Taking Him Camping?

[Ross]

Hello!

My F2 Max is five years old and has never been out of the house, other than to the vet in a crate (which he loathes). I do a lot of camping in an RV and I am wondering if there's a way to train him at this late stage to go outside and potentially travel with me? I would love to bring him along, but I am worried that I've waited too long to acclimate him to being out of the house.

Hopefully,

Ross

 

[Ninja-n-Bear]

No harm in taking him out to the camper to see how he reacts. I'd close off any tight spaces he could hide in first.

 

[Ross]

Thanks Ninja, that makes good sense. I'm wondering whether "you can't teach old cats new tricks" or whether he's likely to keep learning and adjust to life outside of the house ...

 

[David Z]

Is max harness trained?
Definitely a good idea to get him used to the r.v. before going camping, if he's harness trained let him go in on his own and investigate it.
Sleep in there with him Once he is more accustomed to it, there at the house like a camping trip in the driveway. Once used to the r.v. you might try taking short trips around the block see how he handles that. Slow and steady process.

 

[Ross]

He's not harness trained, at least he doesn't walk on a leash. I have a harness he wears sometimes but mostly he just pouts when its on.

 

[David Z]

Ah, well just take him out there and take it slow, take his favorite toy play with him in there. He can definitely be trained to where he don't mind it in there, it'll be alot of work and time, in the end should be worth it.

 

[Ninja-n-Bear]

Thanks Ninja, that makes good sense. I'm wondering whether "you can't teach old cats new tricks" or whether he's likely to keep learning and adjust to life outside of the house ...

I'd say the adaptability depends on the cat. Agreed with David on both sleeping with him in the r.v. before going anywhere and starting with short trips to get him used to the noise/movement. Bring some of his things in there with you, too, maybe it will help him to have familiar smells around.

Do let us know how it goes!

(he is gorgeous, btw)

 

[Ross]

Thanks! I will

 

[Decnav]

Try just sitting with him in a wide open soccer field with his vest and leash on. That's how I got my guy into the go outdoor thing. First few times I just sat in the field for 20-30 min and he hardly moved. Then after what seemed like forever he spotted a bug and the chase was on and moving around with the vest and 20' retract leash has been getting much better.

You will have to get him used to car rides also. I have a large tote style pet carrier with fold down sides that make it larger inside when I'm not carrying it. Again it took 10 plus short 15 min drives till he would stop screaming at me. Then after a few more trips I opened the top so he could get curious on his own. I also had my daughter with me to help manage things so I could pay attention to driving. Now he will sit wit me and look out the window like a dog for 10 or 15 min then he go sits in his carrier.

All this is with a kitten so it might be a bit more dawn out with an adult cat