is wanted and needed! How do we have the best RV experience with our two cats?
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