One of the first things I did upon arrival in Kalamazoo was make arrangements to welcome my new Travel Cat. Her previous owner was moving into an apartment that didn’t allow animals. She was happy that her kitty was going to someone who would love her and give her a good home.
I decided to rename her to reflect her new role. I had hoped she would be my co-pilot, so I named her Co. A Facebook Friend suggested adding the “ra” for Rescued Animal. So, Cora, it is!
I am not so sure about the co-pilot idea. The first trip – about 50 miles – didn’t go so well. I couldn’t get her into her carrier, so I put her in the harness and clipped her leash onto the headrest in the cab of the truck. She wedged herself deep under a seat. It took several hours to get her out. I finally slid the seat all the way forward and pulled her out. She was not happy and neither was I.
When it was time to move to the next spot, I tried once again to get her into the carrier. Again, I couldn’t get her in. This time, I decided to let her ride in the trailer. It was a cool day and overcast, so I figured that she wouldn’t overheat.
75 miles later, I got to the evening’s destination. I opened the door, went in, set out her food and looked for her in her favorite spot in my bedroom. She wasn’t there! I looked all over. I opened cabinets, pulled all the blankets off the bed, and I even did all that twice. There just aren’t that many places to hide in an Airstream.
I finally figured that she must have sneaked out while I was preparing to leave Woodland Travel Center, where I had a little maintenance done. I called them, and they sent all the workers out to look.
It was a sad night. I slept fitfully and got up at dawn to go back to the RV center and look for my kitty. Imagine my surprise when she crawled out of a space I didn’t even know was there!
I was so glad to see her! I let her eat and drink and then I brushed and petted her and asked her not to do that again. I also called the good folks at Woodland Travel Center to let them know she was found, and to thank them for their concern.
And then, I took care of the entrance to her hidey hole.
I’m so happy you found her! Hopefully after a few weeks, Cora will get used to her new mobile life-style. I love the picture of the duct-taped hidey hole. 🙂
So glad you found her! My Juliet hated traveling, had to be forced into the carrier, and shared her discontent rather loudly. I hope she gets used to it and eventually sits up front with you.
Duct tape is a great invention!!
I brought a kitten home for Mom in my 1969 Mustang, back when I was working at Carborundum. She managed to crawl inside the rusted-out passenger door. Yeah, that’s what cats do.
Kim…she is beautiful. What lovely eyes she has. Cora has to get used to the traveling. Many wonderful adventures await her! Enjoy and safe travels.
I’m so happy you got Cora! My mom & I had a shorter lived but similar heart attack with our dog Freckles this week. She’d been let out into the (fenced) yard early in the morning. Time passed & she didn’t come back. I called her & she didn’t come. Thought maybe my mom had let her in. I searched the house calling for her. Went out on the patio, looked, called. Nowhere. Horrible feeling. She turned up while I was getting dressed to start searching the neighborhood for her. Don’t know if she was in the side yard or behind the shed. I do know she didn’t make the first effort to come when I called. I swear she sometimes thinks she’s a cat.
Don’t these precious pets scare us silly sometimes? I’m glad you got your pup back pronto!
She seems to be tolerating the traveling. So far, I have left her in the trailer. If it ever warms up, I’ll bite the bullet and stuff her in the carrier, even if she doesn’t want to go. It has been quite cool lately. I think the high is 60 today.
I never heard that story! Which cat was this? I’m sure it was named Kitty. When we got Kitty the first, I asked her what she’d like to name it. She shot me one of her “don’t be stupid” glances and said, “Kitty”.
I hear you on the cold, I’m in Wisconsin. Today it is 58 degrees here. Lake Michigan is keeping us quite cool this “summer”.
The weather certainly is “refreshing”, isn’t it?
She is a beautiful kitty. Love her green eyes. Hopefully she will get used to traveling with you very soon. Kris has a rather large cat that cries all the way here when he brings Ray for a visit. We didn’t believe Kris until Ray cried all the way to Drumheller when we spent Christmas for the first time with Kurt.
God bless.
Cora is doing great! On my last trip of more than a few minutes, I put her in the carrier and had her ride in the truck because it was pretty hot. She handled it pretty well. I used Walter’s old carrier because it is larger. That worked fine.