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Exclusivity is important in a vacation spot. I demand that Ziggy remain several feet from the Mommy Pillow at all times.

Fortunately, the world’s finest feline columnist is here to take charge. Today we’ll review my favorite vacation hot spots, rating every one from zero to five claws (the number I would bury in Ziggy’s skull just to secure the spot). Five claws is the highest rating. I could probably devote whole columns to some of these vacation destinations, and in the case of the Mango Box, I already have. So, today we’ll do capsule reviews of a number of my favorite spots to spend a little me-time. If anyone is interested in more thorough coverage of a particular location, feel free to comment below and I may expand coverage of some of these exotic destinations.

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While I spend a lot of time sleeping in the Guest Bedroom, it feels less like a vacation and more like bedtime.

The Guest Bedroom: Mommy and Daddy keep a second bed in my house. Occasionally one or the other sleeps there. Also, when Aunt Liz came to visit, she slept there. But mostly, it’s my room. I usually sleep there at night, and sometimes in the morning, and sometimes in the afternoon. The guest bed is so spacious that sometimes Ziggy and I share it, by which I mean I sleep on the comfy pillow and he sleeps at the foot. The problem with the guest bedroom as a place to get away is that it’s basically my bedroom. And, while everyone loves a good staycation, it just lacks the exoticism of a special locale like the Mommy pillow. Rating: three claws.

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New Scratchy Thing offers a buffet, mango box, and fine view of Kitty City.

New Scratchy Thing: When I’m looking for a more active time away, I want something to tear at and destroy. Fortunately, there’s the new scratchy thing. It’s still got some of the white tissue paper from Christmas, so I can choose between a harder scratch and a more casual tear, depending on mood. It also makes a mess, so I can watch my humans clean up after me; that’s always a plus. It’s also within easy travel distance to my food dish, the Mango box, and the cat grass. On the downside, New Scratchy Thing’s view is only so-so; it’s pretty far from the window, and the Christmas tree has gone away. Rating: four claws.

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There is a certain undesirable type in Kitty City. Can you say, "Flea-bag?"

Kitty City: While I do like the hideaway (the bottom-right triangle-shaped part) for the occasional weekend naptime, and I have enjoyed it’s potential as a dojo for teaching Mina-Style kung fu, a certain undesirable element has taken the place over. Also, Kitty City is optimized for climbers, and I’m not a climber; I’m a scratcher. While I realize the rope things are for scratching, I don’t get that sense of accomplishment I do from cardboard. Also, it’s a color of brown that I don’t think complements my fur. Rating: One-and-a-half claws.

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The Mommy Pillow is a feast of the senses for any cat, and a must-nap for any discerning feline.

The Mommy Pillow: I’ve talked about it before, and I’ll talk about it again. The Mommy pillow is the perfect kitty resting resting place. It’s a proverbial banquet for all the senses. It smells like mommy, and that smell helps me relax and really let go of my stresses from the daily grind. It’s soft, which is a big plus for any place I plan on sleeping. Also, pillows are warm. They cradle and support a kitty while she sleeps. This one is particularly comfy. I will bury my claws in Ziggy’s face just to keep him from enjoying it. If I used all my feline powers to create the ultimate kitty vacation, it would be 10 hours of power napping on the Mommy Pillow. Review: five claws.

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Bubba settles in for a nap on my suitcase after my most recent vacation to Big Sur.

I want the luxury of enjoying a worry-free vacation, but for that to happen I need to know that my cats are happy and safe and have not escaped through a second-story window or died in a fire (I’m a worrier in the extreme). A lot of planning goes into ensuring my cats are well cared for while I’m away, so it can be frustrating when non-cat people are dismissive of the issue. They often use one of my least-favorite phrases to express their nonchalance: “Oh, they’re just cats.”

Yeah. Well. They’re also my best friends, so bite me. Here are four phrases I hate to hear when I tell people I'm going on vacation and worrying about my cats. 

1. “Oh, they’re just cats, they won’t even notice you’re gone”

Cats are creatures of habit. Every morning, Phoenix sits by the door, waiting for me to let her into the sunroom, and Bubba sits by the bathtub, waiting for the carnival to start (by which I mean the shower, but don’t tell Bubba it’s not a steaming cauldron of undiluted magic, because he’ll never believe you).

And every evening when I get home, my cats are waiting by the door, their wide eyes staring up at me. I know, I know -- they’re just cats, but it’s almost like they’re expecting me.

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Phoenix decides she wants a piece of that sweet suitcase action, and a war breaks out.

2. “Oh, they’re just cats, they won’t miss you”

Cats’ alleged independence has been grossly exaggerated. It’s true that, unlike dogs, they will quietly poop in a box instead of whining to go outside, and they will bathe themselves as needed (albeit with their own saliva). But that’s pretty basic stuff. It’s like saying a human child is independent because she knows how to brush her hair and unwrap her own string cheese.

Don’t tell them I said this, but Bubba and Phoenix are actually giant pansies who demand loads of attention. Phoenix wants to be held while I’m brushing my teeth, and Bubba's body weight seems to increase five-fold every time I need to move him off my lap. My cats are all up in my grill all the time, so it only stands to reason that they would note the absence of said grill.

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Post-vacation, Bubba hugs a shoe. His face says it all: "Dang it, lady, never leave again."

3. “Oh, they’re just cats, you can just leave them extra food and water, and they’ll be good”

Yes, they’ll be good -- for about a day. Think about it: Would you want to eat stale food and drink scummy water that’s been sitting out for more than 24 hours and probably has your roommate’s drool and partially chewed dinner floating in it? Neither does your cat, especially since these tiny predators are notoriously picky about having the freshest water around. Seriously, Bubba and Phoenix wait until I’m done showering and lick the bathtub. So don’t expect them to be cool with sipping the nasty stuff while you’re lounging on the beach or eating pecan pie by the fire, or whatever.

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Both of my cats are obsessed with my claw-foot tub.

As for those perpetually regenerating, fountain-esque water bowls? Those are great -- until your cat knocks one over the way my childhood cat did when we left him alone for a week. Luckily he was fine, but he basically chugged the bowl of water we gave him when we got home. I have much more peace of mind knowing someone is refilling my cats’ bowls fresh from the tap each day.

4. “Oh, they’re just cats, they’ll entertain themselves”

Yes, they will -- by attacking your houseplants, curtains, couch cushions, new rug, glass candleholder, electrical wires, shoelaces. I’d much rather have them work out their excess energy and deep-seated need to kill on my mom and a feather toy or my boyfriend and a bag of catnip.

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Having lost the suitcase war to Phoenix, Bubba finds another cozy place to sleep.

Perhaps most importantly, playtime gives my occasionally reluctant but mostly agreeable cat sitters the chance to make sure my cats’ energy and general interaction levels are up to par -- and allows them to respond appropriately in case of emergency or illness. 

