Conference misery::feline

    Jack....I would never do this to my kitties because
    of their stress and my stress worrying that they
    could potentially get away.  They will be very
    nervous in this new enviroment...and will try to
    escape at any chance.
                     
    Sandy

    Yes, the cats would be absolutely terrified.  They generally don't like
    any kind of change, let alone a new environment, smells, animals,
    danger (rabies).  What if the canoe tipped? The cats could drown.  I
    feel this would be a horrific mistake.  Your friends need to realize
    that as much as this is a vacation and enjoyable to them, they are not
    the cats. Cats see things in a different way than People, They Are
    Animals.
    Please talk to them....
    Karen

    It sounds like the only reason they are taking the cats on the trip is
    to avoid the cost of having someone come in to care for them.  Why on
    earth would anyone drag cats to a strange environment only to keep them
    caged?  A ride in the car to the vet is traumatic enough!  If it were
    me, I'd tell the owner(s) to get a grip.

    I say "not a good idea"......
    
    Lynne

    Howdy Jack!
    
    I would have to agree that it'd probably not be a good idea. My first
    cat Harry came to me while I was out camping (come to think of it, so
    did Escoh...same place too...hmmm). Due to extenuating circumstances,
    he learned to like riding around in my truck and traveling with me
    wherever I went. But that was VERY unusual behavior for a cat!
    (Personally I think he was a dog in cat fur! ;^)
    
    I personally, wouldn't want to risk losing my cats, want to but us ALL
    through stress, have to worry needlessly, etc. Only if the cats were
    brought up this way, came each & every time they were called, were up
    to date on all their shots, etc. would I even think about it.
    
    What are they going to do if it rains the whole time. Soggy moggies do
    NOT a happy camping trip make! ;^D
    
    Roslyn

	Well, I'll preface this by saying that I'd never take my babies
	out camping, as I'd be far too worried about them to enjoy myself.
	But I know a woman who has taken her cats along, as well as her
	dog.  All of her cats are leash-trained, and she ties them up
	at the campground, and claims that they really enjoy it. 

      Never in a million years would I take my sweeties out in the woods!
    What about strangers getting at them or letting them out of their
    "cage" while the humans were out canoeing?
    What about bears and other wildlife?
    What about losing them forever in the wilds?
    And yes, everyone is right, the stress and terror would be
    unbelievable!
    
    As much as I hate being away from my babes, I feel much better knowing
    a trusted person is taking care of them, that they are safe in the
    house, warm and dry, no car rides, no strangers, no strange
    environments, all their toys and stuff are there.
    
     no never! a camping trip! YIKES!

    I'm with the rest of the folks here.  I would never take my kitty
    kids camping.  Aside from the fact that they would be major stressed
    and likely never to forgive me for making them leave their comfy home,
    I'd be scare to death they'd get loose and I'd never see them again.
    Can you imagine how hard it would be to find them again out in the
    wilderness?  It's near impossible to find a missing kitty in an area
    both the cat and owner are familiar with.
    
    I hope your friends reconsider.
    
    Jan

         Oh-oh we're taking a 4 week old kitten camping with us next week.
    Mostly because we really don't know anyone that would be able to give
    it proper care while we're away. The only family in town that I'd 
    consider entrusting him to is also away. Heck we're housesitting for
    their dog, horse, and 4 cats one of which had kittens on Monday. I
    figure our little furface will be sleeping most of the time anyway
    so he's not likely to know what's going on. I will have to make sure
    the propane tank is full so I can keep the camper warm enough for it.
    
           Bob

    
    I certainly agree that this would be a very dangerous thing to do. 
    Unlike dogs that can adjust to changes much easier, cats really get
    upset when taken from their environment and the first chance they'd get
    they'd be gone into the woods, possibly forever.  Please, please have
    your friends reconsider.  There must be someone they know that could
    take care of them while they're on vacation or they could even leave
    them with automatic dry food feeders/waterers in their home along with
    a couple of litterboxes and they'd be fine for a week or 2.  The cats
    would be much happier being home and your friends would have a more
    relaxed vacation.
    
