Touring - Taking a Cat on Tour?

It seems that some have toured successfully with dogs. What about other animals? Cats, rats, snakes, hamsters, turtles, can'o'worms, anything?

I'm looking to get a pet, and prefer a cat over a dog. I'd like to take the cat with me on a extended tour but am doubtful if this would be feasible. I do not want to give the cat back to the humane society or faust it off on some friends for an indeterminate amount of time so it seems like I have to choose between a cat and my tour. Is this a false dichotomy? Could it be possible to tour with a kitty cat?

I'm not a cat expert, but I can't imagine that any domesticated cat would want to spend a few weeks stuck in a carrier and/or on a leash. In case it isn't obvious, cats and dogs have significantly different types of behavior.

If you cannot find someone to take care of your cat while you're on tour, do the responsible thing and don't get a cat.

Dylan and Cheri (diegotofuego.com)carried a cat with them from Colombia all the way down to the southern tip of South America! They found a starving, almost-dead kitten on the side of the road in Colombia and picked it up intending to nurse it back to health, then find a home for it. Of course, by the time they got him healthy, both of them had fallen in love with the cat - and carried it with them!

I can imagine it could be done with some cats (like Nancy describes), but not all cats. I have two cats, and neither one would do well on a tour.


If you really want a cat, and if your tours will be short, you might consider using a petsitting service. They are not cheap, but can be worth it. The one I used when I was in Winnipeg charged $14/day for one visit, and $25/day for two visits. I needed 2 visits because one of my cats is diabetic. Not only did she take care of my cats, but she did the other usual housesitting things like picking up the mail, adjusting the lights, etc.

If you are touring in bear country, carrying live bait with you is foolish.:eek:

Hey, this one below is ready to go, and btw though I own two cats, the bear country thing is funny!

http://www.brseattle.com/images/cat%20on%20bike.gif

If the cat agrees to take his turns pulling at front, I'd have no problem taking him along.

One guy hiked the AT with a cat so anything is possible.

I dunno, I love to have a, *coff* cat, with me at all times. Makes things go much smoother. ;)

A guy I know here was running trails in the foothills of the Rockies with a cat.
Well, actually, he stopped to take a breather and discovered he was being stalked by a 150lb mountain lion.
He didn't like it very much.

Well, actually, he stopped to take a breather and discovered he was being stalked by a 150lb mountain lion.


I had one of those run across the road in front of me while cycling in the Rockies a couple years ago.

I had one of those run across the road in front of me while cycling in the Rockies a couple years ago.

Better in front than behind. The first clue most people get that they are being stalked is when the cat hits them from behind.
This guy just happened to stop and look back before it happened.

We've been getting about one cyclist a year colliding with a bear around here.
Apparently, bears don't look both ways before crossing.

I don't think touring would work well with most cats. From my experience cats are very skirmish (even friendly one) and like a stable environment. Just moving to a new apartment it is not uncommon for the cat to hide under the bed for the first month until it gets use to it's new surroundings.

I take my chihuahua on my bike from time to time, and I brought him all the way to Cabo on my motorcycle. It was a royal PITA, and I would not do it again. Riding around town is one thing, but the dog got pretty restless after a few hours on the road. He also got some sort of indigestion from the scraps I fed him, and I ended up with gooey dog crap in his carrier. Yuck.

Machka, what sort of personality do you feel I should look for in a prospective touring cat? I was thinking a more spunky cat wouldn't get freaked out by the changing scenery, but then I was worried that it would tend to wander off every night camping.

Randochap, I did consider (and laugh at) that but I figured it wouldn't be anymore of an issue with a cat in the tent than with a dog. Which smells better to a bear huh? A cat, a dog, or us?

robow, that's great! It reminds me of the sight that inspired my dream of touring with a cat. I was visiting a friend in Vermont when I saw a bicyclist who had duct taped a large throw pillow over his stem and handlebars and had a large tabby cat draped on top. The cat seemed to enjoy itself but I wasn't sure since it was wearing sunglasses.

kuan, I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm not hip to your twincities jive.

robmcl, I'll probably pick up a young Katrina-stray from the animal shelter so I'm hoping it'll be a bit used to an unstable environment. I also hope that perhaps the cat will feel comfortable so long as it's with me.

