Airstream Training for Cats?

[melindamcmul]

We're new owners of a FC30 Airstream and looking forward to some extended travel this year. Our cat is a highly social 2-year old former feral (outdoor) cat that we rescued at the age of about 6 months from a horrible winter. As a result, he's highly curious about the outdoors and can be known to "make a run for it" if we're not careful, which has only happened once or twice (and he's thankfully come home)!

Barney Barncat (so named because we rescued him from our Barn) LOVES riding in our car and truck, but the one time we took him to visit the AS (currently in storage), he attempted to bolt.

Here's our question: Do any Airstreamers have tips for helping their furry friends feel at home in their AS? Also, any techniques for ensuring they don't get out when you exit/enter the AS?

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

P.S. Here's my husband alongside our little guy riding shotgun!

[ijustlee]

Wow, he looks just like the cat that adopted me a couple years ago. Cats are inclined to do whatever they want whenever they want regardless of what humans need them to do to try and keep them safe. I would first train him to come when you call by giving him a little dab of some favorite food every time they come to your call. Also train them to walk on a leash. If the cat has bonded to you well hopefully they will be inclined to not run too far if they get out and will try to find it's way back. I have met a few people waiting by the roadside for their cat to come back after it took off after a bird or small prey, one family was on their third day waiting. I hope a cat that gets lost has all it's claws so at least it can protect it's self and hunt. You have to be sure the cat thinks your RV is it's home and really be aware of where it is when you open a door or window. Some cats are OK for travel but some like the one that uses me for a foot warmer would not want to stay inside or even close to camp. He is very curious and independent and would resent being kept on a leash. I'd expect my cat to run away if he got out on a long trip, but he would probably be OK unless it was an unusually harsh or dangerous environment. He can take care of himself at his age (3 to 5) and find another human servant if he got lost. Still, I like him so I leave him at home where he is king of his jungle. But, I'm not full timing so I don't have to make that judgement call. Most cats are very good at relaxing and chilling out when confined so you just have to know the personality of your cat. If he's a homebody and you are his best friend and he is not a compulsive roamer it could work out if you are willing to keep an eye on him when parked. A lot depends on the cats personality and if you could stand to lose him. I don't think my cat would be a good travel cat but yours might be.

[68 TWind]

Because my cat loves to cross the street, I taught him to walk on a leash in the mornings. It took a while but now he sits by the back door in the morning waiting to go out. When I put the harness over his head he raises his left foot. Then the harness goes over the left foot he raises his right foot. It is so funny but the point is cats can be trained to a harness. I don't walk him, he walks me (he is a cat) but he loves going out for 10 minutes or so in the mornings. I let him out later in the day when I can watch him and the morning traffic has slowed. We have not taken Gus (short for Augustus) on an Airstream trip yet we do plan on one this summer.