Travels North with Dog and Cat

Bloody cruel...........If yu ask me. poor buggers be better of at home

......BIGDOG

It certainly sounds like you had a wonderful time. Your dog obviously has his own unique form of communication despite his afflictions. I have a19 yr old cat that also has diminished hearing so I can more or less relate to some of your experiences. I am a bit worried about your statement that you let the cat out at night to wonder around and find it's own way back to the van. Remember that in many parts of rural Australia the very effective and swift acting 1080 Poison is used to control feral animals. It is absolutely lethal to domestic pets. Furthermore there is the worry that your cat may be interferring with wildlife, perhaps even killing some. This really is a no-no and something you should think about for the future. I don't really know what would be an alternative arrangement for you and still alow you to travel.
Pleased to hear that you had a great trip and by upgrading your tow vehicle hopefully it will make any future travels easier on both your vehicle and budget.

Seems to me that you had less hassles travelling with your pets than we had with our kids.

Wanna swap?

Ian

You obviously love your animals and feel like you need them with you. I understand.

I'm very worried about letting a cat out to freely hunt though. I guess a few lizards and beetles killed won't change the world, but if everyone did this.... not nice.

I have my pets looked after by family and friends when tripping away.

Anyway.... enjoy your travels.

When I was young (many years ago) my family use to travel the Nullabor to visit grandparent etc back in SA, we use to take our dog and cat with us, one night we couldn't find the cat, (it was a late stop) we spent ages looking for him then thought that he would come back in the morning, but no, morning came and no cat, we called and called but still no cat so as kids we reluctantly got back into the vehicle to head off and leave our beloved cat behind (evan Mum was in tears), Dad started the car and there was a screech from under the bonet, Dad quickly switched off the car and opened the bonnet and low and behold there was the cat, had spent the cold sleeping on the engine of the car, the only injury was a lump of fur taken from off his side where apparently the fan must have scraped. Ahhhh the memories.

Just a thought, is there anyway that you could find a long lead, I mean a loooooooooooong lead so that he could just wonder around under the van and not head out looking for the above mentioned wild life or pick up any baits? It would surely be enough to let him have the excercise he needs.

Good luck with your travels.

Cheers

D

Gday,
Just a sugestion?....Feed your cat to the dog.
But seriously ,...what an accomplishment!
I dont know how you did it!


















In a Land Rover!!!




LOL

Cheers

Michael, good on you for giving it a go. We have two chocolate Labs nearly 10 years old and an 18 month old Birman cat (replacement for another Birman who should have been 11 now). As we live mainly in Birdsville the animals had to travel with us all the time - which can be a pain in the neck. When we got the new Birman I decreed that he would have to learn early about camping/leads etc. So as we were near the east coast we all took off for a camp at Gordon Country (near Cunningham's Gap) - everything was fine and Ian took the dogs for a walk and Buster had to go too, so he did. That evening, after Buster the cat had been around camp all day, he couldn't be found. There were about six camps of us and a couple of other dogs as well. So, said I - turns the lights out, don't worry about it - no more cats or dogs, that's it (this to Ian who loves his kitty more than me). As soon as the lights were out and everyone in their swags or campers I said goodnight to everyone (and Bster) and then I heard this little miaow. Ever since then we know to look up behind the long drawers in the camper because it's a great hidey hole and very cool. Now we have the new Toyota Ute Ian has built a big cage which sits across the back for the dogs, but Buster has decided he prefers to be in the cage with his dog brothers and that's where he goes! Causes some very odd looks when pulling up in a town for supplies or fuel. He doesn't go very far from the camper - we are normally bush camping anyway - but I do put him either in the zipped up bedroom or back into the cage at the early evening. Funnily enough, in a busy area Buster will automatically sit on top of the cage or get into the cage (especially if other dogs around). At either home he isn't allowed to be out an night anyway (and his breeder thinks he is an inside cat at all times and would be horrified if she knew what he gets up too) but he is happy provided he has the dogs or us with him. Our dogs are always tied up to the ute when camping and both dogs are never off together because they are untrained Labs (Ian doesn't seem to believe in training dogs or kids! which causes some dramas believe me) and Labs will go for miles and get into as many fights as they can, regardless of their lovely nature. He spends most camp places trying to catch flies and bugs rather than lizards or birds. At this house I have a bird feeder for the lorikeets and King parrots and finches - he tries hard but they sit above him and drop bird poo on him mostly, and the magpies taunt him terribly.
During our time in the caravan park for ten years, we were amazed at the number of people travelling with their pets and always welcomed them - birds, dogs, cats, rats, mice (didn't allow the camels tho) and even a ferret (first one I'd ever seen) - oh yes, and rabbits and lizards.
In ten years I didn't ever see a pet owner who was not responsible - I did meet plenty of pet owners of little dogs in caravans who assured me that their little 'Buffy' was like a person and never yapped at all (except when the owner walked away to go to the pub), and I can say from 10 years experience that pets were less trouble in a crowded caravan park than kids (yes, we do have four kids and three pets), and yes we do love kids and grandies (2). If something happens to all our pets I'll probably have to have Ian put down out of pity for his grief! And, to all those nasty people - Willem has never even given our cat Buster so much as a nasty look and Buster usually tries to lie on his foot! LOL.

A few years ago heading to Adelaide, we stopped at a rest bay about 120ks east of Willcania, in the middle of nowhere, 48 degrees and rising. While we were breaking out the cold drinks, a beautiful, friendly cat came over to say g'day. Obviously a lost pet. We ended up leaving him at the animal rescue centre in Broken Hill.

It bothered me how this poor thing ended up in such a terrible situation. I had visions of a family travelling with their moggy, who decided to shoot off and do some exploring and just didn't return to the car time.

Consider how much sleep you'd lose over wondering how your lost pet would survive in the bush. Best safe at home, where they'll be waiting for you after you've had your fun.
Safer for the wildlife too. If a lost cat does manage to surive, it does so by becomming a terrible scourge on the local bush population.

Hi Michael, We travel every where we go with our Dalmatian who is now 13 years old. She now has arthritis but is as bright as a button. We have made her bedding very comfortable even for some off roading and she would not be anywhere else but with us.
So in the end its is all horses for courses isn't. I would have to think that all people on this forum are of the mature type and cherish our pets. And its nice to see people can take their pets with them and its not all gloom and doom.

Cheers Bruce

Good one Michael pets are like kids you just dont drop them when they dont suit. Im no cat person but if you like em who gives a toss what other people think enjoy there company while you can. you dont seem like a person who would leave camp without your cat anyway it could be a long wait but im sure you would wait. Cheers Balko