El Pelon, I know I'd have to rest more often than every few hours on the road! Plus, I hope that a cat will be much happier laying about in the trailer than a dog.

Machka, what sort of personality do you feel I should look for in a prospective touring cat? I was thinking a more spunky cat wouldn't get freaked out by the changing scenery, but then I was worried that it would tend to wander off every night camping.

A very relaxed, easygoing cat.



Randochap, I did consider (and laugh at) that but I figured it wouldn't be anymore of an issue with a cat in the tent than with a dog. Which smells better to a bear huh? A cat, a dog, or us?

It's not when the cat or dog is in the tent that you have to worry about the bears ... it's when they're out and wandering around.



El Pelon, I know I'd have to rest more often than every few hours on the road! Plus, I hope that a cat will be much happier laying about in the trailer than a dog.

I wouldn't count on that. Cats like to do their own thing, and sit in places of their own choice, and go where they want to go. They don't like to be put somewhere.

We also have two cats at home but would never think of taking them along on tour. There are just too many problems with bringing a cat. One thing finding a starving kitten on the side of the road and giving it a chance and another buying one and taking it on tour.
One good tip I can give is do a lot more research on cats before you go out and get one.
I just think it's a bad idea, my 2 cents.

I have to think that a cat would be much happier at home. Touring with a cat sounds like a very bad idea to me.

We have a guy in our area that rides his bike with his cat. The cat either rides on his shoulder or in the basket, occasionally it will sit on a towel on the rear rack. The cat is a Mi-ke (Japanese Bobtail) (http://animal-world.com/Cats/Natural-Breeds/JapaneseBobtailCat.php) they love to be mobile with the owners and are great companion cats. I suspect if you started with one as a kitten and acclimated it to a harness/leash and a bicycle they would do just fine. However you will have one more thing to take care of on the road.

Aaron:)

I encountered these two brothers. They had been riding for over four years. Note the cat in the front basket. They had had one cat before this one and stated that he weighed 27lbs. This one they picked up as a kitten and he seemed totally relaxed on the bike. They had a lot of amusing stories to tell about their cats. But the bottom line was when they got to camp they'd put a twenty or so foot long line on him and tied him to their tool bag (which was not inconsiderable). I've just gone from a light and fast thread to these guys—who had over seventy pounds on each bike.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee215/Savaje/Florence%20to%20San%20Francisco/P1020338.jpg

One question, so how do you think the cat will react when you get chased by the inevitable dog or two or three? You should at least give the cat its own can of Halt just in case.

If I found myself with a cat I would absolutely bring it out on a long bike ride or appalachian trail style hike.

It seems that some have toured successfully with dogs. What about other animals? Cats, rats, snakes, hamsters, turtles, can'o'worms, anything??Seriously? I think I did that once or twice goin' fishin' as a kid......

When I was a kid I used to ride with my pet raccoon.
I would leave my jacket half unzipped and stuff him inside.
He would peer out the unzipped portion with each paw holding one zipper edge.
The slower I rode, the more restless he would become,
but the faster I rode, the more he seemed to settle down and enjoy it.

Randochap, I did consider (and laugh at) that but I figured it wouldn't be anymore of an issue with a cat in the tent than with a dog. Which smells better to a bear huh? A cat, a dog, or us?


I was sort of joking, but there is a serious intent to my jibe. First of all, a bear would be much more likely to attack a tent with the smell of a dog or cat in it. I would no more sleep in a tent in bear country w/ a domestic animal in it than I would a side of elk.