I know -- they’re just cats. But I like to know they’re safe if only so I can enjoy my vacation, OK? So if you're looking after them while I'm away, please just let them crawl on you for awhile, and then text me and say they’re awesome so I can get back to peacefully eating these caramels on the beach.

That's what a prominent member of the Cat Writers Association said to me soon after I arrived at the group’s annual conference in Los Angeles last Thursday.

To be clear, I don’t have “a program.” I’m an editor and writer. But I knew what she meant. See, I bear a certain resemblance to Jackson Galaxy -- bald head, big shoulders, distinct face fuzz, stark glasses, shiny silver earrings and accessories. And hey, we’re both cat guys.

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Not an impostor.

Galaxy was scheduled to speak at the conference, and I knew I might be mistaken for him if I arrived first.

I did. And I was. Numerous times. And it was really fun.

The conference was the 20th such event held by the Cat Writers Association, and about 100 people attended workshops, panel discussions, and one-on-one meetings with editors and publishers. While I won’t attempt to cover all that happened at the event that spanned four days, I will show some photos and tell you the coolest things that happened to myself and Managing Editor Vicky Walker, the first of which is …

1. Living as Jackson Galaxy for Two Days.

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The first person to mistake me for Mr. Galaxy (I won’t name names -- but I will say that she spoke at the conference too) didn’t believe me when I gently told her she had the wrong guy.

“You’re just messing around with me, aren’t you?” she said with a smile.

The second encounter (also from a high-ranking cat lady) happened in an elevator lobby Friday morning.

“Well, YOU look famous,” she said with a knowing smile, adding seriously, “Thanks so much for being here.”

I didn’t deny that I was the Cat Daddy, but neither did I confirm it. This cat lady and I were each on the way to the start of the day’s events, and I didn’t want to embarrass her in front of her peers, who were by then walking alongside us nearby.

So I let it go. But as it turns out, numerous of her peers thought the same thing. Later, one of them said to me, “Someone told me Jackson Galaxy is already here -- and he's the bald guy.”

At that point, I was the only bald guy at the conference (and one of a very small handful of men attending). Several times as I walked past groups of cat ladies, I heard whispers that included the words “Jackson Galaxy.”

2. Discussing Paranormal Activity with Dusty Rainbolt.

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Dusty Rainbolt

Dusty Rainbolt (her real name) is a fifth-generation Texan who had zero experience with ghosts or paranormal activity until a month after the death of her cat Maynard (named after the Dobie Gillis character Maynard G. Krebs because of his little Beat Generation goatee).

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Just before going to sleep one night, she felt a cat jump onto the bed and lay down across her ankles -- like Maynard used to do every night. It lasted 20 minutes or more. Thing is, there was no cat there. Rainbolt didn’t move for fear of scaring off her ghostly visitor. From that night on, she had no doubt in the existence of spirits.

“Maynard made me believe in ghosts,” she said, and she later wrote a book on the subject called Ghost Cats. She also began doing paranormal investigations with her husband.

In a hotel suite she shared with Cat Writers Association lifetime member Amy Shojai, Rainbolt showed me numerous photos she’d taken during paranormal investigations -- much like investigations I’ve been on in California and much like many photos I’ve seen. (I’ve also had what I believe are the visiting ghosts of cats hopping on my bed.)

Just before she showed me her photo collection, I'd said, “It’s late, I really should be going.”

We talked and looked at images for 90 minutes more.

3. Meeting Zeki and Arden Moore.

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I feed Zeki some turkey while Managing Editor Vicky Walker waits her turn to pet.

Zeki is the only cat in the country certified for assistance in pet first aid, says her human, Arden Moore, who’s an author, speaker, and pet expert. That means Zeki lets veterinarians in training handle her when they learn how to look for certain injuries and disorders in cats.

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Cat Fancy Editor Susan Logan pets Zeki, who is held by Arden Moore.

That’s quite remarkable, considering what happened to Zeki (whose name is Turkish for “clever and courageous”). Someone essentially tried to skin her alive. She was found in Dallas with knife wounds and some of the hide on her back removed. She was rescued and fostered by Dusty Rainbolt before she found her way to Moore.

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Blogger and Catster writer Angie Bailey pets Zeki.

Zeki was a big hit at the conference.

4. Meeting Marilyn Krieger and Her Bengals.

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Marilyn Krieger and Nanook.

Cat behaviorist Marilyn Krieger looks like a mad scientist -- and Vicky and I told her as much. Her clothes are utilitarian, she speaks with rapid-fire authority and precision, and her hair goes wild in many directions.

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Marilyn Krieger and Hercules.

That said, Krieger is a caring and benevolent mad scientist. She showed as much during a demonstration of how clicker-training works with cats, using Her two gorgeous Bengals, Nanook and Hercules.

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Hercules considers his public.

Her session was called “Saving Lives and Changing Perceptions: Cat Behavior and Clicker Training for Writers.” Krieger said cat writers are in a great position to help end stereotypes about cats -- namely that cats are untrainable, and cat owners just have to live with whatever they don't like.

5. Meeting Catster Freelance Writers in Person.

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JaneA Kelley

Vicky and I got to spend time around several of the people we work with every day online but have rarely or never met in person, including Angie Bailey, JaneA Kelley, and Stephanie Harwin. Bailey, who runs the blog CatLadyLand.net, won an award Saturday night for her story called “CosmIc Love.”

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Angie Bailey poses for her "booking photo" after winning her award.

Kelley, meanwhile, gave presentations on WordPress and appeared on a panel regardilg writers using social media to maximize publicity. She was also appointed as an officer in the Cat Writers Association. 

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Managing Editor Vicky Walker (left) and I (right) bookend Catster writers Angie Bailey, JaneA Kelley, and Stephanie Harwin.

Vicky and I appeared on two panels: “What Editors Wish Writers Knew” and “Transitioning to Web Writing.”

6. The Swag.

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Oh. My. God. The swag -- which during the dot-com boom in San Francisco I learned is an acronym for “souvenirs, wearables, and gifts” -- was remarkable. Every attendee got a pink bag emblazoned with a stylized kitty and the words “Cats Rule” filled with treats, toys, fancy canned food, literature, home-cleaning products, over-the-counter remedies, more treats, more toys, and then some treats and toys. (And treats.)

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To demonstrate the extent of the haul, I spread it out on my king-size hotel bed as evenly as I could, and it more than covered the area. People had so much to take home -- and many attendees were traveling via commercial airlines -- that a big box for shelter donations was filled.

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My cat, Thomas, has a first look at all the stuff he'll get to eat or play with in the coming weeks.

You’ll probably see some of this material again soon in the form of Catster giveaways.

