We have had our kitten for just one week. On the day that we bought him, he travelled the 10 miles home in the campervan without any signs of distress at all. He is 11 weeks old. That night, we had no choice but to drive 200 miles to help care for a family member. Again, he was calm the whole time and slept, ate, drank and used the litter tray. He has now got used to wearing a tiny body harness to secure him whilst travelling. In his first week with us , he has covered almost 500 miles. I would love to hear of other's experiences travelling with cats. It would be useful, as we intend taking our kitten with us. Thanks in advance
------------- cramming for my finals in the twilight zone
Many years ago we used to let our kitten travel in the car with us. She would curl up in my lap and sleep for most of the journey, from the West Midlands to the North East. She only once went behind the pedals and quickly learnt that was a bad idea! It did get uncomfy for me if I needed to move though.
I used to take her to collect my wife from work and some people did a double take when they spotted a cat stood on the passenger seat and door peering out the window waiting for her mum.
Bad accident near us many years ago because a cat was loose in the car and got stuck under the pedals. Ran off the road and down a banking on to moorland and he was killed.
Quote: Originally posted by Taylor56 on 18/11/2015
Bad accident near us many years ago because a cat was loose in the car and got stuck under the pedals. Ran off the road and down a banking on to moorland and he was killed.
Oh dear...
I would've thought that the advice that is usually posted about travelling with a dog,would also hold true for a cat?
ie; They should be harnessed and tethered well away from the driver and the vehicle controls?.
When we stayed at Wild Boar site the owner took his cat to the vet, loose in the car. This caused an accident, car was a write off, owner ok but don't know what happened to the cat.
Long before our caravanning days, we had a cat who enjoyed car journeys. Unfortunately said cat's over-confidence led to him being killed by a dog, poor Sweeney, best cat we ever had.
On a few occasions in the past I've taken a cat or kitten camping but only because they have been ill and needed regular medication, and they have always travelled in a secure pet carrier. And don't get me started on people who travel with a dog loose in their car/van/camper van - ANY animal unsecured is an accident waiting to happen, as a couple of the above posts have pointed out.
------------- Tigermouse
I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental
Can't remember the name of it, but there's a book written by a guy who went on a long trip around UK with a VW camperven & a cat. He'd leave a window open and the cat would come & go through the night. Friends of ours take their cat camping, they attach it on a long lead, to one of those screw-in things when they're on site. This is because their previous free-range cat went AWOL and they had to come back to the site the following weekend with a "live" trap, found him ok. Agree with others that any animal, like a child, should travel under control, be it harnessed to the seat belt or cosy in a crate (child not in crate, obviously...)
PET CARRIER OF THE SOFT VARIETY SECURED TO SOMETHING FIRM. otherwise DONT BOTHER. A friend takes her cat away with (caravan and car)them for over 4 months of the year. Always stays close to the van. Always travels secured in tow car.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Travelling with a kitten
