Above, Sierra on her first RV trip to Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
My cat Sierra was eight months old when I first took her on a RV camping trip to Yosemite National Park.
She handled the trip just fine and now that she's over 10 years old, with plenty of RV travels under her belt (or, rather, collar) she does just fine.
RV Travel has posted an article with a video with seven trips for camping with a cat. Some I agree with some I don't, based on my experience.
The article begins with:
In the video below, we join Ashley, aka The Tennessee Wanderer, for some handy tips about camping with a cat. Ashley and her cat, Rupert, (and a dog too) travel in a tiny restored fiberglass U-Haul trailer. If she can make camping with a cat work in that tiny space, I think anyone can.
In the video, she shares some things that worked for her and some that didn’t.
Above, two of the Hemingway Home cats. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
During the cruise to Havana, Cuba, our ship stopped at Key West, Florida for the day.
While there, I went to the Shipwreck Museum, a cigar shop, a outdoor patio bar and Hemingway Home.
At Hemingway Home, I saw several descendants of author Ernest Hemingway's cats. Some of the cats have six toes. They wandered around the property and mingles with visitors. There's also a cat cemetery on the property.
Garden & Gun has posted an article on the cats.
It begins with:
When the Hemingway Home first opened its foliage-framed gates to the public sixty years ago, visitors got to enter the preserved Key West oasis that inspired one of America’s literary heroes. Today, the property looks much as it did when Ernest Hemingway lived there in the 1930s: typewriters are strewn about desks, vibrant mustard-colored art deco tiles line bathrooms, and of course, dozens upon dozens of six-toed cats roam. “We have fifty-nine cats at the moment, and about half of them have extra toes,” says Alexa Morgan, the director of public relations at the Hemingway Home and Museum.
While watching last night's Trump rally in Las Vegas, Nevada last night and awaiting his arrival, I decided to have some fun with my cat Sierra.
I got out a 2020 Trump campaign button and put it on her and took some photos. They are in reference to alleged pet-eating migrants in Springfield, Ohio that have raised havoc in the town.
Last evening, one of my Jamestown friends, Russ Azbill, and I went to dinner at Jerry's Cafe in Gallup. He had never eaten there before.
I had earlier called him to ask him if he had a .38 Special/.357 Magnum pistol as I had some snake shot rounds in those calibers to give him. A few days ago, his dog Derek got bit on the tongue by a rattlesnake. Russ only had .22 caliber snake shot. The dog is at the vet's in Milan and should be coming home Monday (if they're open). He seems to be improving.
As we were talking, I mentioned I was going to Jerry's Cafe that evening and asked if he'd like to come along and I would give him the rounds then. He did and we went.
He liked Jerry's. I told him that Genaro's and Jerry's are my two favorite restaurants in Gallup.
UPDATE:
The vet called Russ this morning and Derek is being released today.
It looks like UPS may be delivering my Winchester Model 12 shotgun tomorrow instead of Wednesday.
I checked the progress and the estimated delivery date was changed to April 16. It that is the case, I can try it out later this week. The guys and I are planning to go to the shooting area for some plinking near our community either Thursday or Friday.
Once it is in my hands, it will be the third Winchester I'll have.
*******
Helping A Friend
Above, Dusty.
A good friend of mine, Deanna Carola (who I met several years ago in L.A.), has a pet chinchilla named Dusty who had a terrible mishap that fractured one of his legs in two places. He had to have it amputated today. He appears to be doing okay, but as one can imagine, the veterinary bill will be a bit costly.
Deanna has started a Go Fund Me page to raise money for the veterinarian's bill. I have already contributed, but she can use some additional help.
Those of us with pets know how much they mean to us whether they're big or small. Deanna has been a good and devoted pet owner (and she makes a great chicken parmesan, as I can attest) and would be very grateful for any contributions.
Some good news from Deanna. She posted this last night:
Finally after 5 days in the ER, Dusty was able to come home last night. For the next 14 days the focus will be on properly medicating and easing any of his symptoms from surgery. His stump is still swollen but should go down with the anti inflammatory.
