Traveling with an indoor/outdoor cat......

[readergirl925]

I've got a cat that, baring any serious medical issues I would like to bring with me when I begin vandwelling. &nbsp;Currently he's an indoor/outdoor cat but I'm thinking that before I move into the van, I'll have to make him an indoor cat entirely as I don't want to let him out to do his business and have him be picked up by an owl or an eagle or something.<br /><br />Has anyone else had an indoor/outdoor cat with them when traveling?

 

[She]

There is another van dweller that does that. She&nbsp;taught&nbsp;them to respond to command that brings them back to the van. She started them early though. This is&nbsp;Tammy's&nbsp;blog. Right now she is not in her van...she explains why.<br />http://tincanramblealong.blogspot.com/<br />Also there is Cherry who travels with 6 cats.....yes 6!! This is her blog...lots of help here.<br />http://www.waywardpussyinn.com/<br /><br />Hope this helps!! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" />

 

[josephusminimus]

readergirl:&nbsp; It's an issue on the minds of feline loving van/rv dwellers discussed on a number of threads here.&nbsp; There are some methods suggested for making it more palatable for the cat, improving chances for successful adaptation, but cats being the individuals they are it's going to be a trial and error thing for you most likely.&nbsp; Same as with the rest of us with similar concerns.<br /><br />Here's wishing your cat a happy trek.

 

[Cherry]

Heh, I actually now travel with 7 cats since Randy and I started dating. Randy has an indoor/ outdoor kitty he travels with. Frodo is an awesome kitty. What Randy does it once we get to a place he walks Frodo on a leash to get him familiar with where we are. After that we just let Frodo out. He always comes back.

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Hey Cherry. haven't seen you posting for a while, good to see you here<br /><strong><span style="color: #ff00ff;">Dragonfly</span></strong>

 

[hitekhomeless]

<p>If you camp in the bush, you can let your kitty out to do it's thing. We do. She stays close to camp but is rarely seen during the day (sleepy kitty). We hit the road with two kitties five years ago. We only have one now. Last year, one of them was snatched from our camp in the twilight by an animal. So, it does happen. That doesn't prevent us from letting this one outside. Cats aren't made to sit on the couch in a small space all day and night.</p><p>I sometimes wish the cat that lived got snatched instead of the one that did. The cat that died took to the traveling lifestyle right away. The cat that lived still cannot stand riding in the moving vehicle and will protest profusly... after five years of moving at least once a week.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>~jenn</p>

 

[She]

OHHH 7 cats? Wow Cherry!!

 

[dfh]

Well now I know traveling with 4 is not impossible&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" />

 

[beachwalker7]

<span style="font-size: medium;">Hi, I just got a 6 week old kitty I've got to start training her to stay in when the door opens, and ideas They sure&nbsp; are fast. she only comes when she smells food. I'm scared I might lose her in the woods </span>

 

[Pikachu711]

After reading some of the responses to this subject the more I'm not certain traveling with my cat(s) when the time comes is the best option.<br /><br />Even if I have only one cat who's still healthy for the "on the road" lifestyle I'm not really comfortable with some of the comments about pets (moreso cats!) being with me. I know my cat(s) I had at that time would adjust to some degree to being with me while living in my van. But I don't know how I'd feel about one of them "disappearing" under less than ideal circumstances.<br /><br />Just for those who are not aware of the age of my two cats are 17 &amp; 9 years old. I've had one of them almost 15 years and the other almost 7 years. Now I'm reconsidering finding them a "forever" home with some degree of security in a "sticks &amp; bricks" situation.<br /><br />I'm not really up to seeing ANY of my two fur-babies just disappear while I'm living in my van. Just my honest opinion.<br /><br />I know that some of you who travel with animals will disagree with my possible decision but I want my kitties to live a long a life as possible. If it meant finding them a "forever" home before I hit the road, so be it!

 

[offroad]

Adopting out cats is nearly impossible. So start the process now, &nbsp;and then you can keep them if you need to. Work it out now though.&nbsp;

 

[Pikachu711]

Offroad: Followup Reply: I know that one of my cats, Whiskers, the 9 year old would adjust to living in the van. She used to be an exclusively outdoor cat along with her brother &amp; Mom. These three cats were our "mascots" where I used to work as a security guard.<br /><br />After I adopted her and brought her home from work she suddenly become an "indoor only" cat and refused to leave the apartment. I'd have the door partially open and she would not even set foot outside the door. She become more comfortable staying indoors. As an experiment I picked her up and put her outside on the ground and she ran back inside the apartment. I'm certain she'd do the same thing once she adjusted to living in the van. Whiskers doesn't worry me about laying around outside the van. My primary concern is Pikachu the 17 year old cat.<br /><br />At that age he's not the best candidate for a sudden lifestyle change (building to van life) when it comes to living arrangements. He tends to want to escape now &amp; again and at that age he's not the most flexible when it comes to changes in his routine. He wants things a certain way &amp; at certain times. He's become somewhat inflexible when it comes to the way he behaves nowadays. He's my biggest concern when it comes to the transition.<br /><br />I've set my timetable for going mobile in the fall of 2013. I have time to "re-home" Pikachu if need be between now &amp; then. As I mentioned earlier, I'm certain Whiskers would adjust to staying primarily in the van. Once she finds her comfort zone she's set. She should do fine as my travel buddy on the road.

 

[Red Leg]

<span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">My cat lives the travel trailer life with me and I've decided she will be indoors only. I tried letting her out (with me closely supervising) because she likes to eat some grass &amp; enjoy the outdoors. But she got fleas, which I discovered she's allergic to and developed a sinus</span></strong></span><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"> infection. After months of anti biotics, flea treatments and baths, I decided to never let her outside again. Dealing with pet health issues on the road is difficult enough w/o bringing them on. </span></strong></span><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">My cat has the length of a 32 foot trailer to run around in; </span></strong></span>I'm sure in a van its more difficult for your cat to get some exercise. Bottom line, my opinion is make your cat an indoor cat and save yourself a lot of potential health issues</span></strong></span> <strong><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; color: #ff0000;">and of course avoid the owls and eagles!</span></strong>

 

[RV-Kitty]

<span style="font-size: medium;">Hi, I just got a 6 week old kitty I've got to start training her to stay in when the door opens, and ideas They sure&nbsp; are fast. she only comes when she smells food. I'm scared I might lose her in the woods </span>

<br><br>You very well may lose her in the woods.&nbsp; We do a lot of camping and most campgrounds have one or more cats someone left behind when they had to leave.&nbsp; I was told by more than one camp host that once winter sets in, the cats starve to death.&nbsp; Or they become so malnourished, they die of disease and the cold.&nbsp; You can use a spray bottle of clean water to train your cat/kitten to not dash out the door when you open it.<br><br>Letting a cat out of your van or RV exposed them to not only predators, and plenty of wildlife likes cats for dinner, but to internal and external parasites and disease as well.

 

[RV-Kitty]

\<br>Just for those who are not aware of the age of my two cats are 17 &amp; 9 years old.&nbsp; If it meant finding them a "forever" home before I hit the road, so be it!

<br><br>Not to sound discouraging but finding GOOD homes for cats the ages there are, especially the 17 yr old, will be almost impossible. Forget places like Craigslist because there are too many unsavory people getting FREE pets there for reasons I wont mention here.