Travelling with Pets in your Motorhome

Written May 2004

We travel with two Burmese cats, some people have dogs and we have met people who travel with a bird. In this article we discuss the benefits and limitations imposed when travelling with pets.

The Upsides

Just as they do when you live with them in a house, pets add a dimension to your life. They provide company, affection and hours of entertainment. We have watched our cats for hours at some new location as they explore and seek out new things to chase. We have been brought to tears of laughter as we watched one of them chase a kangaroo that was 10 times her size. We have not travelled with a dog, but I'm sure that travelling owners of dogs would say the same about their pets.

 

The Downsides

National parks do not allow domestic animals of any kind. If you travel with a pet you will not be permitted inside any national park. That said (no emails on this subject please) it is easy to hide a cat inside a bus and if you do not let them out, where is the harm? (rhetorical - don't email me)

Sometimes we stay in places that are not suitable to allow the cats out. During these time they drive us crazy protesting at the injustice of the incarceration.

Our cats often bring us presents - lizards, field mice, rats etc. Sometimes very much alive - not what you want inside your motorhome.

They cost money to feed and look after. Vets are expensive. Ticks and other pests are an issue in some parts of Australia so prevention, inspection and treatment is important.

 

Our Cats

Our two cats were trained from kittens to use a human toilet instead of litter. This means we have no messy litter box, no smell and no cost of litter. Porsche is so well trained that she will run into the motorhome from outside to use the toilet then run back outside.

It is probably near impossible to train an older cat to do this, but if you are getting a new kitten it is definitely worth the effort.

We were very worried about the potential for the cats to disappear, to wander away, get lost, get eaten by a snake or eat a cane toad. None of this has happened (yet). We started by making sure that they stayed in the motorhome all the time - we did not let them out for about two weeks. We drove the motorhome and got them used to the movement and the noise. For the first few excursions from the motorhome they were closely supervised. We soon realised that they viewed the motorhome as home and safety - any sign of trouble and they would run inside. During the refit we fitted a lockable cat door and a platform that allows them to come and go as they please.

Obviously, we do not allow them out when in towns and near main roads. They are always locked in after dark (unless it is particularly safe and we are outside - they then get a late night pass until we go to bed).

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

We really think that travelling with pets is great, for us is never a problem. In fact we think that they are much easier to travel with than children.

Sad update 17 October 2004 - after travelling with us for nearly 16 months, we tragically lost Porsche when she was hit by a vehicle 150km north of Tennant Creek. Porsche was very special to both of us and will be missed enormously.  Despite the tragedy, we feel privileged to have had her with us for the time that we did. The dangers of the road are everywhere and we feel that this terrible accident could have happened just the same, had we elected to live a normal life in a house.  

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