what a journey...

[CricketSail]

I've been in survival mode, so not online to chat much until now. I left MA on 1/4, just a few days before the polar vortex arrived. That wasn't my original plan, but that's how it worked out, so off I went. It hit me when I got to PA and I was at minus 15 degrees, just a week into living in my rig! As we know, heading south didn't work so well this year, I left Atlanta, GA just a day before the great ice storm there. I was sooo nervous I might run out of propane, the whole way to Florida.

I've had a breather and some warm up, but will be getting solar panels next week and hope that does well enough to keep me more energy sustainable and a little less nervous about fuel.

But the dogs have sure had a good time, and the cat, amazinlgy for a 9 year old that hated being in a car, just loves it.

[gingerK]

Wow, it sounds like you just got out of the way of bad weather by the skin of your teeth! Glad you made it to FL ok!

[Bethers]

Hey, you MADE it - and the and the animals all seem to love it. Now enjoy the warmth and I hope you'll love your solar like I do. Just remember, the batteries won't be getting any energy when the sun goes down - so watch usage at night.

[mitch5252]

..
Well, haven't you had an adventure!
Glad you all survived.

Like Beth said - you're gonna LOVE solar.

You've done just fine!!!

..

[RitaMc]

Cricket,
How I you train your cat for the RV lifestyle? John and I have decided we do not want to spend another winter in Minnesota. We are starting to implement our plans to go SW for the months of January and February starting in the winter of 2014-15. Taking Breezie is no problem. She loves life on the road. Ozzie, the cat is another story. He is an indoor/outdoor cat. Mostly outdoor or front porch in the summer. House in the winter during the colder months. I won't leave him alone in the house for two months with just someone coming to feed/care for him. Boarding him for that time period also seems cruel not to mention expensive. My sister suggests starting him on a leash now and crating him so he gets used to it. I have a feeling that after the first time in the crate he will hide whenever I try to put him in there. He is 10 years old and my only unsolved challenge to a living as a snow bird.

[monik7]

I have the same question about how you managed with your cat. I'm planning a 2-month trip starting the end of May and unless I can figure out how to take my cat, it will be prohibitively expensive to board her. Right now if I take her in my car in a carrier, she either vomits and/or gets diarrhea or both within 10 miles of leaving. She pants and saliva drips out of her mouth. Do you or anyone else have any suggestions on how I could acclimate her to the RV or is my cat hopeless? She's 12 years old.
Sandi

[BarbaraRose]

Maybe put the cat in the RV in increasing time periods while it is parked and let them explore it and get used to being in there (use food/treats to give a positive experience).

My old cat, Zoey, was really bad in the car too, just like yours, Sandy. That was why I chose not to take her with me to California. She got a nice new home with a friend. Lola was much better in the car, so I was able to bring her back from CA with me.

(If this awful weather keeps up, I may decide to head south again myself next fall! )

[IrishIroamed]

Glad you made it Cricket. Well the weather can only get warmer for you from here on out.

[BarbaraRose]

Cricket, what part of Florida are you in? Maybe you can meet up with one or more of the ladies who are down there now, for a mini GTG.

[Bethers]

My last cat screamed and hollered and got sick in the crate in a car. I finally let him loose in the vehicle (car) back then and he went under the seat and was happy as a clam - even started coming out occasionally. I think the crate was worse for him than the traveling. I have several friends who travel with cats - some let them out, others don't. Just remember if you let them out off leash or not enclosed, you may not be able to get them in when you need them.

[avalen]

so glad you made it Cricket, and I'm totally jealous but someday I'll be where you are

[BarbaraRose]

Zoey had diarrhea in the crate, so next time I let her roam free in the car and she peed all over the back seat!

[Acadianmom]

One of my son's Maine Coon cats drools and usually poops in the carrier if I have to bring her to the vet and it's only 10 miles. When I picked her and her sister up in Seattle I had a large dog kennel with me. It was large enough to put a small litter box in. On the road they would lay side by side looking out the door. If I stopped for a little while and I wasn't going to get out of my motorhome I would let them out to eat and drink. At night they would explore and usually just lay on the dash and look outside. They seemed to be fine with that arrangement for a week. Having a large dog kennel would not be convenient for a long time. There are smaller wire cages that you can fold up.

I would put a carrier in your house and just leave the door open. Put the cat's food in there and not shut it up until it got use to the carrier. If I have a carrier in the house for a while my cats like to go in and out and sleep on it. If you can let the cat spend some time in the RV while it's parked I would do that.

I have never tried to leash train a cat. They seem to be able to get out of harnesses pretty easily so I highly recommend that they have a collar with ID at all times. I would probably have a cat I was going to travel with chipped too.

Martha

[JudyJB]

I have seen several cats on leashes and wearing harnesses in my travels, even going to walks! I've asked a couple of people and they said it took time, but eventually the cat settled down. I have seen several cats riding on the front dash of a Class A. If I ever do get a pet to travel with, it will be a cat, preferably a kitten so I can train her to get used to traveling.

I think the problem is that most cats only get in a vehicle to go to the vet. I like the idea of the big carrier with the door left open and treats put inside. I think a collar and a tag, maybe even a chip, would be critical.

[snowball]

I'm sure that was a trip you don't want to re do in a quick hurry...glad that you made it safely I have solar Panels as well as a generator but because of the state of my batteries have to use both at night for the bare minimum usage...I unplug everything that I know of and only plug it in when in use..what a pain ...
enjoy this new life
sheila