I’ve spent a lot of time leash training my people – so that they take me outside when the best hunting times are, and I stay safer by not wandering off too far (it keeps them from worrying too much).
I love patrolling the nearby bushes and trees around our campsite.
Long ago, they got a super big caribeener so they can attach my retractable leash to things so they can carry on with doing other important things nearby – like changing my litter box and preparing my dinner.
With the bus, they got even more lazy and just opened up the front door and attached my leash to a big hole in the wheel thingy – which started scratching up the paint.
When we got to Master Tech RV this last spring and going over super important bus projects (like my new private bathroom – I can’t wait!) – we came up with a great idea.
One of the projects is replacing our big awning with one without arms. It’s also automatic – so it’ll give them more time to spoil me instead of fiddling with that darn thing.
But there would be a big ugly boo-boo left on the side of the bus where the old arm used to attach.
They started talking about replacing the panel, or trying to patch it.
Then Tim said ‘How about we put in a hook for Kiki?’
Brillant!
He ordered in a folding step that would normally go on a truck or boat, mounted it sidewards – and voila – a perfect folding cat hook right by the door. It covers the boo-boo nicely and it’s super functional.
Sometimes these humans can be pretty clever, eh?
Ok my fellow traveling human wranglers, get over to Amazon.com and order these things to replicate my system (quick, do it before your people notice you’re drooling on the keyboard!):
I like Tim and Master Tech RV. They get us cats.
I have had cats and dogs all my life – I am 61. While I did leash train one Lab, all the other dogs and all the cats slowly bonded to me so I never needed leashes. Cats are smart and loyal while independent, they know where their dish a people are.
Lose the leash.
P.S. Thank Gawd you got rid of the “dream-dinette”. I hate those.
Actually, most campgrounds require your pets be leashed. That’s not an option on the road, and nor is it advised. Too many variables out here and things that can spook a pet who might otherwise be ‘bonded’. So many sad stories of cats wandering off to do their thing, and not returning when it comes time for the house to roll on down the road.
Hi! Been reading your interesting blogs. My husband and I are 75 and 73 resp. and we have decided we want to get a 5th wheel and truck and get on the road. We have 2 cats and 2 dogs. It would break our hearts if we had to leave them. Do you know of anyone who has successfully rv’d full time with as many pets? I would put the two cats in the same large travel carrier and then put the larger dog and small dog in separate crates all in the back seat of the truck cab.
Yes.. there are many folks traveling with lots of pets. 🙂
Brilliant pet lead idea and I do this all the time! Thanks Technomadia 🙂
Looks like a good idea, however a short story to indicate why it may not be. You see when I was but a boy of 14 I had a dog that I cared for very much, great little golden dog about the size of a cocker spaniel but with normal dog hair. Well I was beginning to show an interest in members of the opposite sex, to wit the girl next door who was about my age and built like a … well very well endowed for a girl of such a young age. I began paying more attention to her, and less and less attention to my little dog. After a few warnings from my rather strict alcoholic father, which I ignored, thinking with the wrong head, but what the hell I was young and horny! Dad took my dog from me, and gave it to an itinerant truck driver who parked just out of town and sold water melons from the back of his semi.
Now dad worked at a gas station out on Highway 12, about a half mile from where the trucker parked (had to stay out of town or buy a permit!) So he had a good view of the highway when he wasn’t pumping gas. The day after he delivered my dog to the trucker, he saw the trucker drive past in the car he pulled behind his semi, and behind him going down the highway at 35 miles per hour was my little dog. The driver had tied his chain to the bumper of the car, forgot and drove into town with my dog in tow! About that time, the collier broke and my little dog went rolling down the street. He quickly righted himself and ran off. The next day I found him laying in our yard, huge chunks of his skin had been ripped off his body, one of his legs was broken sideways, and the pads of his paws were ripped off.
Dad took the poor dog to the vet and had him patched up.
Well I paid a lot more attention to the dog then the girl, however neither was want for loving. Lesson learned – never tie an animal to a movable vehicle lest you forget,
That’s a very sad story… but we’d never break camp without Kiki already in her spot inside the coach. We’re not irresponsible.
Cherie
Love the cat perspective in this article as our cat has us well trained too. She especialy likes to wake us at 4 am to open the door so she can take care of “IMPORTANT CAT BUSINESS’.
We plan to go on the road in 2 years and I want to train her to harness and leash this winter when she is no longer interested in going out in the -30 weather we get here. We live in a rural area and she has always been free to hunt and roam at will. I have read and watched various items on how to do this but I was wondering if you have met anyone who has done it. She will be 10 by then and I think that will help her give up her free range lifestyle.
Enjoying the blog and getting lots of info as we make our plans.
Thank you
Rick
Cats are all so unique, with their own personalities and adaptabilities. When I met Chris, I had a cat who was free roaming.. and I just knew that trying to ask her to adapt to living within the confines of an RV and being on a leash would be more stressful for her. It was hard, but I made the decision to let her be adopted by a dear friend.
But does that mean it’s not possible? Hard to say. We’ve met a lot of cats on the road with varying stories.
How nice for you to be surrounded by smart and creative humans, capable of serving your needs. Just a bonus for them that the hook also solves one of their petty issues! Looks great.
It’s important for cats to have their royal court always looking out for them .. she has us trained well.
Thanks for the idea, I do believe it will be put to good use, and my cat named Bob says to Kiki- Meow, Meow, Meow and in ending Meow.
Kiki sends back a morning Meow!
BRAVO, Kiki! I’m going to have my human person reward your humans with some wine for this! Congrats on the private toilet, too!
Meanwhile, I’ll just rule the King Aire, pounce on the dogs when they least expect it… and try to find a cupboard to hide in so they’ll NEVER find me. Well, at least not until supper!
Happy Hunting!
Foots
The humans always appreciate it 🙂
Brilliant.
I use a thin cord attached to a carabiner hooked onto the big inside grab bars. The cord just goes thru the closed door. I have a thicker rope for the dog. Works well. My hardware for the awning won’t allow a carabiner on it.
We love the carabineer – it allows us to hook Kiki up in lots of places, so she can explore more.
That is a fantastic idea, it looks great. I have retractable leashes for my hounds but didn’t think of using them the way you did. That is much better than the 20′ leads of climbing rope that my bloodhound and basset hound used camping this past June. All good ideas. Thanks.
Yeah, the retractable leash does help keep the tangling down.
So Kiki that’s great info, but maybe sometime you could explain to Sparky and Gizmo how to not constantly get their leash wrapped and tangled around stuff – picnic table legs, leveling jacks, etc. You name it they are going to wrap it. Also, how to keep the grease out of their fur when they hang out under the chassis. Oh and while you’re at it, explain to them that they actually are able to still use their legs when their harness is on and don’t have to wriggle around on their bellies!
Leave the harness on them all the time. My cats got used to it that way. But only one will walk on a leash. The other goes far a drag.
Kiki says that getting tangled around stuff is half the fun.. the other half is getting the humans to fix it.
For getting used to a harness, Kiki wears hers all the time and has since a kitten.. she knows nothing but it.
Kiki – thanks for the information. I will pass it on to Stripes. He has not yet seen that the delights of traveling and road adventures might be to his liking. What kind of collar/ harness do you prefer for your comfort and your family’s peace of mind? Stripes loves to walk with us and the dogs in the neighborhood and local woods, but I am not secure about strange places. Your advice on traveling comforts are helpful to this human. Thanks.
Since Kiki wears her harness all the time, she prefers the nylon ones with thinner straps (as opposed to the more ‘jacket’ styles ones).