He is finally eating more, primarily hay. He took mostly water from a dropper last night. Hopefully by Monday he will be able to make it to his water bottle. He is eating enough to product 80+ pellets in 24 hours. Small but a higher quantity than the surgeon was seeing meaning GI STASIS is no longer a concern.
Dusty’s medication schedule is pretty strict at 6am, 8am, 6pm, and 8pm. Most medication requires it to be taken with food which he doesn’t always want but praying it will get better.
He has an appointment for a follow up to check the incisions in 14 days from now. I will be posting daily updates of his recovery.
Help is still needed to cover Dusty's medical bills.
Above, Sierra at Goulding's Lodge Campground in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
My cat Sierra is a well-traveled pet. She has been traveling with me in the motorhome since she was only a few months old.
Early on, I had to train her from scratching her claws on the RV cushions and other things. I got her a special scratcher that she uses and have placed small covers over the cushions. Now that she's eight, she travels with no scratching issues for me to be concerned about.
Traveling with cats and their claws is the topic of an article in Do It Yourself RV.
They begin with:
We all love our pets, but they can sometimes be a handful, especially when it comes to cats and their natural urge to scratch. While it might not seem serious at first, cats scratching furniture and carpets can cause significant damage over time, and this is particularly concerning in RVs.
To tackle this issue head-on, I’ve put together some effective tips and strategies. These will not only cater to your cat’s natural behaviors but also protect your RV’s chairs, sofas, and carpets, ensuring they stay in good condition.
Above, Sierra's "Caturday" photo for today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
The oncoming storm (tomorrow morning) can snow all it wants as I have plenty of food for myself and Sierra, along with the outdoor stray cats.
Friends were shopping at Walmart in Gallup today and brought me a bag of Iams cat food. I had to resort to Iams dog food for the outdoor cats, which was all the Flying J had. Surprisingly, they wolfed up the food. Beggars can't be choosers. I gave the remainder of the dog food to Larry Lucier for his dog.
Above, Sierra in the motorhome at Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
The first camping trip in the motorhome for my cat Sierra was when she was about 8 months old. We went to Yosemite National Park. She took to it fine.
The only thing she did was howl for about 30 minutes after putting her inside. After that, nothing. She has the freedom to wander around. Usually, she just naps in my bed while we're driving.
She came along during my three-week trip to Metropolis, Illinois in November 2016. She was over year old by then and had been on several trips previously.
RV Travel has posted an article (with video) with seven tips for camping with a cat.
They begin it with:
In the video below, we join Ashley, aka The Tennessee Wanderer, for some handy tips about camping with a cat. Ashley and her cat, Rupert, (and a dog too) travel in a tiny restored fiberglass U-Haul trailer. If she can make camping with a cat work in that tiny space, I think anyone can. In the video, she shares some things that worked for her and some that didn’t.
Yesterday marked eight years since I adopted Sierra from the Hawthorne (California) SPCA shelter.
It was my daughter who spotted a Facebook photo of her (she was named Claire) by the shelter and passed it one to me. After some deliberation, I went down there and adopted her. I didn't like "Claire" for her name, so I named her Sierra Claire.
My cat Siren passed away in September and I debated whether or not to get another cat at my age. But I like having a cat running around the house. I am glad that I did.
It has been eight great years.
Above, the first meeting and adoption at the Hawthorne shelter.
Since I'll be in L.A. this weekend and I don't know if I'll be able to post some cat photos for Caturday (or even remember), here's some photos of Sierra in the den taken yesterday.
Above, Sierra and Lola in the motorhome. Photo by Armand Vaquer
The following pertains mainly for dogs.
During long trips, I bring my cat Sierra with me. She doesn't go outside of the motorhome and I make sure she has plenty ventilation and water if I should be out exploring.
The follow story is from a ranger at Death Valley National Park on how to prevent your pet from being killed in the desert. It was posted in RV Travel.
The begin it with:
Here are some tips about traveling with pets, primarily dogs, in the desert according to rangers at Death Valley National Park. The advice is good, even in other places where you camp. For years, and perhaps even still today, the rangers in Death Valley kept a tally of how many pets were victims of coyotes, often when left alone outside RVs on a leash.