7. Meeting Jackson Galaxy.

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Jackson Galaxy, Keith Bowers: Slightly different versions of the same guy?

The Cat Daddy himself arrived at the hotel Saturday morning about 15 minutes before he was due to speak. A small group of writers stopped him to talk, and I saw my chance.

“I’m Keith Bowers,” I said to him as I shook his hand, “and I’ve been you for the past 36 hours.”

His reply was quick: “You know, I have been too … and it’s the strangest thing!”

I didn’t see it, but Vicky was across the room when I greeted him, and she reported seeing a slight look of “What the hell?” in his eyes as I approached. I guess even he sees the resemblance. (Maybe his inside voice said, "What am I doing here?")

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He wore a remarkable red-white-and-black bowling shirt (I wore a similar red rayon number), and later in the day I asked him where he got his clothing. He named a website called Daddy-O’s -- which makes perfect sense, because I’ve bought numerous shirts and jackets there. (You’d expect anything less?)

Galaxy’s talk, “The Making of a Cat Daddy,” covered the material in his book (also called Cat Daddy). Books and TV shows such as his My Cat From Hell “are helping cat guys like myself and Keith come out of the closet.”

(Hear hear!)

He told the story of how a self-abusing party boy of a musician in New York City came to love cats and eventually learn to make a living through helping troubled cats. Working in a shelter had everything to do with that, he said. He described his shelter job as a finite effort for him, and he advised others to think of it in the same way because it can be very hard to take after a while.

“I left the shelter life because I was burning out,” Galaxy said. “Figure out the light that you shine, and take it out into the trenches!”

Inspirational, this man.

He spoke a lot about his late cat Benny. Benny’s illness and death were tremendously influential on Galaxy.

“I wanted to write a story -- and it turned into a book -- about his life,” he said.

Next up, he said, is a book on feline design with his friend Kate Benjamin of the home-design blog Moderncat. He said he also hopes to convert some case studies from the cats he has helped into a book.

1. Once your cat discovers that vacations are all about relaxing, she'll figure out a way to sleep 25 hours a day and the world will end.

2. Taking your cat on a horseback ride is an invitation to murder. 

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This isn't over, not by a longshot. Cat on horse by Shutterstock.com.

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The calm before the storm. White cat on sand by Shutterstock.com.

5. If you take your cat on an airplane she'll pay you back by wanting to eat at 3 a.m. for the rest meow of meow her meow life meow.  

6. You can never be sure there won't be an all-you-can-eat-squid bar and your cat will end up in jail for aggravated mayhem and assaulting the waitstaff. 

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It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Cat at table by Shutterstock.com.

7. Your cat won't appreciate a spectacular Hawaiian sunset because the little prince has never worked a day of his life and is vomiting squid in the corner. 

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Sunset? Flowers? Beautiful women? Yeah, whatever. Kitten and sun by Shutterstock

8. If you go whale watching, your cat is going to make a go at the big fella. 

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Just get her close, Captain. I'll do the rest. Cat on boat by Shutterstock.com.

9. Just how many geckos have to die, anyway?

10. The catnip in Hawaii is ermaggahhhh .... 

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I'll sleep here, thanks. Cat in catnip by Shutterstock.com.

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Cat and carrierby Shutterstock.com

The Travel-Friendly Personality

The primary personality characteristic the travel-friendly breeds share is the ability to adjust well to new situations. A cat that is generally confident and relaxed is much more likely to tolerate any change in its situation, whether that change is the addition of a family member or a long vacation trip.

Cats that are more bonded with their people than with the place where they live are much more likely to enjoy traveling. If they have to travel a couple hundred (or a couple thousand) miles in their carrier, they don't mind, as long as their people are nearby.

The breeds listed below are known to be sociable and easy to train to walk on a leash. These characteristics obviously make traveling much more fun -- for both you and your cat.

Travel-Friendly Breeds

Below are five breeds that are known to be good travel companions. Of course, personalities and temperaments will vary somewhat within each breed, so be sure to talk to your breeder to ensure that your feline friend will be a good fit for your lifestyle.

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Kittens in suitcase by Shutterstock.com

1. The Chartreux, a medium-haired blue (gray)-coated cat, is widely known for tolerating travel very well. The Chartreux is known as a gentle giant: males weigh in at 10 to 14 pounds (females are smaller,at 6 to 9 pounds). It is also an excellent mouser and gets along well with children and other pets.

2. The Chantilly/Tiffany makes a great traveling companion because of its calm and easygoing nature. You'll need to take some time once a week or so to brush its coat thoroughly, but otherwise these cats are healthy, low-maintenance, and loving with their favorite people.

3. The confident, intelligent and energetic Japanese Bobtail adapts easily to new surroundings. Its ability to make itself at home with new people, pets and places makes it an ideal travel companion. It is a very healthy cat, and according to Japanese folklore it is a symbol of good luck - particularly if it has a mi-ke (calico) coat.

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Pixie bobtail catby Shutterstock.com

4. The Pixie-Bob may look like a little wildcat, but it develops strong bonds with its family and loves to travel in the car. Pixie-Bobs are also known to be easy to train to walk on a leash and to play fetch. These engaging personality characteristics lead some people to describe it as a cross between a cat and a dog.

5. The sweet-tempered and affectionate Scottish Fold is level-headed and adapts to new situations easily, making it an ideal travel companion. They also like cats, dogs, and children. Long-haired Folds will require regular brushing to keep their coats mat-free, and their ears will need to be cleaned twice a month due to the wax buildup that results from their flopped-down ears.

Traveling Tips

When you're on the road, your cat should always be secured in her carrier. Even an easygoing cat that is well-accustomed to travel can escape from your vehicle when you open the door, or decide that it would be great to take a nap under your brake pedal.

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Cat looks on a map by Shutterstock.com

If your cat is loose and you have an accident, your cat will go flying and probably be grievously injured, if not killed. Secure the carrier by threading the seat belt through the handle and pulling it tight.

Be considerate of your cat and keep the music at a decent volume. Although you may want to jam your way across the country with Lady Gaga blaring from the stereo, your cat, with her extremely sensitive hearing, will not appreciate this.

If you're traveling by plane, choose an airline that lets you take your cat in the cabin. Be sure to get written confirmation that you have made a reservation for you and your cat, and that the airline does allow for this. Even if the airline does allow cats in the cabin, your cat won't be able to fly with you unless she's in a regulation hard-shell carrier that fits under the seat.

Finally, be sure to bring portable litter pans and her favorite litter, as well as your cat's food and water from home. Changes in the chemical nature and other properties of water from region to region can cause digestive upsets, and your cat's preferred food may not be available everywhere.

"No, I'm not coming home with a cat!" I insisted. Sure, Robin did happen to have a cat in her care that I happened to be interested in possibly adopting -- if we got along, and certainly not until after I'd returned from my June vacation!

