deepspacegiant

Considering getting a little cat, or a dog. Go...!

robow

I ran into a fellow one time that was touring with a cat, he had a front handlebar basket in which I guess the cat slept/toured. Over the years we've owned countless cats and none of them would have found that acceptable, but hey , "good luck" to you in your endeavor.

Arvadaman

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/..._id=16181&v=2k

Travels with Walter

DropBarFan

Went on a 5,800 km car trip with family & 6 week old puppy; we were worried about dog adjusting but I guess puppies usually feel safe in small confines along with their "pack". I've seen locals riding w/small dogs in milk crates or trailers & they seem content. But if you have trusted folks to dog-sit I'd leave Fido back home. I sometimes dog-sit for friends going on vacation & the dogs are quite happy; they get my dog to hang out with; better food plus walks.

staehpj1

Taking a cat seems like a bad idea to me. I have to wonder if a cat is likely to enjoy a bike tour. Besides having to lug along more food and water I'd worry that the cat will get free and get lost. The one case I knew of where someone did a tour with a cat, that is what happened.

A dog might be a better fit for touring life and I know a number of folks who have toured with dogs, but I think that my dog is happier staying home when I go on tour. I miss her, but I know that I am happier without the extra weight of dog, food, water, and trailer or carrier. I know that she misses me as well, but I think she probably is happier at home too.

Personally if I didn't have the ability to leave my dog somewhere that she would be happy, I wouldn't tour. If I want to do self supported travel with my dog I go backpacking, but I can't take her a lot of places I do that either. Also I fly to and/or from a lot of my bike and backpacking trips and I refuse to subject my best friend to that.

Walter S

Well stated. I'm impressed. You apparently have quite a close friendship with your dog. And a good sensitivity and caring about what your dog would enjoy instead of thinking only about the dog in terms of your own enjoyment. To me it encourages the right idea to think less in terms of owning my animal and more in terms of knowing this animal.

Then what best characterizes you as a dog owner is more about you fostering an environment where you can enjoy life with your dog vs. thinking of the dog as your property to enjoy as you like.

no motor?

I saw a cat in a carrier on the back of a bike up in the boundary waters in Ely Minnesota. The cat looked content and the bike looked like it had been on the road for quite a while to get up there, something I wouldn't have expected as a long time cat person.

BigAura

I rode with someone, for a while, that toured with her dog in her handlebar bag. The dog seemed happy and so did she.

robow

Dare I say, a "doggie bag"

Erick L

I met a couple with a dog. He rode in a trailer wearing a harness to prevent him from jumping out at high speed. The dog also wore Doggles to protect his eyes from debris kicked up by the trike's tires. Here's their crazyguy: crazyguyonabike.com: Bicycle Touring: Divide by Three, by Scott Wayland

Cyclebum

We've hosted a dog touring person and a cat touring person. Both were managing quite well, the large dog in a trailer, the cat in a rack cage. Both were leash trained and seemed content and healthy. Neither owners, basically homeless, were in a big hurry to get anywhere.

gregjones

Exactly. You are in Georgia, I am in rural Georgia. I fail to understand the need, that to be a "man", one must have a pit bull chained up in the front yard. I mean, dogs are supposed to be "man's best friend". I have too much love and respect for my best friend to imagine him chained by his neck.

If someone develops a relationship with their dog and the dog is happy with the arrangements provided to ride, go for it. Nothing at all wrong with a cared for and happy critter.

DropBarFan

I've never seen folks biking w/a cat. While one couldn't get a kitten & automatically plan on it liking cycling, I suppose some cats might adjust OK. I wonder how owners deal with camping & such. Can one walk a leashed cat for it to do it's business? (Heh, cat litter is very heavy.) But some cats are pretty calm & unfazed by things. On local bike path there used to be a cat that liked to watch peds/cyclists go by--it didn't even hide when I walked dog past it. & once I lived at a house that had an outdoor cat--it once followed me 5 city blocks when I walked to a store.

staehpj1

I think that brings up an important point. It is much more likely that having a dog along will work out for both dog and rider if they aren't knocking out high mileage days every day.

For example, we hosted a guy who was "touring" with two fairly big dogs (maybe 55-65 pounds each). I don't really know, but suspect that he is essentially homeless. I put "touring" in quotes because he was basically just hopping from one warmshowers host to the next and was doing very little riding by most standards. He said he averaged 20 miles per day, but I don't think he rode every day and the day he came to my home he did 13 miles and stayed two days. Basically he was riding less on tour than most bike commuters ride. I think he bounced around Tallahassee for a few weeks and it is a pretty small town so the hops between hosts were probably all less than 20 miles and I suspect he may have stayed longer with some than he did with us. I think for that kind of trip having a dog(s) along is more likely to work out well, but it isn't my personal idea of touring.

The other guy I got to hang out with who had a dog along was essentially homeless and they had been on the road a long time. He did long days, but also took frequent multi-day breaks from riding. He had a greyhound type dog that rode in a trailer on the flats and descents, but trotted alongside up the steeper passes.

In both cases the rider and dogs seemed happy. Still, for most folks I'd advise leaving the dog(s) back home with someone who will take good care of them.