Driving Cats to the Lake, May 2010

Well, the cats and I didn't make it to the lake.  Despite the extensive customization of the interior of my car to make their journey pleasant, it was to no avail.  I had spent days outfitting the interior of my small station wagon with a barricade to keep them out of the front seat (haaa!) and installed such fabulous luxuries as a kitty "hammock" (really, it was a sweater drying rack, which I thought would help keep them cool because it would allow the air to circulate around and under them and give them an "air-glide" ride experience by reducing the car vibrations for them), pillows, water, and a catnip thing.

Yet, despite all my efforts to accommodate the two cats safely and comfortably, and despite two days of "practicing" with them sitting in the car for hours and taking small excursions (one of which trips was to get them the catnip plant — the little ingrates!) to acclimate them to riding  — despite all that, when it came to driving on the freeway, Bady, the monkey cat, in less than five blocks had figured out how to get over the barricade, and was darned near sitting on my head, squawking and hyperventilating.  You'd be amazed the strange looks you get driving around with a cat on your head!

I pulled off the freeway at Riverside and found some shade to pause for a moment’s reflection and to see if they would calm down.  I slathered the "calming floral essence for felines" that the vet recommended all over them and all over a good bit of myself in the process!  It didn't seem to have much effect on them, but it calmed me down!

I set off again on 94, but only made it to 11th Street in Mpls.  Spunky was uncharacteristically good (in contrast to her behavior during our practice sessions), but Bady, who had acted superbly (like the model cat, really) during two days of practice sessions, was freaking out.  I couldn't see trying to drive for 3 hours with a hyperventilating, squawking cat.  As it was, the distraction factor was huge; I'm amazed I didn't have an accident.  We got home an hour after leaving it, having logged a total of maybe 5 miles.

The trip to the lake just was not meant to be.  That's o.k., what was I supposed to do up there anyway:  watch everybody else while they fished?  (Not being able to do so seems to puzzle my husband.)  I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening with the two cats.  Oh, and the "kitty hammock" which the cats wouldn't touch while it was in the car is now Spunky's favorite place to lie because it supports her gently and circulates air under her.  It's tough having a fur coat when it's 95 degrees.

I actually felt quite badly having put them through such an ordeal, and I have apologized to them profusely multiple times.  I think they may have forgiven me, but they are still wary of being picked up (lest they be hauled off to the car once again).