Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2003 11:16:26 -0400
Reply-To: Jay Brown <jayb@COEDSPORTSWEAR.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jay Brown <jayb@COEDSPORTSWEAR.COM>
Subject: Re: cats and campers
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Hi Jim,
Cats and camping typically aren't an obvious mix the way dogs and camping
are. Whereas the average dog will be thrilled to have his head hanging out
the window while cruising down the highway toward the next adventure, the
average cat will be hiding under the bed waiting to get home. Most cats
tend to be creatures of habit and are likely to show some signs of anxiety
associated with any major external changes.
I think that perhaps the most important thing you can do to make your cat a
"happy camper" is to start training it to accept new places and experiences
while it is very young. Since cats are an intelligent species, they can
usually be trained with classical conditioning (aka - food bribes). Lavish
attention, praise and a favorite treat on your new kitten at every rest area
you stop at etc. If you find the right combination of treats and toys, you
could soon have a cat waiting with his camping gear packed for a weekend
excursion when you get home from work on Friday.
Leash training will also be mandatory if you want to bring your furry friend
to campgrounds, most people use a harness designed for a small dog to avoid
the choking hazards and escape risks associated with a normal leash/collar
setup.
Cats are not likely to dig the idea of "going for a walk" at first, it is
basically against their nature to explore new territory by going down the
middle of the street. They would prefer to stalk slowly around the
perimeter and observe things from the highest point possible until they know
that everything is safe. That said, it is very important that your kitten
gets used to walking on a leash, or you are bound to wind up with a flabby
feline in a relatively short time. There is not much room in the Westy for
your new friend to get excercise on his own...
One thing that might help is if you set up a small space that can be your
cats domain within the camper. A little den with a padded bottom that you
can take with you from home when you leave on camping trips might help
reduce your cat's anxiety and lend a familiar smell and sense of safety.
Even a standard travel crate that he can use at home and on the road will
lend a feeling of well-being. Likewise, a few favorite toys from home might
help to keep a calm kitty. You will have to figure out the whole litterbox
thing on your own, I don't envy you on that process...
This probably goes without saying, but you should consider getting your pet
spayed or neutered at the first opportunity. Males will usually spray less
and females will not be sending out chemical signals to all the tomcats in
town if they have been spayed. Also be sure to get a good ID tag as soon as
possible, cats have quite a talent for escape. Include your home & cell
phone #'s if possible. Many engravers can add this information to the back
of your cats rabies vaccination tag for a very nominal fee.
In short, you are in for quite an adventure. You probably picked what is
usually considered one of the least travel friendly animals possible. Of
course every animal is an individual, your new buddy might take to the open
road like a furry little Jack Kerouac. Definitely get things started right
away, the longer you wait, the more work you will have to do to reprogram
thousands of years of genetic imprinting in your new fuzz-ball. My dog is
completely convinced that she is a human (although in retrospect, I don't
think I trained her to think that way). Perhaps you can convince your cat
that it is a dog, and that it is a perfectly normal thing for it to enjoy
camping... See you at TBTT if all goes well.
Good Luck!
Jay Brown
'72 Riviera
'85 Vangon Westfalia
Newmarket, NH
http://www.geocities.com/vwcamper72
