Have Cat, Will Travel
 

For you younger folks, that's a play on words of an old TV series, "Have Gun, Will Travel", lol!

I've had lots of cats and this is a first: Our new kitten doesn't go ballistic in the car. In the past we've left him at my son's house to play with their kitten when we've traveled. This time we decided we'd take him with us 180 mi. to see our new grandson.

Sugar did just fine! He played in the extend-cab with all our purchases (loves to make the plastic bags rattle) and was quite lively much of the time. Then he'd sprawl between us on the large armrest and take naps.

He didn't like my daughter's cat, Cornflake. Well, actually, Cornflake didn't like Sugar. Sugar just ignored her. Their names sound like they'd go together, don't you think? ;)

At the vet's, another cat owner said Sugar looked like a Siamese. I was doubtful, but sure enough there are pictures of white and orange Siamese cats, called "Flame Point." It is a recessive gene, so you don't see them much. Also, he is a stray, so no big bucks for breeding will be rolling in, lol!

Siamese cats live longer than any other cats, so I imagine he'll be around for a long time. Our new doggie isn't vicious towards cats, so that is a relief! They're slowly warming up to each other.

Anyone else know of cats that don't mind traveling?

My parents used to have a cat (before I came along) that loved to ride in the car. My Mom said that he'd get up in the back window of the car and ride along when they'd go to get ice cream on Sunday evenings. She said he always got his own little cup of vanilla ice cream and he'd sit in the back seat window and eat it! :D

We had one cat who traveled well. Didn't need to be caged.

But alas, that has not happened with our current 3. They howl for a while then conk out. The trip is pretty long. 6-8 hrs.

We had a orange Maine coon once ...he was so delightful.
But in the car? He howled for the WHOLE trip. I thought I'd die with that stress. I don't trust cats anymore uncaged in cars.
One we had liked to wedge herself under the accelerator and brake pedals. She was unpredictable too, and hated to be caged.

So I only had one I could trust loose in the car. I kept a harness on her and leash, so she wouldn't bolt when we opened the doors. I was afraid she'd run off at a rest stop and we wouldn't be able to get her back, etc.

I have seen cats in the back windows of cars. Less so now with the crating of dogs, etc. Most people put them in a carrier like we do now.

We had one STRANGE cat, Shadow, who now lives with my niece. She liked to put on a harness and go for a walk. When I had mono, the high point of my day was when DH would take me for a drive after dinner, and Shadow started wanting to go with us! She would sit at the door and yowl until we took her to the car. She liked to sit up front with her feet on the dashboard and look out the windows.

One day I had to take her to the vet for a check up and shots, and had to make a quick trip to the hardward store. I thought, oh, what the heck, and took her in the store with me to see what would happen. She sat in the child seat with her little harness on and rode all around the store, just checking everything out. We got some funny looks. She is just not your normal cat! She was constantly upsetting the applecart with our other cats, so it's been much more peaceful here since she moved to my niece's house.

Twink, your kitty does look like she could be Siamese. They all start out white and get their markings later, so there's no telling. Is she chatty? Most Siamese seem to be really vocal.

Arkie, Sugar is not "chatty," which is okay by me, lol! Shadow sounds like a sweetheart. :)

Sugar has the longest legs! He's not old enough or big enough, but he jumped up on the kitchen counter yesterday! (Bad kitty!)

I hadn't thought about getting a harness for a cat, MrsD. Wonder how small they come?

They come pretty small.... but I don't think small enough for a kitten.

The ones we had were thinner leather, with a soft sheepskin sewn on the part going to the cat's fur. They are totally different
than doggie ones.

Here is a nylon type that is adjustable...I wish they had these when I was harnessing our two cats in the past:


.

I just can't tell how small it goes by this picture.

Thanks for the link, mrsD.

I am sitting here smiling, remembering when my daughter and I visited PetSmart for a harness and leash: for her wandering SON! They were a little shocked, I think.

Now you see kids in harnesses all over the place! :winky:

LOL! I have to say Shadow took to the harness much better than Samuel did! We took him to a large mall with a harness on when he was not even 2 (I was pregnant), and he literally dragged me all over the place! It must have looked like one of those people you see trying to walk a really big dog. He would just yank me right off my feet!

Some cats will accept a harness, and some simply WILL NOT. Picabo would let me put it on her, but then she would simply turn into a lump. She wasn't going anywhere. I tried putting it on Katie exactly once. She went ballistic and I didn't know if I was even going to be able to catch her to get it off, or if I might lose a finger in the process. Shadow liked it so much she would actually go and get it and carry it to me in her mouth!

Cats are SO unpredictable, aren't they? :rolleyes:

I'll take Sugar with me to try it on. That way if he doesn't tolerate it, I won't buy it.

I can relate to these stories. The lay down and become a lump is very familiar! Our one cat who traveled well, didn't mind the harness at all. The harness was really for ME because I was afraid she'd bolt out the car door unexpectedly.