Taking a Cat on Tour?
#26
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It seems that some have toured successfully with dogs. What about other animals? Cats, rats, snakes, hamsters, turtles, can'o'worms, anything?
I'm looking to get a pet, and prefer a cat over a dog. I'd like to take the cat with me on a extended tour but am doubtful if this would be feasible. I do not want to give the cat back to the humane society or faust it off on some friends for an indeterminate amount of time so it seems like I have to choose between a cat and my tour. Is this a false dichotomy? Could it be possible to tour with a kitty cat?
I'm looking to get a pet, and prefer a cat over a dog. I'd like to take the cat with me on a extended tour but am doubtful if this would be feasible. I do not want to give the cat back to the humane society or faust it off on some friends for an indeterminate amount of time so it seems like I have to choose between a cat and my tour. Is this a false dichotomy? Could it be possible to tour with a kitty cat?
Seems much more preferable (for the cat and the rider) to "foist" in on cat-loving friends (and return the favor).
On drugs, lots of drugs.
====
This is one of those things, where, if you have to ask, it's a bad idea!
Last edited by njkayaker; 12-31-08 at 02:50 PM.
#27
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I was sort of joking, but there is a serious intent to my jibe. First of all, a bear would be much more likely to attack a tent with the smell of a dog or cat in it. I would no more sleep in a tent in bear country w/ a domestic animal in it than I would a side of elk.
Secondly, as I think Machka says, the issue with a dog around camp is that the dog will likely "investigate" an ursine intruder. When the bear attacks the dog, the dog will run to it's "best friend." Then the fun begins. I know this firsthand.
Secondly, as I think Machka says, the issue with a dog around camp is that the dog will likely "investigate" an ursine intruder. When the bear attacks the dog, the dog will run to it's "best friend." Then the fun begins. I know this firsthand.
I actually won't camp next to someone who has a dog when I'm in the mountains.
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I once met a Japanese cyclist, fresh off the plane, in the mountains of Northern B.C. I was heading south, having just travelled through the densest grizzly territory in the world and he was heading north, clutching a Japanese magazine article on riding the Dempser Highway (where a riders have been knocked off their bikes by Ursus arctos horribilis)
Nice chap. We shared a campsite. I showed him my cache, hauled up into a lakeside tree. Without a common language, he looked at me with an expression that said: "Hmmm, wild Canadians sure kooky!"
Later, I caught him cooking steak terriaki in frying pan spitting fat ... inside his tent. I danced around the camp growling and pointing at him, saying "No, no! Grrrrrr, grizzly bear hungry .... you sushi!"
Nice chap. We shared a campsite. I showed him my cache, hauled up into a lakeside tree. Without a common language, he looked at me with an expression that said: "Hmmm, wild Canadians sure kooky!"
Later, I caught him cooking steak terriaki in frying pan spitting fat ... inside his tent. I danced around the camp growling and pointing at him, saying "No, no! Grrrrrr, grizzly bear hungry .... you sushi!"
#29
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The thought of bringing any of the cats I had growing up on a bike tour gives me nervous sweats. Would I bring the extremely picky eater? Who would only eat warmed up cat food with a tablespoon of oil from a can of sardines on top? Or the crazy cat whose favourite sleeping spot was the top of my head and never got on well with any other mammal? Although the stray, who adopted us regularly brought home "food" so my mom figured he was earning his keep even if no one wanted a bowl of sparrows or baby squirrels, could come in handy if I ran out of food.
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It seems that some have toured successfully with dogs. What about other animals? Cats, rats, snakes, hamsters, turtles, can'o'worms, anything?
I'm looking to get a pet, and prefer a cat over a dog. I'd like to take the cat with me on a extended tour but am doubtful if this would be feasible. I do not want to give the cat back to the humane society or faust it off on some friends for an indeterminate amount of time so it seems like I have to choose between a cat and my tour. Is this a false dichotomy? Could it be possible to tour with a kitty cat?
I'm looking to get a pet, and prefer a cat over a dog. I'd like to take the cat with me on a extended tour but am doubtful if this would be feasible. I do not want to give the cat back to the humane society or faust it off on some friends for an indeterminate amount of time so it seems like I have to choose between a cat and my tour. Is this a false dichotomy? Could it be possible to tour with a kitty cat?