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The cat in question. Photo © Robin Olson

"You know you're going to bring a cat home with you," Lelia said.

But my denial remained strong. "I'm not even going to bring a cat carrier with me," I said. "This is only the 'discovery phase' of the adoption process. I am not ready to bring a new cat home!"

The next day, with the full strength of my willpower on board, I set off for the five-hour journey that would take me to Robin's home … and cat rescue.

When I got there, Robin introduced me to her resident cats, plus a litter of kittens and their mother who were in the process of being vetted and spayed and made ready for adoption. Oh, and, of course, the cat I'd had my eye on -- who, at the time, went by the name of Bobette.

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This is the first glimpse I got of Bobette in real life: Staring intently out the window at a squirrel eating sunflower seeds on the deck, wishing she could melt the window with her eyes and get herself a little rodent snack. Photo © Robin Olson

Now, you have to understand: Bobette had had a very difficult life. A homeless teen mom rescued with her kittens from a desperately overburdened shelter in Georgia and transported north by a small group of people who makes it their purpose to save cats from the fate that surely would have awaited them if they'd had to stay in the deep south, she'd already had to deal with plenty of struggles in her young life.

Bobette's kittens found homes, but it seemed Bobette had a bit of an attitude problem when it came to other cats. She'd even been snapping and hissing at her own kittens.

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Here she is in her first hours at her new home, sniffing at the door and wondering what's going on.

Robin knew that Bobette had suffered some kind of leg injury -- X-rays from the Georgia shelter had shown that -- but nobody really knew how serious her problem was until Robin took her back to the vet for further evaluation and discovered that the poor thing had a luxated patella. Her kneecap was literally around the side of her leg.

Well, no wonder she'd been so grouchy: she was in constant pain!

Bobette had surgery to repair her knee and then endured weeks in a cast, under strict cage-rest orders, while the initial healing took place. Even after she'd finished the first part of her recovery, Bobette still walked with a limp, which became more pronounced as she got tired.

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Day 4: Kissy strolls confidently around her room. Look at that "tail light!"

I knew Robin would have a difficult time placing an adult cat with special needs, particularly one who would need a long, patient introduction to any cats in her new home.

And I thought about my pledge to adopt special-needs cats from now on.

And I'll admit, Bobette had most assuredly found a place in my heart.

And then Dahlia died: so suddenly, and so brutally young, of such an awful disease.

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May 28: Kissy sits comfortably in her makeshift bed -- good thing cats love cardboard boxes, especially when they're lined with pillows and towels!

I gave myself time to do my most acute grieving. Thomas and Siouxsie and I comforted one another through those initial weeks. And as the cloud of my bereavement began to lift, I started to feel how strangely empty the house seemed with only two cats in it.

I started talking to Siouxsie and Thomas, asking them how they'd feel about having a new little fur-sibling. The vibe I got back felt like "Okay."

Of course, I did tell them I wouldn't be bringing her home right away.

I had no idea that the little marmalade minx was gonna make a liar out of me!

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JaneA and Kissy, May 25, 2012.

As soon as I met Bobette, I felt the connection. No, I'm not bringing her home this weekend! I told myself. I know better than that. I'm not ready. I haven't even set up a cat room yet!

But as the hours wore on and I continued to hang out with her, the bond only became stronger.

So, when Robin sat down with me after we came back from breakfast and asked, "So … what are you thinking about Bobette?"

"I've totally fallen in love with her," I lamented. Well, sort of lamented.

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JaneA and Bobette -- a couple of last-minute photos and we were on our way back to Maine. Photo © Robin Olson

"Are you interested in taking her home?"

"Well, yes," I said. "But I wasn't planning to do that until after I came back from my vacation."

Bobette wasn't having any of that. She even ventured far past her comfort zone to sit in the living room and stare at me. I could literally hear her asking, "Do you want me? Do you want to be my mama?"

Oh, shit.

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Chrysanthemum, née Bobette, takes her first steps out of her room, while Thomas looks on.

"I'd love to take her home with me," I said. "But I didn't bring a cat carrier, and I don't know if she'll do well in my home, and … and … and …"

Robin, the consummate enabler, said, "We've got plenty of carriers. And, of course, you know that if you have any problems and it doesn't work out, we'll gladly take her back. We'll even drive up to Maine and pick her up."

"Okay," I said. "Let's do it."

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May 28: Kissy made her way into my bedroom. After a minor altercation that resulted in a screech-fest, I closed the door between her and Thomas and Siouxsie so everyone could calm down a little bit.

So I filled out the adoption paperwork. Robin brought out the carrier, got Bobette's vet records together, and gave me a couple of cases of cat food to ease the transition to her new home. She pulled out a couple of Bobette's favorite toys, we took a few last-minute photos, and before I even fully realized what had happened, I was flying north on I-84 in hopes of getting back home in time for a decent evening's rest before going to work the next day.

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Take heed to my tale of shame, fellow Catsters, and don't let this happen to you! (Or do let it happen to you, but don't be in denial about the fact that when a cat lover with a vacancy in their home meets up with a cat rescuer, things are bound to happen.)

The first hour of my time back home was totally occupied with throwing together a room where she could just chill for a couple of days before the introductions even began. So far the process of bringing the cats together is going pretty well. We're at the stage of long periods of open-door time and only occasional screaming matches, and I hope that by the time I leave for my vacation, my kitty family will be fully integrated. If not, I've got an excellent cat sitter and I know she'll be able to keep everyone safe and at least keep them from regressing.

So, everybody: please welcome Chrysanthemum Kiss-Kiss Bobette Jellylorum Kelley! Really, how could you not fall in love with that purr?

(In a reader? Watch the video here.)

All of the cats at this house are direct descendants of the cats Ernest Hemingway had when he lived there. They are all extremely well cared for and loved, and they roam freely on the property. The only rule is: You can't pick them up!

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This is Fats. They are all named after famous people whose personalities resemble theirs.

A few weeks ago, I had a race scheduled in the Florida Keys (I'm one of those marathon freaks) and was planning to add a mini-vacay for a few days afterward to just relax. I was going to do it solo --until I realized that one of the things I was most looking forward to doing in Key West was visiting the Hemingway House, and that it would only be fair to invite my friend and fellow cat lady, Tamar from I Have Cat, along for the trip.

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Here we are at the cat lady mecca!

The 7-Mile Bridge Run got cancelled because of bad weather (read: I was standing there like an idiot in the pouring rain, booming thunder, and flashing lightning at the beginning of a seven-mile-long bridge with 1,000 other idiots who were actually going to do this until they finally decided to call off the race, thank goodness). Good thing I had the Hemingway cats to look forward to! I went back to the room, Tamar and I piled back in my car, and off to Key West we went!

