cats camping and travelling, also harnesses

ajs · 27-11-2007, 07:29 AM

I have been told of people who take their cats in the caravan with them etc.

I have just adopted a 5 month old and a 10 month old and would very much like to get them used to travelling etc - but we won't be going in our caravan now for at least a few months.

Has anyone any tips?

I would also like to be able to put a harness and lead on them - again any tips?

Or are they too old already?

Here are a few of pics of my new boys. The first 3 are of "timid" Timmy who has the bushy tail and then there are 3 of Lenny "the lion" has the shorter coat!

Alison

Grete · 27-11-2007, 07:55 AM

I don't have any experience with harness training or travelling (other than to the vets with protesting cats in a carrier) but I had to say your boys are gorgeous, really nice pics

Tink · 27-11-2007, 10:01 AM

kuan yin did well with a harness and lead as i took it rather slowly..i put her outside the front door at first and let her lead the way...then she got used to it and started prowling away after a few days of this...
as far as traveling, i took kuan yin out in the car for short trips at first that did not always end up at the vet's office...just a short drive here and a short drive there..then brought her home to have a meal..just this last weekend i spent 7 hours in the car with her wrapped in her favorite blanket and she did just fine.
i don't think they are too old to start if you gradually start introducing these things fairly soon...
good luck!

Tanya · 27-11-2007, 10:17 AM

You have two very cute cats!

Oli (my cat) has always travelled because I lived away for uni. As a result of this he used to travel for about 3 hours most weekends. Before a long trip, make sure you give your cats the chance to go to toilet. We never had problems with Oli toileting in the car, but that may be because we always made sure he went before we left. Other than that, make sure the cats are in a secure cat carrier.

As for the harness, I can't say that Oli really liked it at first! He would dig his claws in and refuse to move. When he did this, I used to pick him up and carry him somewhere and then put him down somewhere more interesting. The lazy boy would then walk!

Bribes were also good! If Oli wouldn't walk on the lead I would bribe him to a different spot with one of his favourite toys or a treat.

Good Luck.

ajs · 27-11-2007, 10:37 AM

Oh that sounds really hopeful then, thanks for the tips! I will give it a go - just got to measure them now, to find what size harness to order.

..and thanks for the nice comments. I think they are lovely too, but of course I am biassed.

My old cat Zak is not so sure - she is mainly an outside cat, but I have been getting her to come in for her brekky and spend a couple of hours each morning in their company. They leave her alone, as I think they are a bit afraid of her (don't think that will last long though)...she is a bit anxious about them but does not seem too bothered really.

Still they have been here a week now and all is going reasonably well I think.

smudgley · 27-11-2007, 02:27 PM

We often take our cats in the caravan with us. THey love it. It's a bit resticting with having 2 children in & out all the time, but we manage fine. One of my cats used to use a harness & was ok, but we haven't put it on her for a while. Like anything it needs positive introduction, so put it on each time they have a pleasurable experience, like at meal times, the take it off. Or put it on when you have a cuddle & try & reinforce the association with harness=nice things!

Tinker · 27-11-2007, 03:06 PM

My Dad used to take his cat sailing with him. She stayed beneath deck and always seemed to be OK. She was used to travelling though, hardly surprising following a 900 mile trip from Cambridgeshire to the South of France when they emigrated!

random · 27-11-2007, 04:51 PM

Mine will all use a harness. The key is to put it on them indoors and get them used to it first before trying to use it. Once they are used to wearing it it is a lot easier from there. If you go right out and put it on them and start dragging them about outside (not that you would but I have known people think this is the way!) they will be petrified and end up hating it.

dandysmom · 27-11-2007, 04:57 PM

Alison, all but one of my cats have been harness-trained, and loved the experience of getting outdoors with all the interesting sights and smells. I started them as kittens and they just took it as a fact of life. I did harness-train an adult; Patches was a year and a half old when I rehomed her and had been used to going outside; however she was a smart cat and after initial resistance realized this was the only way she was going outside. She did it until her death at 20. I live in the City with heavily trafficed streets, so mine are indoors only. The positive reinforcement is a good idea....little treats when they wear the harness. Question: are there many free roaming dogs where you plan to walk them? That can be a problem...

Please PM me if you have any questions, be glad to help if I can!

That's Patches in my avatar.....

dandysmom · 27-11-2007, 05:38 PM

Just to show I know whereof I speak! This is Sultan, my Aby. You can see how much he enjoys his walk, striding down the sidewalk.......

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