Secondly, as I think Machka says, the issue with a dog around camp is that the dog will likely "investigate" an ursine intruder. When the bear attacks the dog, the dog will run to it's "best friend." Then the fun begins. I know this firsthand.

I once met a Japanese cyclist, fresh off the plane, in the mountains of Northern B.C. I was heading south, having just travelled through the densest grizzly territory in the world and he was heading north, clutching a Japanese magazine article on riding the Dempser Highway (where a riders have been knocked off their bikes by Ursus arctos horribilis)

Nice chap. We shared a campsite. I showed him my cache, hauled up into a lakeside tree. Without a common language, he looked at me with an expression that said: "Hmmm, wild Canadians sure kooky!"

Later, I caught him cooking steak terriaki in frying pan spitting fat ... inside his tent. I danced around the camp growling and pointing at him, saying "No, no! Grrrrrr, grizzly bear hungry .... you sushi!"

Here's a story (http://www.veloweb.ca/storypages/cougerkoot.html) about the time a cat joined me on tour.

It seems that some have toured successfully with dogs. What about other animals? Cats, rats, snakes, hamsters, turtles, can'o'worms, anything?

I'm looking to get a pet, and prefer a cat over a dog. I'd like to take the cat with me on a extended tour but am doubtful if this would be feasible. I do not want to give the cat back to the humane society or faust it off on some friends for an indeterminate amount of time so it seems like I have to choose between a cat and my tour. Is this a false dichotomy? Could it be possible to tour with a kitty cat?
Seems bizarre and irresponsible (to take a cat or a dog). If people think this is anywhere near being a good idea, maybe they should stick with pet rocks.

Seems much more preferable (for the cat and the rider) to "foist" in on cat-loving friends (and return the favor).


A very relaxed, easygoing cat.
On drugs, lots of drugs.

====

This is one of those things, where, if you have to ask, it's a bad idea!

I was sort of joking, but there is a serious intent to my jibe. First of all, a bear would be much more likely to attack a tent with the smell of a dog or cat in it. I would no more sleep in a tent in bear country w/ a domestic animal in it than I would a side of elk.

Secondly, as I think Machka says, the issue with a dog around camp is that the dog will likely "investigate" an ursine intruder. When the bear attacks the dog, the dog will run to it's "best friend." Then the fun begins. I know this firsthand.



I actually won't camp next to someone who has a dog when I'm in the mountains.

I once met a Japanese cyclist, fresh off the plane, in the mountains of Northern B.C. I was heading south, having just travelled through the densest grizzly territory in the world and he was heading north, clutching a Japanese magazine article on riding the Dempser Highway (where a riders have been knocked off their bikes by Ursus arctos horribilis)

Nice chap. We shared a campsite. I showed him my cache, hauled up into a lakeside tree. Without a common language, he looked at me with an expression that said: "Hmmm, wild Canadians sure kooky!"

Later, I caught him cooking steak terriaki in frying pan spitting fat ... inside his tent. I danced around the camp growling and pointing at him, saying "No, no! Grrrrrr, grizzly bear hungry .... you sushi!"


Did he have a camera? I'm thinking somewhere on a Japanese counterpart to YouTube, there must be a REALLY great video clip!:lol:

The thought of bringing any of the cats I had growing up on a bike tour gives me nervous sweats. Would I bring the extremely picky eater? Who would only eat warmed up cat food with a tablespoon of oil from a can of sardines on top? Or the crazy cat whose favourite sleeping spot was the top of my head and never got on well with any other mammal? Although the stray, who adopted us regularly brought home "food" so my mom figured he was earning his keep even if no one wanted a bowl of sparrows or baby squirrels, could come in handy if I ran out of food.

It seems that some have toured successfully with dogs. What about other animals? Cats, rats, snakes, hamsters, turtles, can'o'worms, anything?