#31
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Cats are very cool animals, and I love them. Therefore, my advice is to not bring a cat on tour. They are just shy of being completely wild. Having been the last of the domesticated creatures to join the campfire circle, cats are always on the cusp of "going bush." Too much to worry about, and you will worry about it far more than the cat will worry about you.
Those two brothers look like they could use a bath, and the poor cat is probably wormy...
Those two brothers look like they could use a bath, and the poor cat is probably wormy...
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I love all my pets...at one time I had a horse, 2 dogs and 8 cats all at once.
That's why whenever I traveled, often for a month at a time, I hired a responsible older teen to come in and care for them while I was gone. I kept in touch with her periodically during the trip and could enjoy myself, knowing my pets were comfortable at home and well taken care of.
Seems to me that taking an animal along on a tour would unnecessarily just complicate things. Like where to camp (might not allow pets or be dangerous for them), having to pack more food and water (some pets will only eat and drink familiar fare) and having them exposed to extreme weather conditions like heat, cold, humidity and storms that would be difficult and frightening for them.
Not a lot of fun for the animal and less fun for you also to have to worry about them.
There once was a woman motorcyclist journalist that traveled with a small terrier like dog. She rigged up a platform for the dog to stand or lie down on the tank in front of her and rode for many years like that until she was killed in an head-on with a transport truck. Ironically, the dog survived.
Unbeknownest to most people though, was the fact that her dog(s) had been killed many times from falling off the platform and she would just replace them with a similiar looking terrier and carry on. It was just the last one that outlived her.
That's why whenever I traveled, often for a month at a time, I hired a responsible older teen to come in and care for them while I was gone. I kept in touch with her periodically during the trip and could enjoy myself, knowing my pets were comfortable at home and well taken care of.
Seems to me that taking an animal along on a tour would unnecessarily just complicate things. Like where to camp (might not allow pets or be dangerous for them), having to pack more food and water (some pets will only eat and drink familiar fare) and having them exposed to extreme weather conditions like heat, cold, humidity and storms that would be difficult and frightening for them.
Not a lot of fun for the animal and less fun for you also to have to worry about them.
There once was a woman motorcyclist journalist that traveled with a small terrier like dog. She rigged up a platform for the dog to stand or lie down on the tank in front of her and rode for many years like that until she was killed in an head-on with a transport truck. Ironically, the dog survived.
Unbeknownest to most people though, was the fact that her dog(s) had been killed many times from falling off the platform and she would just replace them with a similiar looking terrier and carry on. It was just the last one that outlived her.
#33
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I think taking a cat is great idea. You can take your bell off the handlebars and then duct tape the cat there, and whenever someone cuts in front of you just squeeze the cat. WWwwhhhheeeerrrrrr!!!!!
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other animals
Rats can make surprisingly good pets. A woman at a local pet store told me that they were her second favorite pets, and she had tried a wide assortment of pets.
Wild rats have different personalities. Domestic rats have been selected for being more agreeable.
I had three Himalayan rats and enjoyed them. They had exotic patterning, something like Siamese cats. Mine were called "flame-pointed Himalayans" -- they were white with beige- or apricot-colored tips.
There are other exotic breeds as well.
Many of these rats are sold in pet stores as snake food... Sad. They are intelligent, playful, sensitive creatures and deserve more respect.
They enjoy company. I would suggest getting more than one. Littermates tend to be close.
It wouldn't be hard to design a home for them on the bike. It would help if they had a secure room (even a small one) where they could feel safe -- something like a burrow (they feel a lot safer sometimes when they have a private-feeling space of their own, where they can't be seen). You could make a lightweight tunnel(s) for them to move from one chamber or room to another. They could be given a choice of rooms with views and rooms without.
Easily removable walls are another possibility.
Small, young rats tend to be more playful, and lighter in weight. And they can travel through smaller tubes and holes, and be happy within a smaller space. They also eat less.
Younger animals would probably be better at adapting to a new (touring) lifestyle.
They like all kinds of scraps, and especially enjoy sprouted seeds and grains, nuts, pieces of fresh vegetables and fruit.... If you feed them properly, they will be healthier and livelier, and will look better.