On Thursday the Ottawa By-law and Regulatory Services announced they would start confiscating the pets of the Freedom Convoy protesters when their owner is arrested.
The city officials say they will keep the dogs for 8 days and then the animals “will be considered relinquished.”
Above, one of the escapees. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Last night, I was all set to spend the evening watching two hours of Antiques Roadshow when a pack of four dogs were running around our street.
I didn't recognize them but they were hanging around my neighbor's horse pen. Concerned that they may attack the horses, I fired of some firecrackers that sent them running to another neighbor's horse pen. I notified my neighbor, who was coming home from work in Arizona. He wondered if they were his dogs, I said I didn't think so as I heard barking coming from his yard. But, I decided to check. Sure enough those were his dogs running loose.
So, I spent the evening getting them back to his yard. I thought an unsecured gate was were they got out, but it turned out that a wooden fence around his house was broken through. They were running around the community near Nandoh's and the shooting range. There's a saying about "herding cats", but herding dogs isn't any easier either. Luckily, the area were in had new perimeter fencing installed, so there was little chance they would be able to get onto the highway from there.
I followed two of them from the road to the shooting area and up Whispering Cedars Road to West Blue Cedar Road and home in the car.
Above, you can barely see them, but I am following a St. Bernard and a German Shepherd up Whispering Cedars Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
After getting the dogs back in the yard, I waited for my neighbor to get home. After he got home, he found the spot where they got out.
Well, at least the dogs are securely at home now. At least last night wasn't too cold out during all this.
I did manage to catch one hour of Antiques Roadshow.
Above, that certain look from Sierra. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Well, since today is Caturday...
My cat Sierra developed a couple of spots of matted fur on her back. I regularly brushed her, but they stayed.
Then I discovered a cheap home remedy to get rid of matted fur: olive oil.
According to abodeforpets.com:
Olive Oil has proven to be extremely effective at removing mats and tangles in cat fur. It is cheap, quick and easy to use and can provide some excellent results if you are patient.
Simply add a teaspoon of olive oil to each of the mats in your cat’s fur and leave it to do its work. If the mat hasn’t fallen out over three days but shows signs of improvement repeat the process.
It is better to use too much oil than too little in this situation as it can help speed up results. Olive oil is also harmless to your cat meaning there are no side effects to its skin, fur or stomach if ingested.
I started using it early this week and today, I found the mats completely gone. This remedy actually works!
Followers of Nomadic Fanatic (Eric Jacobs) gave him a huge outpouring of condolences and support (4,500 comments and counting) over the passing of Eric's cat Jax. The video he posted yesterday on Jax's passing had to be the saddest video I've ever seen. It is on a blog post of October 19, but updated to include the video. It brought back memories of my cat Siren's passing six years ago.
I have never met Eric or Jax in person. The closest was when they passed me on Interstate 40 near Iyanbito going in the opposite direction about a year ago.
Anyone who has followed the Nomadic Fanatic on YouTube over the years enjoyed the antics of Jax. I never knew a cat would play fetch like a dog until I saw a video of Jax years ago doing so. I've followed Eric's and Jax's RV travel adventures for about seven years.
Jax had to be euthanized as he was suffering from hyperthyroid, which is not unusual to older cats. Eric did the most humane thing he could. It was tough, but a necessary act of love. It was heartbreaking.
Jax was born in 2010. As he was about 11 years old, I thought that was a bit young. But I checked and indoor cats generally have a life expectancy (on average) of 10 to 15 years. Some live into their 20s.
The two cats I had before Sierra were indoor cats. Buttons lived to 16 years and Siren lived to 18 years. Sierra is now 6.
Since I did some checking on hyperthyroid, I now know what it is and will make sure Sierra gets annual check-ups.
Thankfully, we still have videos of Jax to enjoy. He will be missed.
Above, Sierra in the motorhome at Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Pets are part of the family. There are no two ways about it.
A vacation is not a vacation to many people (60%) without the family pet. When I go on an extended camping trip in the motorhome, I bring my cat Sierra with me. She probably has been in more states than my daughter has.