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Francis, on the pillow. She is always there. Her job is to keep the bed warm.

There are 44 cats who live on the property right now. They all have names and a safe home for life. Not all of them have six toes, but they all carry the gene for it.

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We're surrounded by cats! It's like they knew we were good people.

One of my first questions was how staff maintain the numbers and if they are spayed/neutered. The answer was pretty smart: Each female is allowed to have one litter, and then she is spayed. As for the males, only the "best" ones are allowed to reproduce, so I guess they have to be friendly, good-looking, and healthy, and have six toes to get a shot at keeping the Hemingway lineage going. (Fats up there is one of the toms allowed to sow his seeds.)

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Psst... Don't look now, Tony Bennett, but there's a cat lady behind you!

To make sure there isn't any extra funny business going on, the toms are rounded up every night and kept inside so that they can't go too crazy. The caretakers say it's quite the mission to get them because cats are smart, and just before 5 p.m. each day, the toms know what time it is -- and they hide! The caretakers walk around, asking each other if anyone has seen Fats or the other cats ... and when one does, it's man vs. cat! But the caretakers always bring the cats in before they go. It's a must. 

When babies are born, they are kept in a special kitten room away from guests. Caretakers make sure the kittens are extra-supersocialized, because they'll be getting plenty of love and attention once they're let out into the yard and the general population. 

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Me lounging around with the general population. Yes, I lay on the ground to pet the cats. Wouldn't you?

We wondered how the caretakers keep the cats from leaving, and how they stop other cats coming in. They use Purrfect Fence fencing all around, but the caretakers say the cats stay because they want to. They have food, water, and shelter -- and this is where they live. Cats are very territorial.

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Howard Hughes. Would you look at the catchers' mitts on him?!

All the caretakers and tour guides carry cat treats in their pockets. (Of course they do!) The cats know that sound from a mile away, and all it takes is a shake of the packet for a few to come running over. I'm thinking these cats get more than their fair share of treats every day!

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Siam eating out of the palm of my hand!

Tamar and I were lucky and we made good friends with Joe, our tour guide. He gave us a special extended tour after the regular one and took us to where a few of the cats' hangouts were that we hadn't seen earlier. And he kept giving us each treats to give the kitties -- so they loved us!

Everywhere you look, there are more cats. If I lived in Key West, I'm sure I'd figure out how to buy an annual pass and just go there to relax all day and unwind. I've seen people lazing the day away reading the newspaper. That would be me! I would know them all by name, and they'd know who I was and take turns curling up in my lap. 

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Here lies Errol Flynn, Marilyn Monroe and Gremlin.

Joe realized pretty quickly that we were certified, card-carrying cat ladies (we may or may not have dropped the "cat blogger" title on him also, hehe), and so he told us that we could come by another day while we were in town -- for free! Just mention he said so. And you know we did! A whole other day to hang out with the Hemingway cats! We recharged our cameras, and headed back a couple days later for another visit with huge smiles plastered on our faces. 

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Oh hai, Rita Hayworth!

I highly suggest that if you're a cat lover, you visit this place at some time in your life. What a beautiful, peaceful, purring, happy place to be! When you go, take the tour for the background info, and then make sure you leave yourself at least an hour (or more!) to just wander around the property and see the cats. Look in all the bushes and keep your eyes peeled -- the cats are everywhere if you take a minute to look closely enough.

Oh, and one last kitty. I didn't catch this one's name, but he loved to play!

 Have you been to the Hemingway House or are you making plans to go? Did YOU get to meet Dorian Gray? Share, share, share in the comments! 

Key West, Florida
The beautiful island is a cat mecca of sorts, known for its feline-friendly atmosphere and attractions. Stray cats cared for by the island's inhabitants are known to pop up at restaurants and hotels, and Key West also hosts the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, which is home to sixty polydactyl cats. Catman Dominique's Flying House Cat Show is also a favorite nightly attraction, where trained rescue cats delight onlookers by jumping across stools, walking on a tightrope, and leaping through fiery hoops.

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Tokyo, Japan
Have a hankering for some cool kitty culture? Tokyo is home to at least 39 cat cafes, where patrons pay a fixed rate to hang out in the company of cute cats, while enjoying a yummy snack. Other popular cat-themed tourist attractions include Sanrio Puroland and Hello Kitty's Kawaii Paradise, indoor theme parks and shopping areas where you can meet Hello Kitty and all of her friends. While in Japan, you're also likely to find no shortage of unique cat souvenirs to bring home, particularly in the form of the ubiquitous maneki neko (beckoning cat) sculptures, which are designed to bring good luck to their owners.

Torre Argentina Roman Cat Sanctuary, Rome, Italy

Did you know that just minutes from the great Colosseum, there's a no-kill cat shelter located among the ruins? Torre Argentina is home to 250 homeless kitties who are cared for by volunteers from other countries. The sanctuary is open every day from noon to 6 p.m., and visitors are welcome to meet the cats, take pictures, browse the gift shop, or adopt one of the cats from a distance to help support the colony.

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The Cat Boat (De Poezenboot), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
In 1966 Henriette van Weelde found a family of cats living outside her house and decided to take them in. As other strays followed, van Weelde quickly became the town cat lady, with people dropping off cats they could no longer care for. She soon ran out of space, and with more cats coming, decided to purchase a houseboat where she could provide refuge for her rescued kitties. Today, The Cat Boat remains the only floating animal sanctuary in the Netherlands, and a popular tourist attraction thanks to its attractive location in Amsterdam's picturesque canal belt.

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Kattenstoet Parade, Ypres, Belgium
Most of us celebrate cats every day in our own homes, but one European city has turned the practice into a parade and festival, held every third year on the second Sunday of May. The Kattenstoet (Festival of the Cats) parade in Ypres, Belgium, is steeped in tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, but nowadays it celebrates the history and tradition of the cat with floats, music, stiltwalkers, and costumed spectators enjoying the festivities.

The CFA Foundation's Feline Historical Museum, Alliance, Ohio

The Feline Historical Museum, billed as the largest cat museum in the United States, opened its doors in June in association with the nonprofit Cat Fanciers' Association Foundation. The one-room museum and library features hundreds of cat books, along with figurines, art, advertising, and more. Rotating exhibits are also a part of the attraction, including "Japanese Welcoming Cats," which opened in February and and will be on display through the end of October.

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Disneyland and California Adventure, Anaheim, California
In 2001 with the help of Best Friends Catnippers and FixNation, Disney began instituting a Trap, Neuter, Return policy to help manage the feral population in their Anaheim theme parks. The cats are caught and fixed before being released back onto the grounds, and kittens are promptly adopted out. Cats that remain in the park receive food and shelter, and in return they work as part of the nightly maintenance crew, keeping the mice of Mickey's kingdom (except Mickey and Minnie) in check. Since the cats are feral, they avoid human contact and remain mostly hidden during operating hours; however, keen-eyed guests have been known to spot them throughout the park.

