Do to changing circumstances, my wife and I have to take both of our cats camping with us. Once set up both are great campers. The problem is the traveling. Penny can usually calm down and endure the drive. Sheba cannot calm down and settle down. She is all over the truck and gets car sick. I realize that leaving them in the trailer while traveling is not an option, but we don't want to quit camping either. Help, I am open to suggestions..
mkevinmarshsr
Senior Member
From what I've seen most people put the cat in a carrier during travel, unless it's calm. Having a cat bouncing around the cab sounds dangerous and would work my nerve at best.
X2, we usually start our cat on CBD oil 3-4 days before departure. Our cat is more secure when riding in our 5th wheel. She has a favorite hiding spot she goes to. Once there and set up she is back to normal.
We use a carrier, which helps keep the kitty in one place (it's unsafe for her to move around the cab). Recently we added a calming spray that helps her feel less nervous in the truck. She is fine in the trailer, once we're set up all is good.
Ours has always ridden in her carrier. Before we started full-timing, when she saw the carrier in the living room she got in it because she knew we were going places. Once we started full-timing in the Foretravel, she would get in it as soon as I started an engine. Now we have to put her in the carrier. She doesn't particularly like being carried between the truck and trailer, but she is fine riding while we're traveling.
I use a soft carrier w/ integrated little littler pan. Tried drugging her, but don't like the results of wobbly cat for 12 hours afterwards. CDB great idea. In the carrier, rather than a bed put the shirt you wore the day before - your smell might help.
Otherwise, settle in for a little kitty serenade on the drive. Ours, luckily, isn't very loud but does meow for an hour or two some before settling down. She also doesn't like a big bump & the chucking/bucking, and lets us know with an annoyed MEOW!!!
We're like, we hear ya' sister!
Otherwise, settle in for a little kitty serenade on the drive. Ours, luckily, isn't very loud but does meow for an hour or two some before settling down. She also doesn't like a big bump & the chucking/bucking, and lets us know with an annoyed MEOW!!!
We're like, we hear ya' sister!
Ask your vet about using Benadryl. It can reduce motion sickness and calm them and make them a little sleepy without strong sedation.
I use a soft carrier w/ integrated little littler pan. Tried drugging her, but don't like the results of wobbly cat for 12 hours afterwards. CDB great idea. In the carrier, rather than a bed put the shirt you wore the day before - your smell might help.
Otherwise, settle in for a little kitty serenade on the drive. Ours, luckily, isn't very loud but does meow for an hour or two some before settling down. She also doesn't like a big bump & the chucking/bucking, and lets us know with an annoyed MEOW!!!
We're like, we hear ya' sister!
I guess a pair of new carriers with litterboxes will be the next step. I appreciate all the advice.
We also have 2 small dogs - 13lbs each Chi-mixes so they're easy to travel. I keep the rear seats of the truck folded up, and then dog carrier is behind DW and cat carrier behind me, but propped up a bit so she can see up (seems to help), but not so high she can see out the windows, which seems to spook a lot of cats.
Found this just now, I'd use this if I had a couple cats and no dogs: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/kitty-city-car-seat-pet-crate-for-cats
Found this just now, I'd use this if I had a couple cats and no dogs: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/kitty-city-car-seat-pet-crate-for-cats
We have one just like that, which works great. We have a crew cab, so kitty gets the whole back seat. Very helpful to have kitty able to see us, the carrier rides low enough that she doesn't see much out the windows.
RVlife1967
Member
You keep your cat inside the 5th wheel while you travel??
Always use a carrier for small pets. Also use some type of harness attached to a seat belt for bigger pets. I am a Veterinarian. I have seen cats disable cars after being pulled out from under the dash board (along with a lot of wiring). I have had clients have to make the decision to squash their cat or hit the car in front of them (cat under the brake pedal). I have seen many broken bones and/or concussed pets that hit the inside of the windshield during sudden, unexpected braking. One dog is now missing one eye because he had his head out the window when something (maybe a rock) hit him. And several that had their heads out the window and stepped on the button to close the window (some survived and some didn’t). Every one of the clients told me they didn’t have their pet contained because they thought they were being nice to let them have freedom in the vehicle. My advice is to talk to your veterinarian. Different medications can help. A recent CBD study found heavy metal contaminants in several of the OTC products that they tested. My dog wears a harness which snaps into the seatbelt and the cat is in a carrier that is also buckled in.
Took our two cats a couple of years ago. One was fine - didn't bother him a bit. The other one got really owley and started attacking the other one - even though they have been together for many years. We went to Walgreens and got Rescue Remedy for the trip back home. What a difference! Calmed him right down for the 3 plus hour trip. Note the link is to Amazon - still the same stuff.
Our cat travels fine, but before we knew that, we used to give him 1/4 of a Acepromazine tranquilizer and he we out like a light and lethargic, and no issue. Give it to them 30 min before you put them in your truck and away you go.
Hope that helps. Our cat (Thor) loves the truck and rides like a dog and we take him super long pulls and he goes everywhere with us. Hope you can get yours in a better place for traveling.
Ours is snapped into a hardness in the backseat and clipped into the seatbelt and chills, sleeps and then watches out the window
. When we stop at the truck stops for fuel we let him walk around the rig while I get fuel, he uses the litter box and then back into his getup for more miles 
Use a crate. I have two small dogs, same situation. One gets in, goes to sleep and will stay that way for 2000 miles. The other is a manic, anxious mess. So we crate her and cover it so she can only see out the front (us) and it reduces the visual stimulation she's receiving. Within 30 minutes she settles in and is out cold.
Dennisdean
New Member
Sorry that I am late to reply but we have had good luck with our cat in the truck by kenneling him and covering the kennel with a blanket. Really calms him down and he sleeps most of the trip. Drove 20 hours over two and half days this past February and worked well. Best of luck.
We travel to warmer climates for 3+ months to escape the Michigan winter and soon realized that 1 of our 2 cats was not very fond of travel days. She is fine once we set up camp and are stationary, but she would be VERY vocal in the truck. We travel with our cats in a kennel in the back seat of our truck that includes a small litter box and cat bed. We also drape the sides with blankets, but this did not help. After a discussion with our veterinarian, she recommended we try "fluoxetine" which we understand to be bacically a kitty dose of prozac, and WOW, what an incrediable difference! We hardly even know she is in the back seat. She also does not exhibit any negetive signs or difference in her normal behavior or mood - only peace and quiet when traveling. The only negetive is that we have to start dosing her 2 weeks before travel, but well worth it for both her and us!
deerislandbrew
Senior Member
When we started traveling with our two cats, they were already about 5 years old. It wasn't easy at 1st on them. Long story short, the most skittish cat, became our seasoned and great traveler. It takes time for them to get used to it. Taking your cats for short drives in the car also helps them become familiar with traveling. Cats will get sick though, if the ride is too rough, curvey or long. Take a break every few hours with them. Unfortunately we lost our last cat after a number of trips snowbirding for 6 months in Arizona. She was a great traveler. We plan on getting a young kitten and start it out right away getting used to the traveling life. Start em young if you can.
M&Lcamping
Senior Member
We have to cats that always travel with us. We stopped having to use any drugs or sedatives. The thunder shirts work well, we tow with an SUV so they have a harness and are leased while able to roam around the back a bit. Their cat box is there as well.
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