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I travel with my cat. She doesn't love it, but she accepts it better than she accepted being home alone (for short trips) or in a kennel (for long trips). But she's older and sleeps most of the time anyway - and I suspect she would have objected pretty strenuously when she was younger! It all depends on the cat. There are other RVing cats around too.
Just curious — how do those of you who travel with pets while living in your vans or cars keep them safe from heatstroke when it's necessary to leave them alone in a parked vehicle? Things heat up really quickly when outdoor temps are 70 or higher.
I’m not a full-timer. But the solution is straight-forward - it’s a big country, go where the weather is decent, and don’t leave your furry friend alone in the car for hours on end.
On a recent trip though, I did wind up in hot weather. My van has A/C, so traveling was not a problem. When I got wHere I was going, I was parked in the shade, and had electricity, so I could run a fan. I had her outside on a leash whenever possible. And then there was the misting gadget, it turned out my long-haired cat quite enjoyed getting misted.
The thing is, I would change my travel plans if it seemed that I couldn’t keep my cat comfortable.
I’m not a full-timer. But the solution is straight-forward - it’s a big country, go where the weather is decent, and don’t leave your furry friend alone in the car for hours on end.
On a recent trip though, I did wind up in hot weather. My van has A/C, so traveling was not a problem. When I got wHere I was going, I was parked in the shade, and had electricity, so I could run a fan. I had her outside on a leash whenever possible. And then there was the misting gadget, it turned out my long-haired cat quite enjoyed getting misted.
The thing is, I would change my travel plans if it seemed that I couldn’t keep my cat comfortable.
Petunia knows!
OK, well, like I said, temperatures can heat up to unsafe levels really quickly even if it's only 70 degrees out, so it can be a problem even for those who don't leave their pets in their vehicles for hours on end or who stick with where the weather isn't hot. At 70 degrees, the interior temperature of a vehicle can reach 104 in 30 minutes, and cracking windows and parking in the shade only slow it down a little. I don't think it's as straightforward or as easy as it sounds. I live in an area where it rarely gets over 70, and there's lots of drama about animals left in cars even for short periods of time.
OK, well, like I said, temperatures can heat up to unsafe levels really quickly even if it's only 70 degrees out, so it can be a problem even for those who don't leave their pets in their vehicles for hours on end or who stick with where the weather isn't hot. At 70 degrees, the interior temperature of a vehicle can reach 104 in 30 minutes, and cracking windows and parking in the shade only slow it down a little. I don't think it's as straightforward or as easy as it sounds. I live in an area where it rarely gets over 70, and there's lots of drama about animals left in cars even for short periods of time.
Shrug. All I can say is that I don’t think it’s all that hard.
And I’m a person who leaves scolding notes on the windshields of cars parked in the sun with pets in them, and then keeps an eye on the vehicle, ready to call the cops if the animal starts to look seriously distressed.
Shrug. All I can say is that I don’t think it’s all that hard.
And I’m a person who leaves scolding notes on the windshields of cars parked in the sun with pets in them, and then keeps an eye on the vehicle, ready to call the cops if the animal starts to look seriously distressed.
Same experience here. I just don’t feel the need to leave my dog in the car for a long time anyway...she goes with me usually. Now that’s it’s cooling off tho I’m knitting her a sweater.
What I would do is stock up on whatever I might need before I went anywhere so I wouldn't have to leave her alone in the car. At first it wouldn't be that long and I could easily buy a week's worth of groceries. If the time came where I did decide to go full-time, hopefully I'll have met people I could trust to watch her while I ran to the store.
I do intend to buy a battery operated fan though. I'm not going to invest in solar panels at first, although I might as they have suitcase ones.
I did buy my cat a leash when I first got her but she's never let me put it on her. She just might not mind when we park at a campsite because she is afraid of people and other animals.
I do plan on going to places with decent weather (not hard to do in Arizona), not too hot and definitely not cold. Over 60 years in Minnesota cured me of cold.
I still have so much to learn before I go on a simple camping trip. I haven't been camping since I was a girl scout, and that was many years ago.
I do intend to buy a battery operated fan though. I'm not going to invest in solar panels at first, although I might as they have suitcase ones.
I have a fan that plugs into a USB port for charging but I’ve rarely felt the need to use it. I’m glad I have it though. And I think you’re wise to hold off on the electricity just yet because you may not use much. I don’t really watch tv or movies much and mostly read for fun so all I’ve really needed to charge is my phone and iPad. You may not need much either.
What I would do is stock up on whatever I might need before I went anywhere so I wouldn't have to leave her alone in the car. At first it wouldn't be that long and I could easily buy a week's worth of groceries. If the time came where I did decide to go full-time, hopefully I'll have met people I could trust to watch her while I ran to the store.
I do intend to buy a battery operated fan though. I'm not going to invest in solar panels at first, although I might as they have suitcase ones.
I did buy my cat a leash when I first got her but she's never let me put it on her. She just might not mind when we park at a campsite because she is afraid of people and other animals.
I do plan on going to places with decent weather (not hard to do in Arizona), not too hot and definitely not cold. Over 60 years in Minnesota cured me of cold.
I still have so much to learn before I go on a simple camping trip. I haven't been camping since I was a girl scout, and that was many years ago.
Try a short trip close to home. You'll find out pretty quickly if you have overlooked anything. If it's not working out, cut the trip short and go home.
Meo, You are lucky that you have a car you can camp in. Don't spend money on things for a van, focus on general camping gear that you'll use with the car. I understand the lure of nature but at our age it could get old if it is everyday.
You have a subsidized apartment with a patio and a view. I can't imagine wanting to give that up. You'll need a place to come home to, do laundry, etc.
I don't know if cooling was discussed in another thread, but I have a Koolatron cooler that runs off a 12 volt cigarette lighter. I start out with a big cube of ice in one corner. I mean water frozen in a cube like container. Another benefit of a 2-3 day trip you get home before the ice melts all the way. On a longer trip I have asked RV dwellers to freeze up a little water bottle for me.
Last edited by creeksitter; 11-08-2018 at 08:16 PM..
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by creeksitter
Meo, You are lucky that you have a car you can camp in. Don't spend money on things for a van, focus on general camping gear that you'll use with the car. ....
I Use a $800 minivan with 'stow-away' seating.. great for Car 'living' or camping / sightseeing / stealthcamping.
Gets 24 mpg (not as good as my station wagon (52 mpg on free fuel)
Each can take a Motoraide hot water heater + outdoor shower + a platform for bed / supplies / storage.
and a hitch for Snowbear (to haul extra stuff / garage sale / antique shopping)
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