Cats on board

[BarbaraRose]

To those of you with traveling felines, how do you keep your kitties from running out the door everytime it is opened? I would be afraid of my kitty getting out and running off, and never finding her again. My cat tries to run out the door of my apartment every chance she gets (just to see what's on the other side, I guess).

Barbie

[SeeyaGal]

Our 3 male cats LOVE to be outside, they know they cannot come out the door till Mom or Dad has the long tether that attaches to their harnesses and we put a clothes line off our awning and attach the long tethers to the clothesline. We just have to remember to disengage the awning so it does NOT roll up on it's own!! We have two times and the cats looked like they were parachuteing from the awning! Noone got hurt but they were not amused! We watch them close so they don't back out of their harnesses...mine are Houdini's!

[Liz]

Jenny!

Mostly I just watch Bandit carefully and be careful when I open the door. He has escaped a few times. He wears a harness with tags that makes it a little easier to grab him.

He also has an electronic collar that I can use with portable units I can put by the doors. (Similar to Electronic Fence) If he goes near the door (you can set the distance) he gets an electronic "correction." It only takes once for him to learn not to go there. I have used it at home to keep him from going out the dog door. I have also used it in the rv to keep him from getting under the drivers feet. I no longer use it in the rv, but carry it just in case. You just have to remember to turn it off or take the collar off before you take him outside.

Bandit also likes to go outside on a leash or tie out, and like Jenny's houdinis, needs close supervision when doing so.

[BarbaraRose]

Jenny, What an hysterical image!! Not funny to them, but I can just imagine how funny it would be to see, as long as they didn't get hurt (other than their pride).

Liz, I have never heard of the "invisible fence" thing for cats. I wonder if that would work for ferrets? Where did you get that? I would need a dozen of them in my apartment since the ferrets are always getting into places they don't belong! Ha!

Barbie

[Getupngo]

Barbie, that fear is why I don't have a cat. Particularly I'm afraid of the kitty bolting at a gas station or rest stop (I suppose that's what kitty carriers are supposed to prevent). Then there's the yowling ... and the kitty boxes ( )

There is one couple that went over the top in providing for the EIGHT cats that travel with them in their motor home. They had a "kitty condo" installed in their motor home. The cats have an access door to one of the RV bays, which is outfitted with everything indoor cats could need, including a grate that lets them enjoy fresh air & views of the outdoors when the bay door is opened.



Found a more updated picture with a new grate:



The best part? These are all rescue feral kitties.

[Liz]

Liz, I have never heard of the "invisible fence" thing for cats. I wonder if that would work for ferrets? Where did you get that? I would need a dozen of them in my apartment since the ferrets are always getting into places they don't belong! Ha!

Barbie

I bought mine from a local business owner who came and fitted Bandit and "trained" him. Ha! I've seen similar things for sale at Walmart for a fraction of the cost. I believe it's the same as what's used for dogs. The only problem with ferrets might be fitting a collar that small.



I have 4 of the round units, 1 for each of my 4 exterior doors in my house. They operate by battery and are plugged in to charge.

[BarbaraRose]

Janice, That is so cool! Good for them for rescuing those kitties! I can't imagine tho, having 8 cats in a motor home! I had two cats in my studio apartment and that was one too many!

Liz, I will have to look into that. I have a pet locator for one of my ferrets (he is deaf so I can't call him when he is sleeping somewhere) and had to adjust the collar attachment to fit him too. I wonder tho, if the "jolt" would be too much for a ferret. I will have to ask about it on my ferret forum.

I will probably get a dog once I get to actually living on the road. For companionship as well as protection.

Barbie

[Getupngo]

Barbie, dogs are great companions on the road. Love my two little ones (except when they fight, pee inside, fight, scratch incessantly to get fed more than they need ....). (oh, never mind!)