There are some good websites and books that go into more details about care and diet.
Please let us know what you end up doing, and post some pics too if you feel like it.
Last edited by Chiricocycle; 01-07-09 at 07:27 PM.
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cat
I'm looking to get a pet, and prefer a cat over a dog. I'd like to take the cat with me on a extended tour but am doubtful if this would be feasible. I do not want to give the cat back to the humane society or faust it off on some friends for an indeterminate amount of time so it seems like I have to choose between a cat and my tour. Is this a false dichotomy? Could it be possible to tour with a kitty cat?
Would highly recommend a home that they could not jump out of.
Some adult cats would be very stressed by this sort of thing.
Some of them don't like it, and meow their disapproval (I've ridden with cats).
Others are mellower.
A high percentage of pound cats are put down, so you might be saving a life. (Some pounds are better than others about this.)
Giving them the option of being in a visually quiet space where they don't have to see cars passing close by, etc., etc. would probably be a good idea.
Some breeds are mellower than others, on average.
Maine Coons tend to have wonderful personalities. Ragdolls also tend to be very mellow and agreeable and relaxed. These two breeds also tend to be much quieter than some others. (Siamese are among the more vocal breeds.)
Last edited by Chiricocycle; 01-07-09 at 07:24 PM.
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Some people really appreciate having a friendly pet along. Nothing 'bizarre' about it. Just differences of personality.
Here is an introduction to exotic breeds of domesticated rats:
First a picture of some Himalayans:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rat_siamese.JPG
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fancy_rat
Here is an introduction to exotic breeds of domesticated rats:
First a picture of some Himalayans:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rat_siamese.JPG
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fancy_rat
Last edited by Chiricocycle; 01-07-09 at 07:09 PM.
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Here are some great pictures of various domesticated pet rat breeds, and their human comrades and friend-companions:
https://bayimages.net/pets/rats/world-of-rats/i5994.html
https://bayimages.net/pets/rats/
https://bayimages.net/pets/rats/world-of-rats/i5994.html
https://bayimages.net/pets/rats/
Last edited by Chiricocycle; 01-07-09 at 07:30 PM.
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I bike a lot with my cat, Herman. He's a total stud about it. I definitely agree that not all cats are made for touring, just like not all people are into it. I have been traveling with my little guy since he was a kitten... living in my truck and climbing and biking. I spent a fair amount of time training him to come when I whistled. Now that he's a little older, he doesn't always listen (you know, those rebellious teens.) However, I'm looking into some sort of tracking device for him so that I always know where he is. I think bears and hawks, etc. are an important thing to think about for both you and your cat when touring. Also be prepared to BE trained by your cat as much as you train the cat.
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I put my cat in my handlebar bag and held him there untill I took off on the bike, when I let him go he was out of that bag in about half a second. So I would say no unless you tied them to something where they couldn't get away. But then again you would take the chance of your cat clawing the crap out of you.
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I would suggest that whatever you are going to let the cat ride in (trailer, basket...) that you make it a part of the cats daily life now. Feed the cat in it...
#47
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I'm thinking you'd have the best luck if you got a kitten right before you went on tour, and got it used to the routine of touring before it got used to the idea of your house = its territory. But what do I know....
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Last edited by Chiricocycle; 01-12-09 at 09:18 PM.
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Bat transducers might help with tuning into their communications and responses -- and with understanding the sense of life and play that they have in common with children, ourselves, and other human beings:
https://graphics8.nytimes.com/package...cience/rat.mov
also here: https://video.google.com/videosearch?...emb=0&aq=-1&oq=#
If that doesn't bring up the video and soundtrack of the ultrasonic laughter, it can also be found by clicking near the end of John Tierney's short article here:
https://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/...-for-yourself/
https://graphics8.nytimes.com/package...cience/rat.mov
also here: https://video.google.com/videosearch?...emb=0&aq=-1&oq=#
If that doesn't bring up the video and soundtrack of the ultrasonic laughter, it can also be found by clicking near the end of John Tierney's short article here:
https://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/...-for-yourself/
Last edited by Chiricocycle; 02-18-09 at 07:57 PM.