brotherdan

I met a guy who was essentially a homeless bike tourist. He'd been on the road for a couple of decades. I put him up in my backyard for a couple of nights last summer. He toured on a heavily loaded bike, and usually towed a trailer, though he told me that he had stashed his trailer in the next town over for a little while. What he did have on his bike was plenty, though. And his load included a standard pet box, plenty large enough for the cat that was traveling with him, which he'd had since it was a kitten, and the litter that the cat was about to give birth to. That's right, he was touring with a pregnant cat. I'd recommend that people spay or neuter their pets before taking them on a tour, but other than that, you might as well bring them along, if they seem comfortable on the bike. I rode around town with the guy for a while, and the cat seemed totally at home on the bike, and it seemed hesitant to even leave the cat box sometimes, but I think that comes from being raised as a kitten while bicycle touring.

Galoot

My first response after reading the OP was like most others--"don't do it!". But I remembered a cat that we had when I was a kid, and it would happily ride anywhere on your shoulders. It walked back and forth between one shoulder and the other, and often just hung out in back of the neck, if you were bent over.

I know we walked around a lot with this cat on our shoulders, and I do remember going for horseback rides with the cat on our shoulders too. Not short rides--going for miles around the farms in the south Santa Clara Valley. And I'm pretty sure we took some bike rides with the guy coming along too. He didn't mind it one bit, so long as he was on someone's shoulder.

So yeah, I guess there are some cats who are cool enough to tolerate this. But I don't think they're common.

nthesunbytheh20

I don't know? I used to have a cat that I had to give to my old housemate because I moved in with my g/f and she was VERY allergic... But, if she weren't. I would probably bring my kitty along.
Might depend on the new cats personality. My cat was so laid back and at home wherever I put her. Traveled across the country, she did well in cars, and doesn't frighten easily. Also, she would chill out when put in new homes and wouldn't hide under the bed or anything. Only cat I have ever had that did that. I guess that might be hard to determine a cats true personality without ever taking it home and hanging out with it for a few weeks(at least).

Or you could get a cat after your long tour and hire a pet sitter for shorter ones... Tough call...
Good luck!

toolboy

mrjhmm

Here's a 1 minute video of a cat riding in a basket:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJG5M6bp_ns

I take my cat camping with me. He has a leash and harness, and likes hanging out around the campfire.

martikal

cats are a lot more territorial than dogs are. you can have a dog that would be content if you are around and can hear your voice... a cat likes being able to mark his/her territory by rubbing their smell all over the doors, carpet, couches, any furniture and structure you have at your home. and once they feel "at home" it is very hard to change it. For example moving.... cats can get super stressed out so you have to be careful when you are moving a cat to a different house. or introducing a new pet... especially if it is another cat. my friend's cats licked their bellies BARE under stress of moving to a new house. When mine was introduced to another cat just to see if they would play (the new cat was WAY MORE energetic than mine) she had diarrhea for a whole week.
my grandparents had an indoor cat that was and indoor/outdoor cat when they went on a vacation in the country. she had an easy time switching back and forth with her habits but the ride in the car was painful and she screamed a lot.
cats have a really hard time understanding why their environment is moving when they are stationary. they freak out a lot. dogs have a better understanding of it it seems. or they just don't give a **** because you are with them.

i would not take my cat with my on any tour let alone a bike tour. it is extra weight and a lot of responsibility... and i don't want her to be injected with a bunch of drugs to protect her from the environment.
on and you have to protect the environment from your cat too. you can train a dog to listen to you and not hunt a bird. but with cats....it is really hard. you will be putting the wild life in danger if you tour/camp with your cat.

so there is a lot to consider.
for me i just wish i could take her out for a walk on a leash. but she is picky so i just let her be outside when i am supervising during warm days.

paxtonm

Most people prefer touring with prepared foods. Skinning out that cat on the road is likely to be time-consuming and inconvenient. That said, we'd all appreciate any recipes ...

AsanaCycles

once upon a time, i had a yellow tabby, from a kitten
his mom had disappeared, and the whole litter was left, they were really little, bottle fed, eyes barely opening, then stumbling around.

anyways... that cat, loved to hang around me, working on my then van, etc...
anything i did, he wanted to be involved.
he rode in the van all the time
went out in public
chased balls, etc...

a lot like a dog.

he'd walk along side until he got tired, then i'd put him in a backpack, and hike along, until he jumped out, and made his way.

that cat, i could see would have easily gone on tour.

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conversely
there are so many cats and dogs out there
on tour i simply befriend them along the way.

these days, my life is somewhat transient
therefore i do what i refer to as "Rent-a-Cat"
that is, simply befriend them along the way.

the spin guru

In my home town there is a guy who rides all over the place with a parrott on his shoulder. The birds name is sarge and craps all over his owners jacket. But I doubt the birds been on tour.

jfry541

There are currently two homeless bike travelers staying with me who have an awesome long haired black cat named Cozy. They have been traveling for 5 years up and down the west coast, mostly in the back woods, but some road travel as well. When they make camp Cozy goes on a line. They have never had any trouble with bears/predators. They have had him since he was little, which I think is key. If you get a cat, it would be best to get a young one so that it does not have the added stress from having their entire life changed around again.

Jonathan

Artkansas 

I'd take the hamster. They are light weight, waterproof and can subsist on a variety of roots and tubers. And, it's the only animal that would want to be a stoker. Hook it's cage up to a freewheel so it can run or coast.

It might even help you go up the hill faster. What other animal can claim that?

Grim

I agree with paxtonm, Plenty of Chinese restaurants around these days even in the country. No need to bring your own.

Unlike a dog you can leave a cat alone with a 20lb bag of cat food in a bucket, 3-4 fresh litter boxes in the bath tub and a toilet that tops off every few hours and the cat will be fine for 2 weeks. A cat will not gorge itself till the food is gone. It will eat only a little at a time.