Escapees September-October 2022

camping chair chat

Then it stands to reason that cats can become just as bonded to their owners as dogs. Dr. Kristyn Vitale, an educator and researcher in animal health and behavior at Unity College, Maine, discovered in her 2019 doctoral studies at Oregon State University that, like dogs, “cats show a similar capacity for the formation of attachments towards human caregivers.” So, when journeying through the country in an RV with our felines, we ought to be prepared for their health and happiness by: • Vaccinating and microchipping them • Carrying health records with us • Attaching collars with pet identi fi cation information • Crating them while traveling • Packing a small litter box in the crate • Covering the top and sides of the crate with a beach towel or light blanket if passing vehicles scare them • Playing calming music on the radio • Using pheromone spray (not drugs) for extra calming • Taking an ample supply of their medicines, if needed • Carrying portable water and offering it at stops • Setting up a familiar cat bed for sleep times • Placing a larger litter box inside the trailer along with a scoop for daily cleaning • Bringing favorite cat toys and cat treats • Feeding them in the evening after the day’s travel • Leaving the A/C or heat on while away • Taking a small carrier for unex pected trips Susan Childress #169017

Annie fans out for a snooze on the bed.

Zora naps in the sunshine.

three calmed considerably. No more yowls - just soft meows for about 15 minutes at the start of each travel day and, occasionally, when we stopped for gas or a roadside picnic. Fast forward to the present day. We’ve learned a lot and have plenty of “tails” and tips to share with others about our mischievous, furry felines. A 2022 online blog on soocial.com stated that “78 percent of American pet owners travel with their pets each year” (the statistic includes travel for relocation), and 53 percent purposely take pets with them while traveling. Whether by car, truck or RV, this covers stopovers in hotels, motels and restaurants as well as campsites. More speci fi cally, GoPetFriendly.com, on its blog, said about 28 percent of pet owners “choose an RV or moto rhome as their preferred mode of travel.” Most of the blog is dedicated to dog owners with stats and tips for traveling with them since many folks would claim that canines are the best companion pets. Yet cats make excellent companion animals and offer us love, affection and devotion.

Our two furry friends, Zora and Annie, may tolerate riding in their crates, but once inside our trailer, they love to sit on our laps and lay by the window or in front of the screen door and watch the birds, squirrels and other critters scamper outside. While Annie prefers to cuddle up in her kitty condo that we hang from the bathroom door, Zora loves to stretch out on a sliver of sunlight that shines on the bed. While they don’t accompany us on hikes, they would rather hide in cupboards, jump out when we least expect it, or snooze in the sink and drink water from the dripping tap. They make us laugh when they perform acrobatics while chasing a laser light and comfort us when they purr. A North Carolina Fauna Communications Research Institute study in the early 2000s found that the range of frequencies at which cats purr is like ultrasound therapy that can help people with pain, stress, edema, muscle and bone growth and other ailments. And like dogs, our cats know their names and respond when we call them.

Opinions contained in “Camping Chair Chat” are not necessarily those of the Escapees RV Club, its o ffi cers or the membership in general. This column is for Escapees magazine readers to share thoughts, ideas and helpful hints. Escapees RV Club accepts no responsibility for what is expressed here by any person, group or company. If accepted, submissions will be edited for magazine style and formatting. Submissions that are sent by e-mail can be directed to departmentseditor@escapees.com.

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ESCAPEES Magazine September/October 2022