Cottage Q&A
QUESTION
Our inside cat, Ramona, loves being at the cottage but she hates getting there and back. She yowls if we keep her in a carrier, sheds like crazy if we let her out, and has thrown up a few times. How can we make the trip easier? Why is she freaking out?
Derek Pearce, St. Thomas, Ont.
ANSWER
Derek, I share your pain. My family gave up on bringing our cat to the cottage four years ago after a trip reminiscent of National Lampoon’s Vacation; everyone survived, but without our dignity intact. According to Dr. Susan Little, an Ottawa-based vet and the president of The Winn Feline Foundation, which funds cat research, the reason Ramona exhibits all the characteristics of a banshee is related to evolutionary biology. “Cats evolved as solitary hunters and are very territorial,” Little says. “So, asking them to leave their turf puts them in another animal’s territory and it’s anxiety producing.” In essence, Ramona is worried about getting eaten. Strange noises or new landscapes will only intensify a cat’s fear. Little adds that dogs evolved as pack animals and travel better because they like to be with their family group – canine or human.
Nature explains the problem, but nurture may provide a solution. Little recommends you gradually re-introduce Ramona to travel. Start by placing her carrier in a familiar spot, so she becomes accustomed to it. (Little recommends a carrier for the car, though it’s not a legal necessity.) Line it with a blanket so she can lie down, and put her food and water close by. Once your cat is used to the carrier, introduce her to your vehicle with a very short trip, then slowly increase her time – and confidence – in the car. The younger a cat is when you begin travel, the easier acclimatization is likely to be. As for the vomiting, cats can be prone to motion sickness, so travelling on an empty stomach will help, but if problems persist consult your vet about using Dramamine or a similar drug. However, Little emphasizes that you are trying to change the cat’s behaviour, so medication may mask the anxiety, but won’t treat the cause.
Steve Brearton
Published in the March 2007 issue of Cottage Life.
