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.
