Vacation time - leave at home or bring along?

Our family is going on vacation next month and will be gone for almost two weeks. We will be traveling by car to the beach 12 hours away and we will be staying in our travel trailer that we're taking with us. My two kittens are about five months old. Molly travels with us every weekend to the campground where we normally leave our trailer, but it is only a half an hour drive. She doesn't cry at all during the short trip and loves being in the camper with us. Harry (my daughter's cat), has only been to the camper a couple of times and seems to tollerate the short drive as well. However, since this is such a long drive, I've begun worrying about it. We are having a pet sitter visit once a day to care for our two parrots. I had been planning to take the kittens and the dog with us, but now I'm thinking they might be better off at home. What do you think?

For about 98% of cats, it would definitely be a bad idea to bring them along on a vacation.

The other 2%? Well, if your cat is adaptable and up for adventure, then go ahead and see if it works.

Personally, I've gotten Nano accustomed to joining me for trips out to an isolated area where I like to meditate or read. Picture a place that somewhat resembles a picnic area but a little more nature-ish. Nano enjoys looking around, sunning herself, tracking the birds and whatever else she can do from the comfort of her carrier. Crazy as it sounds, these little trips have helped her acclimate to being an indoors-only cat.

But back to your situation -- sounds like your cat might be in the 2%, but your daughter's cat is not as proven a traveller. That 12 hour drive each way might be a bit much, so based on the information provided I'd vote leave at home. But I don't think you'd be insane or foolhardishly irresponsible to do it anyway.

Whenever we are gone for more than a couple of days-I have a friend come in to feed the cats/scoup the litter.

i would get a sitter...

My sister took her kitten to the cottage. It was a huge pain, because they had to always be careful that she didn't get out. They had no idea if she would run away. Since then, they just leave her at home, she's happier in her own territory. (They have people around, she's never been completely alone for more than 24 hours.)

I can't imagine what you would do with 2 rambunctious kittens in a travel trailer for 2 weeks. Let alone, on the drive there and back.

to clarify: "She" in this post refers to the kitten, not my sister, who is allowed to go outside whenever she wants, and has never run away.

My first thought was "what will the kitties be doing while you're away doing your vacation things?" Such as, when you go to the beach, they'll be hanging out in the hotel. Will they actually enjoy that?

Another thought: Do they adjust easily in new living situations? Usually kitties don't like changing living places, and find it really unsettling...it puts a lot of stress on them. If they're the type that are just plain ok with changes in their environment, it might be just fine...however, if they hide a lot when you've moved into a new home, you might consider letting them hang out at home instead of taking them with you.

They might not mind being in the car...but you also have to consider that they'll have to get used to a new environment once you get there, and then have to re-adjust to home when you get back.

A good example: Our Sunny is GREAT in the car, and is one that we could probably let her out, and have no problems at all. She doesn't complain AT ALL during a ride in the car. HOWEVER, she hides for at least two weeks after moving into a new home, and when she comes out for the first time, she shakes from head to toe in fear for a couple days.

In all, think about how they handle new spaces, and take it from there. Maybe do a trial run and take them to a friend's house (somewhere that you know you can retrieve them from whatever place they decide to hide), especially if they've never had to handle that before.

Hope that helps!

Originally Posted by Sammie5

My sister took her kitten to the cottage. It was a huge pain, because they had to always be careful that she didn't get out. They had no idea if she would run away. Since then, they just leave her at home, she's happier in her own territory. (They have people around, she's never been completely alone for more than 24 hours.)

I can't imagine what you would do with 2 rambunctious kittens in a travel trailer for 2 weeks. Let alone, on the drive there and back.

to clarify: "She" in this post refers to the kitten, not my sister, who is allowed to go outside whenever she wants, and has never run away.

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LOL!! It's totally funny that you felt that you needed to clarify that. \t

They won't have to adapt to a new place because we are staying in our 30 foot travel trailer (camper), not a hotel. It has all the comforts of home including air conditioning. It will be parked on the beach, so we will never be far. Our TT has windows all around with several places to perch and look out the window including a cat tree. They are already familiar with the camper. Molly stays in it every weekend and really seems very happy. Harry has stayed a couple of times in the past couple of months and seems to like it as well. My biggest concern is the very long car trip.

I think I am leaning towards leaving them at home, but I'm also concerned about leaving them alone for that long. The pet sitter (whom we've used in the past for the birds and dog) will only be visiting once a day. I'm just afraid they will get lonely for that long a time period.

Whenever I have left for any extended length of time, (longer than 2-3 days), I have always gotten a 10-12 yr old neighbor child to come into the house as often as they want just to play with the animals...no care, just play, with the parents letting them in the door, and then returning to lock it, just to make sure it gets locked properly...the pet sitter did the cleaning and feeding...and one year, I hired a young single school teacher to actually stay at my home to house/pet sit for the week I was gone...
Just some thoughts....

Personally - if the cats are comfortable in the trailer, I would take them with me. But, that is just my personal feelings and what I would do.

Originally Posted by Yosemite

Personally - if the cats are comfortable in the trailer, I would take them with me. But, that is just my personal feelings and what I would do.

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I agree. Sounds like they won't feel like they're far from home that way...so I would take with, too.

When I used to go away for several days at the time, I had a girl that I knew well and her fiance house sit and kitty sit. I left them food and videos, and they loved it. I never had any bigger problems that finding things in my kitchen that were put away in the wrong place. They loved the cats, and they took great care of them. When she comes to visit now, Fred still remembers her, and loves her. I wish she still lived around here.