The BIG MOVE - Part 2
Toby, Emmie and Sammie have been traveling to the vet and back for years (grooming for Toby and claw trim for both kitties), but it is never a fun experience for them or us. Toby is crying nearly the whole time in excitement and the cats are crying in distress. So, with this in mind we thought of ways to give the two cats more freedom during the trip, and hopefully happier. I saw all these videos about cats on harnesses and have seen small padded and open crates that tie around and into the seat with a seat belt. That way, the cats could look out as we travel 10 to 12 hours a day (they like looking out house windows… didn’t they?) and possibly enjoy the trip (gullible mom).
To prep for this BIG MOVE, we had purchased the padded crates and harnesses in advance to let them get used to them. We had 3 days of driving ahead of us with hotels allowing pets at each location. Toby goes ballistic in happiness when he has his harness on, so he was all ready to go. However, every time we put the harnesses on the cats (we’d leave them on for 12-to-24-hour durations, they couldn’t remember how to walk or lay down or jump or do cat. It didn’t look promising, but we plowed on.
Of course, Emmie found the crates first (shaped like a box) and would sit primly in them (both) with Sammie trying one or the other when we were not paying attention. I was getting hopeful! The day before we left, as we were loading the cars, I put the crates in the SUV, propped up on “stuff” so the top of the crates was at the bottom of the car windows. Perfect!
The day prior to our leaving, we tried them out for the trip to and from the vet’s. We had all three at the vet’s during the day so the movers could leave doors open to load the semi-trailer. I don’t think they sounded any unhappier than they normally did, however, on the way to the vet, Sammie (we are now calling him Houdini) escaped out of his halter and was somewhere in the back of the SUV… hmmm. He traveled back home in his regular soft crate.
The heartbreaking part of our departure was when Sammie got back from the vets for the last time, the house was empty (of course). In his distress to see everything gone, he zoomed (with hackles raised) back and forth from the family room to our bedroom and back about 3 times, howling the whole time. It took about an hour for him to settle in and see that we were still there, his toys and bed were still there and it was going to be ok.
My solution to Sammie’s escapades was a sedative, and so we tried giving all three animals a little for the first leg of the journey. Toby was easy peasy. We have these cool syringes that allow you to pop said pill into vicious kitten maws without too much blood drawn… but when you are trying to dose a portion of said pill, it does not extract from syringe… ever!! Fifteen pounds of cat and mom were frustrated, but I think Sammie got enough to let me have a glimmer of hope for our trip. Emmie had none… sigh.
Our first destination was our shortest leg, as we planned to give my dad a last drive-by hug on the way out and then visit a sweet, aged friend that had lost not just her husband, but both her twin daughters just months from each other and during the pandemic (not from it). She lives in Morristown, just outside Wickenburg AZ, and we found a pet friendly hotel.
We got out of the gate a little late (my Jenga skills did not fix the “not enough room” problem for our last few items) so we knew we would be a couple of hours behind. Nothing like starting a trip stressed, but Friday morning traffic out of town was not bad. After leaving my dad’s in Hemet, we started toward La Quinta for Nathaniel’s last In-n-Out Burger splurge before hitting the wilderness (also known as the rest of the United States).
I have not mentioned my dad, but with Alan’s health scares, he knew how important this move was and gave his permission. He is tied in with the VA and has caregivers coming each week for 4-days a week. He has sweet neighbors and together with texting me daily, I have to trust him to God and do what is best for my immediate family.
Toby seemed to settle into his little bed in Alan’s passenger seat and snoozed his drugged little out mind just fine. The cats, oh no. There was pitiful mews (Emmie) and yowling (Sammie) and gymnastics (also Sammie) for a good part of the day. Obviously, someone did not get enough drugs. Nathaniel tried to wrangle Sammie back into his bed/crate/harness and was somewhat successful.
Did I know that La Quinta was going to be 107 degrees in the shade, no. Did I know that there was going to no shade to speak of anywhere in La Quinta In-n-Out parking lot, no. Still, we have a largish crate that Toby calls his bed at night and thought that a midday stop with a small litter box and a water dish would be appropriate for the cats. We were able to carry them to the crate right next to the car, but a mesquite bush shade leaves much to be desired, and they looked even more distressed than being in the open car crates. So, I won’t be getting any cat mom awards this year…
More yowling and near escapes and 4 hours later, we arrive in the very hot (112 degrees) Wickenburg for our room. After unloading the animals (and all their accoutrements) and the minimum for us for the night, we (Alan and I) set out to see my friend (Nathaniel agreed to stay with the Meyer Menagerie in the hotel room). Even later, we picked up some local Mexican food for the room and went back to see where things stood with the troop. All was peaceful (for now).
Lucky for me, I wear ear plugs (helps me sleep better), but Nathaniel tells me that Sammie was clawing at the kitty litter all night. There were definitely no kitty snuggles for anyone, but no one seemed to have suffered during the night (except Nathaniel). Toby got his walk in, and we were ready for our most brutal stint scheduled.
I am realizing now, I have no pictures for this leg of the journey, but as you have read… I was busy!
Part 3 coming soon…