WJHG has posted research results of a study on pet owners and vacations.
They posted:
CLEVELAND, Oct. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pets truly are members of the family. In fact, 60 percent of owners even bring their fur babies on vacation with them.* To make it safer and healthier for pet parents to hit the road with their canine companions in tow, Embrace Pet Insurance, a top-ranked insurance provider for dogs and cats in the United States, has partnered with Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA), an organization committed to creating family-friendly camping experiences throughout North America. Together, Embrace and KOA will make the experience of camping even better for dog owners with resources to support pet health and wellness while traveling. The two organizations will team up to provide pet parents with educational content, like a guide to camping with pets as well as events at two KOA campgrounds with food, games and even live training sessions.
"As campers, we're in the business of dealing with the unexpected – detours, traffic jams, blown tires, stuck slides, shattered vent covers, holding tank anxiety, etc. You name it. We've all been there. Whether driving a motorhome, pulling a travel trailer, or setting up a tent – and I've done them all – camping is about preparing for what could happen and troubleshooting when it does," said Brian Macias, president, Embrace Pet Insurance. "Our pets add another aspect to that. That's why KOA and Embrace are teaming up to make sure that you're prepared when it comes to traveling with your four-legged companions. Our 24/7 pet telehealth and use-anywhere accident and illness coverage is exactly what every camping pet parent needs for peace of mind."
The partnership is sure to be an impactful one, with camping and outdoor recreation popular among pets and their owners. In fact, Embrace research* shows that:
Nearly 30 percent of traveling pets go camping
Over 20 percent of traveling pets go to the mountains, a lake or to visit family
50 percent of pet parents take their pups hiking
50 percent of dogs like to swim
Of the 60 percent of pet owners who take their pets on vacation, 12 percent will stay in an RV or camper, and an additional six percent will sleep in a tent
While we're on the subject of pets, camping and motorhomes, there is a prominent video blogger on YouTube, Eric Jacobs the Nomadic Fanatic, who posts videos of his RV travels with his cat Jax. It has been reported that Jax passed away recently from complications of a thyroid tumor. My condolences to Eric for his loss. Jax was as much a celebrity on the Nomadic Fanatic as Eric, perhaps more so. Those of us who follow Nomadic Fanatic will miss Jax.
Above, a Yellowstone National Park hot spring. Phto by armand Vaquer.
Sometimes it is just not worth bringing pets along while on vacation.
A woman trying to retrieve her dog received thermal burns from a Yellowstone National Park hot spring.
According to ABC 4 News:
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (ABC4) – A 20-year-old woman is suffered thermal burns after attempting to retrieve her dog from a hot spring in Yellowstone National Park Monday afternoon.
Park officials said the incident occurred in the area of Fountain Flat Drive, south of Madison Junction.
The woman’s dog reportedly jumped out of the car after the woman and her father stepped out to look around. When the dog ran into Maiden’s Grave Spring, the woman followed suit to retrieve the dog, Yellowstone National Park said in a Facebook post.
The woman’s father then pulled her and the dog out then drove to West Yellowstone, Montana for help.
Above, Sierra at Goulding's Lodge Campground near Monument Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
My cat Sierra probably has been in more states during several travels since she was born in August 2015 than many people have in their lifetimes. I adopted her (or did she adopt me?) in November of that year.
To date, she has been in the following states: California (where she was born), Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico (where we live now), Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Illinois, Tennessee, Kansas, Missouri and Wyoming.
I keep her up-to-date veterinary records in the motorhome just in case they're needed.
Out here in New Mexico, one can always tell when it's autumn.
During the day, the temperatures range from the 50s to the 70s. At night, they drop from the teens to the 40s.
Last night was a bit colder. Right now it is about 25° and it is around 68° inside. Still, even this makes Sierra to want to crawl under the falsa blanket on top of my comforter.
I have the barrel heater on for P.K. and her kittens.
Above, Sierra under "her" blanket this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
The latest forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today
Sunny, with a high near 57. West wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight
Clear, with a low around 33. Northwest wind 15 to 20 mph becoming light.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 62. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night
Clear, with a low around 36. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 64. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