I'm looking to get a pet, and prefer a cat over a dog. I'd like to take the cat with me on a extended tour but am doubtful if this would be feasible. I do not want to give the cat back to the humane society or faust it off on some friends for an indeterminate amount of time so it seems like I have to choose between a cat and my tour. Is this a false dichotomy? Could it be possible to tour with a kitty cat?

It really depends on your cat. I had a male cat that would have been PERFECT for touring. Unfortunately his kidneys failed for an unknown reason (probably Chinese additives) before I got back into biking. If your cat loves to go for car rides, it may be good candidate. Try pulling the feline in a trailer and see how it does. I am thinking about taking one of my dogs on an overnight tour in the spring. The bad thing is my best choice is my 125 pound Rottweiler who is perfectly behaved and listens to every command. I think I will be "forced" to bring my VERY hyper retriever/shepherd mix who weighs around 50 pounds instead.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm168/joe_5700/014.jpg

Cats are very cool animals, and I love them. Therefore, my advice is to not bring a cat on tour. They are just shy of being completely wild. Having been the last of the domesticated creatures to join the campfire circle, cats are always on the cusp of "going bush." Too much to worry about, and you will worry about it far more than the cat will worry about you.

Those two brothers look like they could use a bath, and the poor cat is probably wormy...

I love all my pets...at one time I had a horse, 2 dogs and 8 cats all at once.
That's why whenever I traveled, often for a month at a time, I hired a responsible older teen to come in and care for them while I was gone. I kept in touch with her periodically during the trip and could enjoy myself, knowing my pets were comfortable at home and well taken care of.

Seems to me that taking an animal along on a tour would unnecessarily just complicate things. Like where to camp (might not allow pets or be dangerous for them), having to pack more food and water (some pets will only eat and drink familiar fare) and having them exposed to extreme weather conditions like heat, cold, humidity and storms that would be difficult and frightening for them.

Not a lot of fun for the animal and less fun for you also to have to worry about them.


There once was a woman motorcyclist journalist that traveled with a small terrier like dog. She rigged up a platform for the dog to stand or lie down on the tank in front of her and rode for many years like that until she was killed in an head-on with a transport truck. Ironically, the dog survived.
Unbeknownest to most people though, was the fact that her dog(s) had been killed many times from falling off the platform and she would just replace them with a similiar looking terrier and carry on.:notamused: It was just the last one that outlived her.

I think taking a cat is great idea. You can take your bell off the handlebars and then duct tape the cat there, and whenever someone cuts in front of you just squeeze the cat. WWwwhhhheeeerrrrrr!!!!!

Mutt

Kitty, kitty

What about other animals? Cats, rats, snakes, hamsters, turtles, can'o'worms, anything?
My brother enjoyed having a preying mantis around in his dorm room. To each his own.

Rats can make surprisingly good pets. A woman at a local pet store told me that they were her second favorite pets, and she had tried a wide assortment of pets.

Wild rats have different personalities. Domestic rats have been selected for being more agreeable.

I had three Himalayan rats and enjoyed them. They had exotic patterning, something like Siamese cats. Mine were called "flame-pointed Himalayans" -- they were white with beige- or apricot-colored tips.

There are other exotic breeds as well.

Many of these rats are sold in pet stores as snake food... Sad. They are intelligent, playful, sensitive creatures and deserve more respect.

They enjoy company. I would suggest getting more than one. Littermates tend to be close.

It wouldn't be hard to design a home for them on the bike. It would help if they had a secure room (even a small one) where they could feel safe -- something like a burrow (they feel a lot safer sometimes when they have a private-feeling space of their own, where they can't be seen). You could make a lightweight tunnel(s) for them to move from one chamber or room to another. They could be given a choice of rooms with views and rooms without.

Easily removable walls are another possibility.

Small, young rats tend to be more playful, and lighter in weight. And they can travel through smaller tubes and holes, and be happy within a smaller space. They also eat less.

Younger animals would probably be better at adapting to a new (touring) lifestyle.

