My family planned a short ten day vacation to visit some relatives and last night they were debating if I should go with them or not! Well, I don’t know! They have a big car called a “van” and I’ll have my bed, litter box, water and food all in the car but still…it’s a 12 hour drive! Plus we’ll cross the border…which makes me very nervous! What if they quarantine me? What if I get lost? I heard their relatives have a huge house which I like to explore but what if I’ll be “placed” in just one room?
The alternative …if I’ll stay home …is to have one of their friends coming once a day to clean the litter box and feed me! Yes, I would be home alone and lonely but, at least I will have my little paradise (as you can see in the photo).
Ugh! George, there are so many pro and con! I really don’t know what to do; one part of me wants to go and one part of me wants to stay home! I know some cats are good on road trips but some are not! Do you think I’ll miss my humans? Or will they miss me more and that’s the reason they want to take me with them?
I have such mixed feelings!
Yours….at a fork
Leo
Dear Leo,
The van with bed, litter box, water and food sounds good to me - assuming that you are traveling in a temperate climate. In really hot weather you would need air conditioning or fully open windows all the way. Dogs can die of heat stress and so can cats - though most people don't realise it. Staying just in one room while you are in a strange house is probably a good idea - many cats are very freaked out in a new home because of different smells, noises, people and unfamiliar territory.
But having somebody visit each day at home is equally good, if they are reliable. If your family is going to be away for a long time, it would be safest to make sure you are confined to the house, not allowed out of the cat flap. Because if something happened to you outside (road accidents, being chased by a dog etc) the daily visitor wouldn't know about it or might not be able to rescue you.
Celia puts me in a cattery each time she goes away for more than 3 days. I hate it there but it is the same cattery and the same pen each visit. So it is familiar territory and I know all the cattery workers. She feels I would be physically safer there if I have a health problem or the house burns down while she is away.
Purrsonally I think humans should stop taking holidays. It's selfish. Their duty is to stay with us....
George.
Very good advice George!
ReplyDeleteMindy & Mike
PS our humans are looking after our neighboring kitties, but it is only for three days.
My human would take me along on a trip like that, but I've had lots of travel experience, both by car and by plane. If Leo has done any traveling in the past, it would be helpful. How does he deal with being in the car for short trips (to the vet, etc.)? If he hates being in the car, it may be best to leave him at home.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree George! Humans should never take holidays. Even if I'm a fairly recent rescue I've learned that one of my new humans never takes vacation for exactly same reason: to stay home with the cats (I've also learned they had other cats before me):-)
ReplyDeleteChico
Wise piece of advice George! Leo, it's better to stay home - you'll have your home comfort than a risky adventure (especially at the border).
ReplyDeleteIs your "paradise" fenced - I mean "cat proof"?
Carla, the tuxedo cat