Travelling with cats

It’s not uncommon for van owners to travel with a dog, usually of the white fluffy variety, we have noticed.  Travelling with cats, we thought, would be more of a rarity.  Not so, as we found out, there were cats galore enjoying travels with their owners.  Our Birman Muffy had been in serious training over the last two years as we planned our South Island holiday.  With plans to be away for three months, as well as the fact that she is an old girl of 16 years of age, we really didn’t want to leave her behind in a cattery for that length of time.  We are pleased to say that she did very well with all the travelling, settling down to sleep once she was out of the car and we were set up on site.

Muffy on the caravan bed

With her little harness and a light lead clipped on, we knew she was safe.  Taking her for a walk around the camp always got a reaction, especially from any kids who saw her.   “Look”, they would say in wonder, “a cat on a lead”.  Muffy tolerated these walks, then made a beeline back to the caravan, leapt nimbly back through the door and straight back on the couch for a little lie down.

Checking out the locker

We met up with lots of cats on our travels, including two brown Abyssinians in Motueka  who were free to explore the camp.  We saw their owner running around in the evenings trying to get her errant cats back in the van.  Then there were the two other Birmans we met at Richmond, who also were free to roam.  These two didn’t roam too far but lazed about outside all day when their owners were out and about.

Julie and 8 year old Mertz came visiting while we were staying in Karamea.  (Mertz the cat was named after NZ All Black Andrew Mehrtens).  Julie and her husband Alex were from earthquake devastated Christchurch and were travelling in their motor-home which they had named “Quake Escaper”.  They bought the camper, they told us, to get a rest from the ongoing after shocks, while they were waiting for their house to be repaired.

Julie and Mertz

We met up with Felix the Ragdoll three times on our travels, seems that both of us were on a South Island Odyssey trip.  His owners had spotted our cat across the camp and brought their cat over to meet us.  Two year old Felix had very similar markings to Muffy, but was a much heavier cat, and wasn’t really too interested in saying hello at all. 

 

Muffy and Felix

Is there a downside of travelling with our cat, apart from all the fine white hair which floats around and finds a home on any dark clothing?  Not at all – she was well behaved, travelled well, snoozed most of the day and cuddled up in bed with us on cold nights.  She doesn’t know it yet, but we are taking her away for another caravan trip in the weekend.