They like all kinds of scraps, and especially enjoy sprouted seeds and grains, nuts, pieces of fresh vegetables and fruit.... If you feed them properly, they will be healthier and livelier, and will look better.

There are some good websites and books that go into more details about care and diet.

Please let us know what you end up doing, and post some pics too if you feel like it.

I'm looking to get a pet, and prefer a cat over a dog. I'd like to take the cat with me on a extended tour but am doubtful if this would be feasible. I do not want to give the cat back to the humane society or faust it off on some friends for an indeterminate amount of time so it seems like I have to choose between a cat and my tour. Is this a false dichotomy? Could it be possible to tour with a kitty cat?
If you choose to go with a cat(s), kittens might make more sense than an adults. Among other things, they would be likely to adapt more easily and quickly, and learn to find this lifestyle normal. You could take them out on shorter rides to get them used to it.

Would highly recommend a home that they could not jump out of.

Some adult cats would be very stressed by this sort of thing.

Some of them don't like it, and meow their disapproval (I've ridden with cats).

Others are mellower.

A high percentage of pound cats are put down, so you might be saving a life. (Some pounds are better than others about this.)

Giving them the option of being in a visually quiet space where they don't have to see cars passing close by, etc., etc. would probably be a good idea.

Some breeds are mellower than others, on average.

Maine Coons tend to have wonderful personalities. Ragdolls also tend to be very mellow and agreeable and relaxed. These two breeds also tend to be much quieter than some others. (Siamese are among the more vocal breeds.)

Bizarre.

I'd suspect that the advice to bring a pet along is not very useful from people who have never done it.

Some people really appreciate having a friendly pet along. Nothing 'bizarre' about it. Just differences of personality.

Here is an introduction to exotic breeds of domesticated rats:

First a picture of some Himalayans:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rat_siamese.JPG

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fancy_rat

Here are some great pictures of various domesticated pet rat breeds, and their human comrades and friend-companions:

http://bayimages.net/pets/rats/world-of-rats/i5994.html

http://bayimages.net/pets/rats/

Touring with rats:twitchy:

http://www.swordplay.net/stuff/bunny_pancake.jpg

It's all the rage this season says the cat to the rat to the bunny.

I bike a lot with my cat, Herman. He's a total stud about it. I definitely agree that not all cats are made for touring, just like not all people are into it. I have been traveling with my little guy since he was a kitten... living in my truck and climbing and biking. I spent a fair amount of time training him to come when I whistled. Now that he's a little older, he doesn't always listen (you know, those rebellious teens.) However, I'm looking into some sort of tracking device for him so that I always know where he is. I think bears and hawks, etc. are an important thing to think about for both you and your cat when touring. Also be prepared to BE trained by your cat as much as you train the cat.

Cats make great socks & slippers. Very warm.

Cats make great socks & slippers. Very warm.

My mother likes to threaten the cats to turn them into slippers if they don't get out from under her feet.

I put my cat in my handlebar bag and held him there untill I took off on the bike, when I let him go he was out of that bag in about half a second. So I would say no unless you tied them to something where they couldn't get away. But then again you would take the chance of your cat clawing the crap out of you.

I would suggest that whatever you are going to let the cat ride in (trailer, basket...) that you make it a part of the cats daily life now. Feed the cat in it...

I'm thinking you'd have the best luck if you got a kitten right before you went on tour, and got it used to the routine of touring before it got used to the idea of your house = its territory. But what do I know....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV4vJa2Ys3w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbNhK0g8fJY&feature=channel

Bat transducers might help with tuning into their communications and responses -- and with understanding the sense of life and play that they have in common with children, ourselves, and other human beings:

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/video/science/rat.mov

also here: http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=rats+laugh+when+you+tickle+them&emb=0&aq=-1&oq=#

If that doesn't bring up the video and soundtrack of the ultrasonic laughter, it can also be found by clicking near the end of John Tierney's short article here:

http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/18/what-happens-when-you-tickle-a-rat-see-for-yourself/