Cats-related... Tips For Owner Of 3 (yes, 3!) Cats And Driving

While I know there's no such thing as team-trucking with the cats, I'm suspecting they'll be a big - um - adjustment in the typical trucker's life..... especially when it's with three cats with vastly differing personalities. Yes, you read that right: three felines.

So -- Truckers w/ Cats -- any tips/suggestions, especially considering *multiple* cats? Beyond the "who carries a pet policy?" question, which is already listed on Trucking Companies That Allow Pets... Although, please do share your experiences of the good experiences and the bad experiences with whichever company and their pet policy and helpful dos/don'ts with companies. It's a bit confusing looking over information with varying deposits/pet fees, blah blah -- but anyway!! Example of tips I'm looking for, really, is the day-to-day stuff beyond (finally?!) selecting a company, such as "make sure they have a good scratch post!", controlling the lovely litter box scents (haha!), what to do with them when away from the rig, etc etc. I'm aware I won't be able to bring them during training (or after certain mileage), by the way -- before anyone feels the need to point this out. THANKS!!!!

Info on the three felines:

-- approx. 6 yr old female, small (7 lbs?) not fixed.

-- approx. 13 yr old female, medium (10 lbs?) fixed.

-- approx. 13 yr old male, large (20 lbs?! yes, it's the breed... Russian Blue!) fixed.

-- none has a medical condition currently and have not in the past either

-- all act younger than actual age (I'm now in shock that two are around 13. Really? No.. that can't be right. But it is! Damn.)

I believe Allie Knight started with her 3 cats in the truck and ended up keeping spike on the truck and leaving the rest with her parents. You could check some of her older videos or try contacting her on twitter or facebook. Good luck.

I'm following this too I am still deciding if I want a cat or dog on the truck with me and some of these questions are the same as mine lol. Also one of mine is how do you keep the litter in the box? I can just imagine trying to drive through Chicago half the litter box would be on the floor lol

Also one of mine is how do you keep the litter in the box?

Not speaking from experience using them, just from knowledge of them, but they make cat litter boxes specifically to prevent spills/messes. There are deeper ones and even litter boxes that are essentially a bucket with a narrow opening at the top so your cats crawls in from the top, do their business, and hop back out the top. Even if the box tips, since there is a decent lip around the opening on all sides, the litter stays inside. Just search for "top entry litter box" and look for the ones that look stable and have a decent lip around the opening. If you are handy, you can make one yourself from a storage container to save a few bucks.

I prefer the pine litter. It hides the odor well and there's no dust from fresh step types.

My cat is 10 and people told me he was too old. Cats react differently. Some vomit.. get diarrhea for a couple weeks. Mine just acted like he owned the truck from the start.no issues other than me pushing him off my stuff but that was true at home.

My box is in the passenger footwell.. some take a cabinet door off to hide it.. but my pole blocks the cabinets. I have his food and water on the top bunk and my truck has a cubby hole up top he hides in when scared.

The mechanic asked me if the cat died cause he saw the pole but didn't smell anything. I have rubber maid containers for food and littler on top bunk.

Our biggest issue is his chewing.. he always did it so I duct taped all wires.

When I start the truck he knows it is time to go and hops into his bed. I posted the pic of that on the other pet thread.

I feared he would try to get out at stops.. but he doesnt. I bought leashes and harnesses . ... don't know where they are now. He stays on the truck when I go home. The truck went in the shop once and I got a room and took him... he acted like i was murdering him. Screamed and cried... hid under the bed. It was horrible. I had the leash and thought he would be curious of the outside. When I put him on the ground he ran back to truck and tried to climb steps. Never again. He's going to die on that truck now.

As I said in the other thread.. prime had me pay $300 in one payment then $50 per week for a total of $1000. They say it is a deposit. But told me upfront not to expect it back. The day I brought him on the truck prime faxed me a contract for the money and about his shot record. That was it.

Trainers cannot have pets for the health of students. .. allergies are not always known. Scratches and bites get infected.

I would guess cats together would adjust better.... not scared and alone.

\Also one of mine is how do you keep the litter in the box? I can just imagine trying to drive through Chicago half the litter box would be on the floor lol

LOL I actually have two litter boxes in my residential home, one medium sized with regular depth and one large sized with a deeper depth (well, I do have a friggin 20 lbs cat....!!!! Although he prefers to use the medium sized one. D'oh.) and both have tops to latch onto the bottom pan. It's cut down on the litter spraying since there's only opening for the cat to enter/exit... Although I'd be more concerned about traces of litter being spread by the actual paws, with it wedged in between the toes, etc. I'm used to it though. Just like one would have to get used to fur, fur, fur with any furries.

The truck went in the shop once and I got a room and took him... he acted like i was murdering him. Screamed and cried... hid under the bed. It was horrible.

LOL I believe I did encounter your comment in another thread mentioning Prime and the above description, hahahaha!!!!

Pine litter. I've heard some good and bad things about the pine. One thing that I'm very aware of is that cats' noses are a lot more sensitive than humans so I don't try to fragrance my place with stuff they literally have their noses in (consider the distance from the litter to their nose! Much shorter than to a human's). I've been using Dr. Elsey's "Ultra Precious" multi-cat scooping litter and it's been the best thus far as being unscented and yet completely curbing the odors. The only odor I smell, frankly, is during the direct emission releases.... Vinegar/water sprays work then. LOL

As for the cats being together, that's what I'm thinking -- the Russian Blue actually likes car rides and he's the "big bro" so if that one manages to get totally chill (I do expect him to lay out on the dashboard, actually, as he tries in my car), the other two should follow suit. Eventually. I hope.

-- Thanks to all who have already contributed!!! --

Goofball doesn't squat when he pees.. it shoots sideways so I have a high wall rubber maid container he has to jump in. He had one at home too. I've driven thru mountains.. Chicago philly denver..wy.. doesn't go anywhere. I bought the cordless shark hand held for 40 dollars. Works great for litter spills.

Goofball actually likes th pine. The first time he saw it he laid in it. . Then seemed to realize..hey this is litter. Lol.. he's nuts. .. but all my pets have been