First time travelling with our cat

[Odd-no-more]

Our cat is very old 18 years and we don't want to leave her at home when we go away, she doesn't do much these days sleeps most of the time. We are thinking of getting a large dog crate and putting her basket and a litter tray in it. That can be outside in the awning during the day and inside the cat can be free. Has anybody done this? How well did it work?

 

[kevenh]

Related but not a fully applicable scenario.
We travel with two cats.
Each has their own car carrier.
On the journey, one just settles down until it’s over.
The other only likes the smooth motorway bits and stands up looking fed up on other roads - esp. on roundabouts and over speed bumps.
Either related to that nervousness or unrelated she’ll pee, etc.
Luckily there’s room in the carrier for a 2/3 size litter tray.
And she will use that instead of the carrier’s fluffy blanket.

If any of that is sounding useful, I can get details of the carrier size and litter tray size, etc.

Oh! The difference: On the pitch or at a midway lunch stop, our cats are allowed anywhere in the Motorhome but never outside.

Edit: he is ~9, she is ~15. Both are rescue cats.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Just out of interest are cats treated the same as dogs in respect of pet passports and vaccinations should they go abroad?

 

[kevenh]

Just out of interest are cats treated the same as dogs in respect of pet passports and vaccinations should they go abroad?

Treatment applies to dog cat & ferret

Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad

Take your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad: getting a pet passport or export health certificate, microchip, vaccinations and tapeworm treatments.

www.gov.uk

 

[TinaLes]

We also have a Stray/Rescue cat, Bobby is his name and we have to guess his age at being arround 12/14.
He is is a friendly cat, everyone that see him loves him, but he has a mind of his own, never sits on your lap, only comes to you when he wants to etc.
He decides where to sit/sleep in our kitchen, tried comfy cat beds, but nah!, he wants an empty carboard box, or even a supermarket jute carrier bag which he takes great pride on attacking one minute, then climbing inside to sleep.
We cannot work him out, he will adopt a new box, or sleep on an item of our clothing, but only for a fortnight at best, then he doesn't want to know it anymore. In the warmer months he will live outside and only come in for his meals.
We put him in a vet carry box to get his jabs done and he squeals all the way there and back.
He has in the past held us hostage at home as we cannot put him in a cattery, or find a friendly person to visit twice a day to feed him.
We have tried to acclimatise him to the motor home, he has settled for an hour or so, but needs to know the door is open for his escape if needed.
He is a big strong lad, and I dare say he would rip or upholstery apart if he felt he was captive.
I feel envious of anyone that has tamed their cats, you are very lucky.
Good luck to all that try.
LES.

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[Chipster]

We also have a Stray/Rescue cat, Bobby is his name and we have to guess his age at being arround 12/14.
He is is a friendly cat, everyone that see him loves him, but he has a mind of his own, never sits on your lap, only comes to you when he wants to etc.
He decides where to sit/sleep in our kitchen, tried comfy cat beds, but nah!, he wants an empty carboard box, or even a supermarket jute carrier bag which he takes great pride on attacking one minute, then climbing inside to sleep.
We cannot work him out, he will adopt a new box, or sleep on an item of our clothing, but only for a fortnight at best, then he doesn't want to know it anymore. In the warmer months he will live outside and only come in for his meals.
We put him in a vet carry box to get his jabs done and he squeals all the way there and back.
He has in the past held us hostage at home as we cannot put him in a cattery, or find a friendly person to visit twice a day to feed him.
We have tried to acclimatise him to the motor home, he has settled for an hour or so, but needs to know the door is open for his escape if needed.
He is a big strong lad, and I dare say he would rip or upholstery apart if he felt he was captive.
I feel envious of anyone that has tamed their cats, you are very lucky.
Good luck to all that try.
LES.

View attachment 734601 View attachment 734602

He’s lovely!!

 

[Odd-no-more]

If any of that is sounding useful, I can get details of the carrier size and litter tray size, etc.

Yes please

 

[VXman]

Has she travelled before? 18 years is an old age to start. Our cat was a nightmare in even the shortest journey in the car but I have been impressed with the cats I have seen travelling in motorhomes. They have always seemed calm and relaxed. Maybe it's something they need to grow up with?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Just as a note,we were once on a funster meet and someone who travelled with a cat ,lost it. The cat was in a harness and lead and a nearby dog startled it, the cat
backed out of the harness ,ran off and was never seen again, so just be aware if there are dogs around.

 

[Guigsy]

Awnings aren't escape proof. Particularly under the van. We only let ours into the awning with harnesses on.

Ours travel in crates most of the time. Although the bad traveller does sometimes panic. My wife lets him out to sit on her lap in a harness with the harness attached to her seatbelt. The litter tray is in the bathroom shower tray. They get allowed out during the journey at fairly frequent stops.

We had a rescue that was estimated to be 13 when we got her. I taught her loads of tricks, old cats are adaptable. She wasn't a fan of car journeys, but she did get used to it.

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[Odd-no-more]

We have not taken her away before so we will try a short trip first, part of the problem is the cat is looking frail and we don't want to have her get sick if we are away. We have a couple of neighbours who look after the cat when we're away but both are elderly and I don't want to leave them with a trip to the vet.

 

[Odd-no-more]

Just as a note,we were once on a funster meet and someone who travelled with a cat ,lost it. The cat was in a harness and lead and a nearby dog startled it, the cat
backed out of the harness ,ran off and was never seen again, so just be aware if there are dogs around.

We don't intend to let her out of the cage unless inside the van with the door shut.

 

[Guigsy]

It took a few buys before we found harnesses that were escape proof. Our skinny boy fits a Mynwood harness. It's long enough that it closes around his waist, so it doesn't go up over his rib cage. Our chonky boy is an odd shape, I think he was a runt, has a very barrel shaped chest, so he can reverse out of most harnesses. But a Supakit harness goes right up into his armpits so he can't get his elbows out.

 

[kevenh]

Yes please

Carrier - sadly now unavailable but the link has details: -
Amazon product ASIN B07CYX5VV5Dimensions: 60x42x42cm

And the litter tray that fits nicely in one end of the above carrier: -
Amazon product ASIN B00KQNLQM2‎Dimensions: 37.5 x 27.5 x 12.5 cm -that's unpacked. It folds for storage.

Our big he cat is 44cm long & the she cat is - oh! - also 44cm long. That's odd. Maybe one of them was sat funny when I measured them.
TBF he's a bit wider

We only use that half size litter tray for the journey. Between the front seats we've a regular, covered litter tray.

Although able to come & go as they please during the daytime when at home, our cats are always kept inside the motorhome. We tried a harness but they played up and walked oddly.
We were lucky, some cats will play dead if a harness is put on them.

 

[scotzsue]

My cat travelled happily in the romahome, but howled, when I had to stop for traffic lights or to go round a roundabout she hated Jimmy young and I had to try not to travel at those times, I did let her out, but as soon as the engine started she was back.
Sister took their cat in the caravan with them, he went out one day and didn't come back, almost a week later they were near the lay-by where they had stopped, there was tigger waiting patiently, he jumped in when they stopped as though nothing had happened.
Have seen quite a few cats on sites, we are cat lovers, but have friends who are not, like dogs they need to be confined to their pitch. Mine was also a rescue cat and probably about 10 when i first started to travel with her.

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