Camping with Cats?
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Michigan. . .FINALLY!!!!
Posts: 6,726
I would ask your vet! The traveling might just be too much for that kitty! I know that at the vet clinic I worked at (I'm a vet tech) we would often get older and infirmed pets in for boarding. Does your vet offer boarding? If so, if anything untoward happened, your vet would be right there to treat. So much more is involved when you have a geriatric cat who has CKD. Also, cats who are stressed and not at home will often refuse to eat or drink. I'm concerned that if you are out on the road and this happens, your cat may require an IV bolus of fluids. This is really something you need to discuss with your vet, IMHO.
#12
I lived in our 5th wheel for almost 6 months. I have 2 cats. 1 adjusted just fine but the other never did. She would run around all night. I think the air/heat scared her. It was in the floor and whenever it started she'd take off running around and meowing. I didn't try traveling with them...good luck!
#13
I used to travel all the time with two cats but they started when they were kittens so it was part of their routine. If your little ones aren't used to traveling, you may be in for a difficult time. It will also take some time for adjustment after you get to your camp site.
My biggest concern is always "what if"? they get loose. Take extra precautions to make them as safe as possible and one important thing is if you are going to put them on a leash at any time they would be safer in harnesses rather than collars. Make the best of it and enjoy that you are doing your best for them. Keep calm and double check everything.
peace
My biggest concern is always "what if"? they get loose. Take extra precautions to make them as safe as possible and one important thing is if you are going to put them on a leash at any time they would be safer in harnesses rather than collars. Make the best of it and enjoy that you are doing your best for them. Keep calm and double check everything.
peace
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chula Vista CA
Posts: 7,402
We had an umbrella crested cockatoo that we could not find anyone that was not afraid of her. (Which was funny because she was very friendly and she was your friend for life if you shared your banana or grapes with her.) So we finally had to board her with the vet. When she came home she would make whining dog cries when she wanted to wake us up or if I was on the phone.
#15
No help with the cats, but I do have three poodles who stay at home when I go somewhere, very happily, with their "come to my home" sitters. These folks are very good, but I can't remember if I've ever had to have them give meds or do anything radical to mine...but they surely would and they would do very well with it, I'm sure. Is there no one in your area who could do this? If they're professionals, as mine are, they can handle it all and you don't need to worry about it! Good luck!
I would ask your vet! The traveling might just be too much for that kitty! I know that at the vet clinic I worked at (I'm a vet tech) we would often get older and infirmed pets in for boarding. Does your vet offer boarding? If so, if anything untoward happened, your vet would be right there to treat. So much more is involved when you have a geriatric cat who has CKD. Also, cats who are stressed and not at home will often refuse to eat or drink. I'm concerned that if you are out on the road and this happens, your cat may require an IV bolus of fluids. This is really something you need to discuss with your vet, IMHO.
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: South Central Indiana
Posts: 1,931
Our kitties like to go with us when we camp - usually I try not to feed them in the hours before we leave to minimize stomach upsets. Both are indoor cats and do not try to escape.
Your cats sound like they may be more of a challenge with CKD and all, hope you get the respite you deserve.
Your cats sound like they may be more of a challenge with CKD and all, hope you get the respite you deserve.
#17
I used to travel all the time with two cats but they started when they were kittens so it was part of their routine. If your little ones aren't used to traveling, you may be in for a difficult time. It will also take some time for adjustment after you get to your camp site.
My biggest concern is always "what if"? they get loose. Take extra precautions to make them as safe as possible and one important thing is if you are going to put them on a leash at any time they would be safer in harnesses rather than collars. Make the best of it and enjoy that you are doing your best for them. Keep calm and double check everything.
peace
My biggest concern is always "what if"? they get loose. Take extra precautions to make them as safe as possible and one important thing is if you are going to put them on a leash at any time they would be safer in harnesses rather than collars. Make the best of it and enjoy that you are doing your best for them. Keep calm and double check everything.
peace
We had an umbrella crested cockatoo that we could not find anyone that was not afraid of her. (Which was funny because she was very friendly and she was your friend for life if you shared your banana or grapes with her.) So we finally had to board her with the vet. When she came home she would make whining dog cries when she wanted to wake us up or if I was on the phone.
