Marsha/CA wrote, in part:
"We travel with 2 cats without any trouble at all. However, the first day they are a little queezy. Although we have "boondocked" on several occasions, during the summer heat we make sure we are at a spot with hook-ups so we can keep the A/C on for them. We are finding that even though the cats don't go out of the motorhome, we are still put in the 'Pets' section of RV parks."
Ah, but you travel in a motor home. We have two large cats--half(obviously)-siblings named Desi (25 lbs of love) and Luci (a mere 15 lbs)*, and travel with a pickup/canopy and a popup. So far we've managed to leave them home and have either my sister or our son look in on them once a week, clean their boxes, fill the food and water towers, etc. However, we're planning a longish trip next Spring, from Portland to Lodi, CA (another sis), to Death Valley, to Surprise, AZ (cousin) and back, possibly detouring through Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. Oh, and we might hit Yosemite on the way south, too. So we'll probably be gone for at least two months, maybe three, and simply cannot leave the cats home that long.
Both have no front claws, so damage to our living quarters should be minimal. Both are a bit edgy, though--Desi jumps straight up in the air about a foot or so at any sudden sound or movement. It's entertaining, but doesn't bode well for the traveling jitters. We may have to sedate both of them at first.
I've read on other forums where we should break them in a bit with short trips in the truck that are NOT, for once, to the vet's clinic. We'll begin training them to ride in the truck right after Christmas. Also, while traveling, we'll have oversized hamster cage-type water bottles for them at all times, and stop at rest areas often to let them stretch their legs. Also, we'll get harnesses as soon as possible and try to get them used to wearing them all the time, so that such things will not be new to them when traveling.
I note that one member asked "what do you do about the litter pan" or words to that effect. Although not a particularly cheap way to go, many places stock disposible litter pans--like throw-away aluminum roasting pans with an inch or so of litter in them under a cardboard lid. When it gets dirty, throw it in a handy garbage can (I'm sure fellow campers would appreciate a tied-up garbage bag around it to contain the smell--and open another one.
So you can see I've read up on the subject. But I wonder--can any members tell of their experiences travleling with cats in such circumstances, i. e., a pickup (King Cab, not crew, alas) and popup? Any tricks to make things easier on the cats or us? Whatever you can tell me will be greatly appreciated.
Grandpa
*Luci, at 15lbs, is somewhat sedentary and thus, somewhat parenthetically shaped when viewed from the rear. Desi, however, is all muscle, even at 25-27 lbs, and just plain BIG. Fortunately, neither of them ever cops a 'tude. They are both either very affectionate or, if you take the dimmer view, very needy. Either way, it makes for a whole lot of cat hair just about everywhere, especially on one's clothing.