Unless it's used to travelling in a car, you may well have difficulty. The only cats that I've had, didn't like the car, unless introduced to it as kittens. Get a pet box and try it for a short distance to see how you get on - mine just howled non-stop
I think it probably depends on the temperament of the cat.
While you might see the occasional news story of a cat making its way "home" over a considerable distance after its "owners" (ie servants!) have moved house, and hear of some cats being involved in territorial disputes or simply running away, there have been a number of posts on here about cats who are quite happy with a camping lifestyle.
As suggested, I'd try to get her used to the 'van by taking her on short distances in a cage/box, possibly feeding her from the 'van while at home, then, assuming she's not distressed, taking her to a site but keeping her on a lead.
Hi Our cat travels everywhere with us, as a previous poster said will probably depend on if he is the adventurious type, ours likes his home comforts too much. We see lots of cats on sites some getting taken for a walk on a lead, we want to introduce Felix to this. As a rule when traveling he is usually in his carrier, generally he will just sit on a rear seat.
well my cat is 10 now, and we have had campers for the last 7 years. Hes always come with us in the UK, infact if i open the side door to load up, hes in waiting for the off. Hes been to many a meet in the south west and enjoys the other campers talking to him, mind you when he went for a trip out the window at forest glade, i was told i would be reported for looking for pussy at 3am in the woods. He has a harness and an extendy lead for walking or going out and is used to having it put on before hes allowed out. So i would say, as long as you train the cat walk or be staked out when away, go for it, they soon learn what happens and then they are with you, better that being in a cattery and missing you. I hope that helps floppy
We took our cat in the motorhome for the first time when he was 10 (we had 2 cats until then and the other one just went out one day and never came back - from home that is - so he was left on his own). We decided to see how he went on and he seemed to really like it. We never let him out though, he did have a harness, but didn't really take to that, presumably because he'd never been used to it.
But he seemed to like being in the van, it's on our driveway, and any time either of us went in it, and left the door open, he was inside it with us! He'd even managed to get inside without either of us noticing, and set the alarm off a few times! He'd gone to sleep, but when he woke up started to move around of course and hey, the alarm went off!
He was always perfectly happy in the van, he used to sit in the front window a lot and look out. He always travelled in a cat basket for safety, as soon as we got to where we were going we let him out of it and the first thing he did was look for his food bowl.
He lived to 17 and during those 7 years he went all over the UK with us, but not abroad.
Some cats obviously don't like travelling, ours didn't object at all and was always quiet and used to go to sleep. You'll have to try it with your cat, we didn't know until we did how ours would react.
Thanks for all of your advice. She is 10 now and has had to move house due to bereavement, but seems to have bonded with me.She does not go out much, and seems perfectly happy in the house when I am around.
She yowls in the car, but I think that is because she has always travelled in one of those small cages for going to the vets.Hopefully she will travel on the back seat of the van, or in a bed, not getting in the way !. I intend getting her used to being in the van with me, at the house initially, so she gets used to it being a part of her territory. Small trips to the country will follow, then hopefully short trips away. I will of course take litter tray and scratch post, and it looks like I need a harness, and also to get her microchipped.
I would feel happier for her to be with me rather than in the cattery. Anyway time will tell.
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Topic: Cats in campervans