    Pat & Clan
      

    
    re: .9
    
    Bob,
    
    With a four week old kitten, I would imagine your chances of the little
    babe adjusting to camping, travel, outdoors, etc. are much greater than an
    established adult cat.
    
    I camp, too, and I wish I had the foresight to "break in" my babies.
    
    Bring flea powder.
    
    Janet
    
    
    

        RE:-1  Yes I'll definitely bring flea powder or off. I always get
    the dang things on me when I go for a walk outside. Sometimes I think I
    bring in more than my other cats ;-). Mayhaps I should consider wearing
    flea collars on my ankles. 
    
         Bob

when in the wilderness, please remember that a cat or kitten that is left
along is dinner-on-the-paw for a great many medium-sized to large predators.
Animals that would ordinarily avoid a human encampment will enter camp for
food...and the domestic feline is high on their lists of edibles.  If you
must take a cat or kitten, keep it with you at all times, secured by either
a harness or in a crate.  Do not leave the animal alone at ALL...and don't
confine the animal to the car or a trailer - it will get too hot very
quickly and cats do not process heat well at all.

I would strongly recommend leaving cats at the vets/kennel/or at home ...
you can leave out dry kibble and lots of food and cats will be fine for
2 days.  If going for longer periods, ask a friend or hire a pet sitter
to come in daily and take care of things...but don't take a cat to the
woods.  even if you stay with the cat, if something is hungry enough out
there, you might end up face to face with parts of nature you'd rather
not meet....they will smell the scat and hear the cats' cries so they
will know your animal is there.

	My brother and his wife rescued a ferral in England, and 
	managed to get it to come indoors by gradually moving the food in.
	- But he wouldn't stay long, and really kicked up if the door was shut.
	When they emigrated to Canada, (it was heavily sedated to get there)
	they bought a leash and trained it to wear the leash, outdoors, they 
	had it on one of those long-extendable leads.

	It happily goes north camping with them with no problems - however they
 	take him everywhere with them, and he sleeps in the tent.
	He is not left behind or by himself.
	They say he is very happy, and leaving him anywhere confined or just
	indoors would be dreadful for him.

	I guess it would depend on the cat, and the owners, whether taking the 
	cat with them would be better than leaving it behind.

	Heather

              I'm working on a friend of mine to see if he and his wife
    would be able to take care of my lttle charge. It's still being hand
    fed so it requires a bit more attention than a cat/kitten eating solid 
    food.
    
             Bob

    Bob, where do you live?  Perhaps one of us could volunteer to look
    after your babe.  

I don't know what the final outcome was but I want
to thank all of you for your replies. One cat is 
going to stay with friends but the fate of the other 
is uncertain.

Jack

        Re:-2 I live in New Braintree Mass. which is WNW of Worcester.
    We'll be leaving this Thursday in the early afternoon for the White mtn
    area of New Hampshire. I'm reluctant to impose on anyone ,as he can be
    a bit demanding, but wouldn't refuse any offers. I figure he's about
    4 weeks old now. 
    
           Bob

          Our trip to the White Mountains went off without a hitch. It also
    looks as if my wife won't be able to part with the little one. Who is
    now name Ivan.
          We camped at Twin Mountain KOA for 3 nights. Ivan who is still
    only 4-5 weeks old adjusted well to the new surroundings. We decided to
    use one of our cat carriers for his sleeping quarters. He went with us
    wherever we went ie: the top of Mt. Washington and shop hopping around
    North Conway. None of the merchants minded the fact that we were
    carrying around a kitten. The only thing he wasn't too crazy about was
    some of the long drives in the car.
          The couple that own and run the campground are cat lovers... So
    we couldn't leave Ivan alone, else the wife may have taken him :-)
    
    
               Bob