About the Author: Stephanie Harwin is the founder of Catsparella.com, an award-winning cat culture blog dedicated to her passion for finding and sharing all of the coolest cat-related content online. Read more about her here.

Photo Credits:
The Cat Boat: Photo by dtsomp via Flickr Creative Commons
Kattenstoet Parade: Photoby Cedricdubois via Flickr Creative Commons
Disney Cat: Photo by woofiegrrl

Are you going to the BlogPaws pet-blogging conference? Do you know what BlogPaws is? If not, you should!

BlogPaws is a conference dedicated solely to pet lovers who blog and use social media to help pets or just to share their pets and make friends with other pet lovers. This will be the third BlogPaws, and I can tell you from experience -- they're a blast!

Not only can you meet the people (and some of the pets!) behind the blogs you love in real life, you can also attend a huge variety of workshops that can help you do anything from make money with your blog, boost traffic, learn to build better content, SEO and, maybe most importantly, how you can use your blog to make a difference in pets lives!

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Furry friends are welcome!

There's also going to be some great speakers (I'm one of them! Look for me at the Be the Change for Pets workshop!) and a super keynote I'm really looking forward to from the guys from Rescue Ink!

Plus, Catsters get an exclusive 20% discount off BlogPaws registration! Use the code BLOGPAWS2011-CATSTER to when you register.

Oh, and pets are welcome! In the past there's been fat cats, fluffy cats, little dogs, big dogs, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs... all welcome!

To see the full agenda of workshops and events, click here.

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Snickers, a darling 11-week-old blue-eyed Sphynx (above), froze to death this week while waiting over an hour in 10 degree weather to be moved from the freezing tarmac to Delta Airline's terminal.

Heather Lombardi had paid nearly $300 to fly Snickers, a 3-pound kitten, from Utah to Connecticut in climate-controlled air cargo.

By the time kitten and her owner were united, Snickers was icy cold and had limited mobility, Lombardi said. Snickers died a short time later.

"I feel so guilty. We sat there for nearly an hour. If I'd known, I would have thrown a fit," said Lombardi, who was flying Snickers home from a breeder. "We just sat there. We had no idea she was dying."

The Department of Transportation keeps tabs on the number of animal deaths in transit, but no one tracks how many die of cold or heat elsewhere as a result of temperature extremes on the flight, said veterinarian Louise Murray, vice president of the ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York City.

Lombardi's $289.94 cargo ticket on Delta Air Lines included $70 to ensure that Snickers was taken off the plane expeditiously. But Lombardi said it took 50 minutes to get the cat off the plane.

The flight arrived at 8:40 p.m. Saturday, when the National Weather Service said it was 10 degrees.

Delta spokeswoman Susan C. Elliott said she couldn't talk about specifics because the cat's death was under investigation.

Lombardi and her two daughters wrapped Snickers in a coat and ran for the car, where they turned on the heater and sped to the emergency vet. During the trip, Lombardi said that Snickers let out a "bloodcurdling cry" and went limp.

Veterinarian Caroline Flower said Snickers was dead when she arrived at the Connecticut Veterinary Clinic in West Hartford.

The cat was cold and bleeding from the mouth and nose, all symptoms of extreme hypothermia.

According to the Department of Transportation, more than 2 million pets and other live animals are transported by air annually in the United States, .

Between November of 2009 and October of 2010, 33 animals died, 11 were injured and five were lost while being transported, according to the DOT. Of those, Delta reported 12 deaths, four injuries and one loss. American Airlines reported eight animal deaths, while Continental Airlines and United Airlines each reported four and Alaska Airlines three. Hawaiian Airlines and American Eagle had one each.

"We carry hundreds of thousands of animals a year," Elliott said. "Among the different animals we carry, we have zoological institutions that entrust us with some rare species and we transport all sorts of unique animals. It is unusual to have this happen."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will also investigate Snickers' death, according to spokesman Dave Sacks.

"We ensure the humane treatment and transport of animals. Our sole focus is to ensure airline personnel humanely cared for those animals while they had them," Sacks said. "We look into each and every death and hold the airlines accountable."

Penalties for violations of the Animal Welfare Act range from a letter of warning to revocation of an airline's license to transport animals, but Sacks said he didn't know of any airline operating with a revoked animal transport license.

According to the USDA, Delta is one of several carriers that refuse to accept pets as checked bags during the summer when temperatures go over 85 degrees because the heat may threaten the lives of the animals.
Heat deaths can happen very quickly, while hypothermia takes much more prolonged exposure to the cold, Murray said. But she said pets being shipped in cold weather are at risk, not only on the plane, but on the runway. Even if cargo holds are climate controlled, runways are not.

The impact of cold on pets depends on body type, health, coat, where the breed was developed and for what purpose, she said. "For example, a greyhound will get colder faster than a cocker spaniel."

On most airlines, passengers can bring a small pet on board instead of putting the animal in cargo.

For the money she paid to put Snickers in cargo, Lombardi said she could have flown to Utah to pick her up: "I could have bought a seat on the plane and carried her on my lap."

She hopes what happened to Snickers will help other pet owners.

"People need to know there are risks when flying your animals. If maybe one other animal doesn't die because someone knows, I'll know she didn't die for nothing," Lombardi said.

[via MSNBC]

• Join Snickers the Sphynx Supporters on Facebook

After the jump: How to prevent your cat from dying on a flight.

How to Prevent Your Cat from Dying on a Flight

Pet Airways seems like the best choice. All passengers are pets and they fly in the cabin. However, destinations and flight times are limited. More importantly, unless your cat is really comfortable with dogs, it's not a good choice. Dogs dominate the passenger list, and subjecting your cat to a 5-hour flight with a hoard of barking dogs is introducing a lot of stress, and stress can lead to illness.

My recommendation: ride with Fluffy in the cabin.

Last year, Petfinder released their list of the most pet-friendly airlines:

1. Best pet-friendly amenities: JetBlue's superior JetPaws program was specifically designed to help pet parents and their pets enjoy a smoother travel experience. The customer-focused airline provides pet-toting travelers with a pet carrier baggage tag, a travel "petiquette" guide and 300 TrueBlue points each way.

2. Best for budget-conscious consumers: AirTran tops this category, allowing small domesticated dogs, cats and birds to travel inside the cabin for $69 each way.

3. Best for transporting pet variety: Of all of the airlines researched in the 2010 Petfinder.com analysis, Frontier Airlines allows the most diverse variety of pets in-cabin, including domesticated dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and small household birds.

4. Best for animal health and safety: Jet Blue's refusal to permit pet transport in cargo shows their strong dedication to our furry friends. Evidence supports this policy; from May 2009 to May 2010, the only airlines with zero reported pet deaths were those that required pets to travel inside the cabin.