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Michigan. . .FINALLY!!!!
Posts: 6,726
The only one I know of formerly worked at the local (terrible) vet and she was fairly flighty even when just handling our billing. I'm not sure I'm that comfortable with her.
I completely agree. You're right, I should have discussed this with her. I will call or email. My vet (the holistic vet in Edmonton) doesn't offer boarding, unfortunately, because I feel like they might be the only vet that I have used in the last 20 years who could pill stormi. The one in town here is very poor lately, and I can't see boarding with them. They have dogs and cats in the same area in the boarding area, and stormi's dog intolerant. They diagnosed stormi as being in end stage kidney failure with a borderline high thyroid then wanted to see her in 6 months. They also used Convenia to treat a bladder infection and use Metacam for pain in cats, despite my request that they not do it with ours. I just barely caught them the one time. The holistic vet has her almost back to normal values, and her t4 has never been out of range, it's in the low part of the range in fact.
I completely agree. You're right, I should have discussed this with her. I will call or email. My vet (the holistic vet in Edmonton) doesn't offer boarding, unfortunately, because I feel like they might be the only vet that I have used in the last 20 years who could pill stormi. The one in town here is very poor lately, and I can't see boarding with them. They have dogs and cats in the same area in the boarding area, and stormi's dog intolerant. They diagnosed stormi as being in end stage kidney failure with a borderline high thyroid then wanted to see her in 6 months. They also used Convenia to treat a bladder infection and use Metacam for pain in cats, despite my request that they not do it with ours. I just barely caught them the one time. The holistic vet has her almost back to normal values, and her t4 has never been out of range, it's in the low part of the range in fact.
Even if your vet doesn't do boarding, he/she might have a suggestion of a pet sitter or a boarding facility that can ake proper care of your baby. We actually changed our kennel because we had a geriatric dog who was to the stage of having BM accidents. When we would pick her up from the old kennel, the feces would be dried all over her and the OWNER of the kennel would tell us "It just happened". We found a wonderful kennel and they actually bathed our old lady everyday she was there and only charged us an additional $10! We even boarded our newest dog that we got from rescue who was undergoing the injections for treatment of heart worm. This kennel has been in business for over 25 years and we never worry about our animals when we leave them there. Wish you lived here because they certainly would take the best care of your baby!
#19
We have been camping with cats for about 14 years now. I only have one now but we did have 2 at one time. We carry our cats out to the camper and let them find their own hiding place. We have horror stories of when Penny cat would hide under the slides in the bedroom (DH had to pull the floor up to get her until he finally fixed that). Now we have a young male cat and he struts around the camper till he finds his spot and then we lock the doors and drive off. We usually camp about 3 months each winter down south and then take numerous camping trips including a 3-4 week trip somewhere in September. I do not drug my cats in any way and they have never given me a problem. We put them in that camper each season and they always do really well. Our old cat stayed in a nice kennel by the window on the bed and would look out the window as we traveled, sure got lots of waves from travelers about that. But Shadow, our male, refuses any type of kennel and just likes to rest on the floor. We also travel with 3 dogs in the back seat of the truck and at one time carried 3 parakeets with us. If I am going camping, the pets have to come with us, we have no-one to help us with them. Good Luck.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Richmond, KY
Posts: 742
My cat is diabetic and requires insulin shots twice a day. We used to tent camp but bought an RV so we can take him with us when we go. He does fine--he loves laying in the window watching out when we are parked. When we are driving, he sleeps on one of the beds, we have to wake him up when we get home. Before he became diabetic we would leave him home and my sister would check on him, but he would get so lonesome. Now that he is diabetic, we don't want to stress him by leaving him for several days, so he goes with us. I think every cat is unique, though, and will handle it differently. Thankfully he does ok! Good luck with yours.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post