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07-08-2022, 05:43 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: May 2022
Location: La Jolla California
Posts: 66
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Traveling with cats
We have a class A MH with retractable slides on both sides. On our first trip the cat freaked out and crawled under the refrigerator and got stuck inside the free space between the slide and the wall. On that trip we knew the cat was hiding but didn't know where and I started to extend the slide - not knowing there was an area for him to get inside of the slide free space. If I hadn't stopped extending the slide to look for the cat the cat might have been crushed between the wall and the slide baseboard.
In the area below the residential refrigerator and the floor is a space about 30" wide and 3 inches tall. Not knowing if this area is needed for air flow to the refrigerator or something else behind that area I nailed up some screen mesh to keep the cat out of that area. This allows airflow into the area while keeping the cat out of that area.
This got me paranoid and I started looking in other areas of the coach where the cat might hide and I found another area right behind the drivers chair where the slide retracts into the coach. When the slide is extended the area is sealed, when the slide in retracted there is an "area" of about 18"x3" where the cat could conceivably crawl into and once again get inside of the slide free space area.
Right now, whenever the slide is retracted we place a towel over the area to prevent the cat from crawling in there. The problem is remembering to place the towel in that location when the slide in retracted AND to remove the towel before we extend the slide - we've already forgotten to remove the towel once and almost, but not quite damage the wood trim around the slide mount.
Surely we can't be the only ones that have a cat that likes to hide in these types of places. Any ideas on how to fix this issue?
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07-08-2022, 07:41 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 833
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My cat is huge and likes the step well, dash board, or the rear bed. He doesn’t really fit anywhere tight. Prior to bringing him we did a once over looking for just the places you described. We are lucky to not have any.
I did witness my cat jump from the dash board thru the open square on my screen door. I was amazed at his smoothness to pull it off. Took 10mins to get him back in.
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07-08-2022, 08:03 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Benton, AR
Posts: 1,062
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A cat cage.
__________________
2009 Country Coach Veranda 400, ISM 500, Aqua Hot 525D
2019 Lincoln Nautilus 2.7L Toad
2020 Lectric XP E-bike (Hybrid)
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07-08-2022, 10:18 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: May 2022
Location: La Jolla California
Posts: 66
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BonS
A cat cage.
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I wish, but at times we can drive for several hours for days on end and we don't feel comfortable leaving him in a cage for that long.
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07-09-2022, 04:55 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 112
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We travel with two cats (and two dogs). The cats are kept in their carriers until we are parked, slides are out, and we have blocked off any openings they could get into. I bought 4 inch thick soft foam like you would use for chair cushions and cut to fit into areas we block off when parked, and plastic lattice cut to block off the under dash area. We often travel for many hours many days in a row, the cats don’t like the carriers but we feel for their own safety it’s the right thing to do, plus if there were an emergency while on the road we can quickly pick them up and take them out if needed. We have soft sided cat carriers that have zip open side that expands to give them more space so they aren’t totally cramped while traveling. First priority when we park is to get level, slides out, openings plugged, and cats out. DW gives them cat treats first thing, they know it’s treat time as soon as they get out.
__________________
Ed & Denise
2017 Tiffin Allegro Breeze 31BR
2019 MINI Cooper Toad
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07-09-2022, 06:48 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: The Bluegrass State
Posts: 8,889
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We also travel with 2 cats and 2 dogs. Before our first trip in our coach, I crawled around looking for places the cats cold get into. On the slides, I took a roller shade, modified it so the shade would not lock into place when extended. Then instead of mounting the shade horizontally, I turned it vertically and fixed one end to the wall, and the other end to the slide. Now as the slide goes out, the roller shade unrolls and blocks the opening. As the room comes in, the roller shade winds back up still sealing the opening.
For the area under the dashboard, I used peg board and cut a piece that blocked that opening.
However, just to be safe, we always do a cat count before we move any slides. When we are driving, our two cats always stay behind the sofa and only come out when we stop for any reason. The two doge stay between the two captains seats harnessed and connected to the seatbelt floor anchors.
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Good Luck, Be Safe and Above All, Don't Forget To Have Fun
Pete
Central Kentucky
2006 Fleetwood Discovery 35H, 2014 Honda CR-V, M&G Engineering Braking System
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07-12-2022, 09:38 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Braidwood Il.
Posts: 8,300
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From cat vids.... cats are like mice they can squeeze through a space their heads can fit through. I would try a smaller cardboard box or soft side carrier they can feel safe in. A lot of toy play in rv and making rv feel like cats domain. A high roosting place can help them feel they are in control of/over an area. Watched some cat whisperer show lol.
__________________
95 Monaco Crown Royale
M11 400hp, 4060 trans.
Aquahot, Generac Guardian7.5k
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07-12-2022, 11:09 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Johnstown PA
Posts: 1,311
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We take the cats to the coach in their carriers and they are put on the bed still in their carriers, the carriers are opened once we are under way but the door to the bath and bedroom is closed. We keep it closed for 2 hours or so, once we stop for fuel or to have lunch we check on them, we count noses and then open the door so they can come out into the coach if they wish. There is space for a few of them to lie between the bed and the rear wall, and a tunnel under the foot of the bed where it meets the closet and dresser. Eventually they settle on the bed and sleep. There are only 2 or 3 that usually venture into the front of the coach to visit with us until we stop and set up. The way home or the next stop is a bit different, they may head behind the couch. We count noses many times when we are on vacation, and when making a stop while on the road we do not both leave the coach at the same time unless the cats are all in the bedroom behind a closed door. Lots of rules when traveling with them!
__________________
Lynn & Andy Dudish
2016 Tiffin Allegro Red 33AA
Towing 2014 Jeep Wrangler
On the Road with 13 Rescued Cats
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