My 2 cents? Never ship a cat in cargo. Just don't. Even if there are no mishaps in the cargo hold, Fluffy will be sitting on the luggage trolley on the tarmac twice during the trip, her eardrums pounded with the sound of jet engines, but without the safety of those fancy OSHA-approved earplugs. Would that not be a nightmare for most any cat?

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The White family enjoys traveling with Harley, a gregarious five-year-old tabby who has twice traveled cross country in a truck camper. His mom Angela says he's a great traveler and enjoys camper life. When not crossing the continent, Harley makes his home in Lancaster, PA.

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The camper is Harley's kingdom, and there's no spot that's off limits.

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As the temps climbed on a stretch between Phoenix and San Diego, bags of frozen veggies helped Harley keep his cool:

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[SOURCE: TruckCamperMagazine.com]

Travel Tips

• Always ensure your cat is tagged, chipped and belled before taking her on a trip. The ID tag will ensure the quickest reunion, while the microchip will provide backup. A bell on the collar will provide an auditory clue of her whereabouts if she does escape, or decides to burrow into one of the camper's nooks and crannies for a nap. Bells are especially helpful in locating cats who aren't naturally very vocal.
• Consider purchasing an ID tag (like TogetherTag) that provides access to an online repository of information, including the cat's medical history and alternative contact information.
• Always bring your cat's medical records with you, especially proof of a rabies vaccination.
• If you'll be crossing state lines, research what paperwork each state requires when you cross a border with a cat.
• Scan your cat's most essential paperwork (including prescriptions) and post it on a private online storage site, so that if the paperwork is lost or stolen, you'll be able to access it from anywhere.
• If your itinerary includes state or national parks, find out beforehand if animals are allowed in the park.
• Never let your cat roam free when you travel. In many campgrounds, opportunistic feeders like coyotes, foxes and bears are common.
• Harness- and/or stroller-train your cat before your trip. This will provide an opportunity for her to stretch her legs and get some fresh air while you explore the area on foot... and make new cat-loving friends!

Many cats don't like to travel for several reasons, the main being that they are territorial creatures. Your cat has worked hard to establish his territory in your house and, when you move him from his kingdom, he thinks he is trespassing on another's space. This puts your cat on guard and, at the same time, frightens him because he might have to defend this new territory at any time. Another drawback is the motion of a car, plane or train. A cat is designed to detect motion and the movement of the vehicle both confuses and disorients him. So, how can we make the trip less traumatic for our cats?

Packing Well is the Key

If you are prepared for your cat's needs and choose the items that you take carefully, you can alleviate a lot of the anxiety for both of you. An unprepared traveler will find that his stress rises as he finds along the way that he does not have the tools to care for the traveling cat. And his stress will affect said feline.

What Things to Pack

1. Carrier: Some people opt for a special harness that secures to a seat belt, but we highly recommend you stick to a hard shell carrier when traveling with your cat. A secured carrier is the safer way for your cat to travel and, if you get her used to it slowly before the trip, she will feel safe and comfortable in it.

2. Harness: Do bring a harness so your cat can stretch his legs at rest stops along the way. Stop every couple of hours at least.

3. Carrier Pad: Use a pad that your cat has been sleeping on at home. Bring additional pads or towels in case your cat has an accident during the ride, which is more than likely to happen. Keeping your cat dry and comfortable is essential to curbing his anxiety.

4. Toys:Many cats will ignore anything you place in their carrier yet familiar toys still seem to help calm kitty. Often cats will just lie on them instead of actually playing, but you might get your cat to play with a dangling toy in the vehicle at a rest stop.

5. Pheromones: Using a feline pheromone mimic collar or spray can help your cat relax on the trip. These pheromones are naturally secreted when a cat rubs his face on something so that, on returning to the spot, he is familiar with the scent and finds it comforting. Feliway spray can be used on your cat's bedding in his carrier or you can try a Good Behavior collar which creates a calming atmosphere for your cat anyplace.

6. Food and Water Supply: Calculate how much cat food you need to bring based on your cat's daily consumption. Bring enough for the whole trip so you don't possibly have to substitute a different brand at some point. It's better not to feed your cat while you're out on the road as it will likely just result in regurgitated food. Always bring more water than you think you'll need. It'll save you having to make stops just to get more. Offer it to your cat at every rest stop.

7. Bowls: There are many options for bringing along bowls for your cat - many people like the collapsible travel bowls but you can also get some that fit on the door of your cat's carrier. Keep in mind that water will splash as you roll along so only fill it half-way.

8. Treats: Bring several kinds of treats along and offer them to your cat at the rest stops. Don't be discouraged if she turns her nose up at them. After all, why should she trust something coming from the person who is putting her through this indignation? Leave a few in her carrier and she'll probably eventually eat them.

9. Litter Box: For the rest stops it's important to have a good little box system. The easiest place to put one when you stop is the floor of the passenger's seat. Let your cat roam around the car when parked and gently show her the box if needed. Your best bet is to get several disposable boxes with litter already in them so you can toss them after she's used them.

10. Medications and First Aid: It's easy to forget any medications that your cat takes so throw these into your bag early on in packing. Also bring a first aid kit which can be purchased at any large pet store or make one yourself with the following: gauze, medical tape, hydrogen peroxide, Neosporin (or similar product), tweezers, scissors, towels, sterile saline solution.

And Don't Forget...

Remember to pack your cat's vet records when you travel in case you need to bring her to a clinic during the trip. You should also gather information about vet clinics along your route so you know where to take her if there is an emergency. Check out this website for emergency clinics across the country. Also make sure any hotels you book are cat-friendly well in advance.

With a little planning, a trip with your cat can be fun (or, at least, tolerable). And keep in mind that cats tend to recover very quickly once they've reached the destination and re-established their role as ruler of their kingdom.

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fleetwood

Hey, kittehs, looking for a way to spend your summer vacation? Maybe the Fabulous Fleetwood can give you some pointers.

Fleetwood, an orange tabby, travels the UK in a camper-van with his people. At the end of most days, they stop in at pubs, and Fleetwood comes along with them (with the pub's permission). Fleetwood loves the music, and hangs out in his tiger-striped catbed, watching the action with a bemused expression and contented purr. And he seems to be popular with the patrons: in the 87+ pubs he's visited, he's never had to buy a pint.

His owner, Bruce Hogg, writes:

"My wife and I both have an interest in music, and most of our travels have a strong musical context (music festivals, pub music sessions, etc.). It was clear that Fleetwood enjoyed his pub visits, and it was equally obvious that he loved being in the camper van (you know pretty quickly whether a cat wants to do something or not), so we generally take him to the various pubs we visit. Even stranger is the fact that he seems to love listening to music, to judge by the deep, contented purring to be heard when he's in there beside the players!

Of course, we always enquire at a 'new' pub whether he will be allowed in or not; we've found through experience that the question, 'Do you allow animals in on leads?' works best. If the answer is 'yes', then we point out that it's a cat; if the answer is 'no', we just accept it. If the answer is, 'We dont allow dogs in,' we point out he's not a dog; which more often than not has gained him entry. Though many pubs have rules about dogs, very few have a rule about cats!

In his four years so far and up to September 2007 he has been in 52 licensed premises* which may say more about us than about him! You can find a record of his visits at Fleetwood's Travels.

You can see more photos of Fleetwood here, and Fleetwood's complete story (including how he got his name) here.

No word on whether or not Fleetwood acts as the Designated Driver.

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* by September 2009, the count was up to 87.

Cat carriers come in every style from disposable cardboard boxes to designer purses, and your choice of carrier can make or break your cat's relationship with this vital safety device. The best all-purpose choice is a medium-sized (large enough to fit one cat comfortably) plastic box with a handle and openings in the front and the top. These can be found at pet stores and online pet supply outlets.

Here are six steps for best results with cat and carrier:

Step 1 - To get your cat used to the carrier, start by making it a part of her ordinary life. Leave the carrier in the living room, backed up against a wall, with the door propped open.

Step 2 - Put a small blanket or comfortable pillow in the bottom, and toss in a catnip toy and one or two of her favorite treats.

Step 3 - Let her explore the carrier at her leisure: no stress, no drama. For extra de-stressing power, spray a little bit of Feliway Comfort Zone, a synthetic "happy cat" pheromone, inside.

Step 4 - The next step is to get your feline used to doing different things in the carrier. Close the door while she's inside and leave the room for a few minutes. When you return, prop the carrier door open again. The goal here is to make your cat feel that the carrier is not a trap. Do this several times over the course of a week or so.

Step 5 - Once she's used to that, close the door while she's inside and walk around the house with the carrier. Afterward, set it down, open the door, and give her a treat.

Step 6 - Once you've gotten your cat used to her carrier, it's time to take her for a ride. Close the carrier door while your kitten is inside and take her for a short drive. Even a trip around the block will do. Repeat this at random intervals over the next week or so. The idea behind this is to help your cat understand that being in the carrier, in the car, does not necessarily mean she's going to the vet.

With the right carrier and a low-key, drama-free introduction, you'll have a pet who will love--or at least, accept--the carrier.

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If you travel on an airline with your cat, it is VERY important to ask the security staff to take him inside of a room with a door in order to "frisk" him so that there is no risk of the animal escaping. Always keep him harnessed. And allow extra time.

The following story describes the problems that ensue in not keeping your cat secure when you're in an airport.

The latest Newark Airport security breacher is a plus-sized kitty! The 25-pounder lodged himself under a bomb-detection machine yesterday morning, causing other passengers to be directed to a different security screening area.

The unnamed tabby was stuck for about 20 minutes when Port Authority police used a hydraulic device to lift the heavy machine (which weighs a few thousand pounds) and free it. According to NJ.com, "the portly cat that had worked its way under 4 inches of clearance." It was removed from its carrier which needed to go through an X-ray machine.

One Port Authority officer said the cat "looked relaxed" throughout the whole ordeal. Typical. As for the humans, they missed their flight and will be attempting to fly out of the same airport today.

[SOURCE: Gothamist PHOTO: icanhascheezburger]

Air Travel For Your Cat:

Most major airlines will accept cats as passengers. Cats under 15 lbs. can travel in the cabin. Larger cats or pairs of cats must be booked in cargo in larger traveling cat carriers and there are some seasonal restrictions. When booking your flight, book your cat as well and be sure to get a locator number associated with your seat for your cat. This is an important security precaution. It is better for your cat to fly a short distance for his first flight.

To ask a cat to travel in a carrier or a cargo crate for eight hours the first time is asking a great deal. Make sure your cat enters the airport having had a final visit to the litter box and carry all rabies and other pertinent inoculation information with you. Various requirements exist for each airline and for various countries. Please check these before planning your trip so air travel with your pet will go smoothly.

(For some destinations in the United States, Pet Airways' represents a new trend in traveling cat airlines and its limited flight schedule could help you to fly a pair of cats or a very noisy cat in relatively more comfort in cabin in a special carrier and among exclusively animal passengers attended by a human. You will have to meet your pet at the airport in the end destination.)

Read more about cat air travel.

Car Travel:

Cats do not usually enjoy car trips. Minimize stress by making a comfortable travel nest for your cat in an approved traveling cat carrier that is either seatbelted-in or secured on the floor of the rear seat, away from excessively hot and cold ducts. That way kitty is safe, and you are not distracted by a roaming cat under the brake pedal. Do not leave your cat unattended in the car for long and be sure to crack the windows when you pop into the rest station briefly on a hot day.

Read more about car travel with cats.

Hotels:

Most travel resources list which hotels accept pets. You will also find a "pets accepted" symbol on the homepages of many major hotels. When checking into those hotels, be sure to tell the desk you have your cat. Many hotels provide bowls and snacks for cats. Some even have sitting services. And many offer a "pet in room" door tag to let maids know not to leave the door open so your pet can not wander out. For cats, to keep them safe and secure, you should bring a sturdy, safe traveling cat crate. Be careful to choose a traveling crate with a high safety rating so your cat does not harm himself if he tries to wiggle out. Make sure there is room for the litter box and food to be separate. A crate with sides so litter cannot be kicked out makes for a congenial relationship with the cleaning staff.

Read more about cat friendly hotels.

Food And Facilities:

Bring your cat's customary food. Use bottled water, even in developed areas as tap water can contain chlorine at levels that could cause diarrhea. You will have to pack a litter box and litter. Consider bringing only a small amount of litter and then re-supplying locally. An enclosed litter box system is best.

Cautions:

Most cats find the displacement of travel very unsettling. While you might be able to trust your cat at home on a balcony or with walks outside, you should not trust your cat similarly when away from home. Hotel balconies are very dangerous; keep your cat off them. Encounters with local stray cats could be catastrophic. Keep your cat inside. If your cat bolts, he will have great trouble finding his way back to the hotel, and, in fact, he may not even want to.

Always remember to put your contact name and local number and address (the hotel) on your dog's collar, affixing it with a temporary tag and a waterproof pen. Then, if your cat strays locally, you can be locally located. Change the tag as you move about from destination to destination. In your end destination, locate and jot down the contact number of a local vet and animal emergency service, just in case.

About the Author: Helen Fazio and her dog Raja blog on pet travel and related topics at www.traveldogbooks.com. In their first book, "The Journey of the Shih Tzu," Raja tells the wolf to woof story of the development of this amazing breed. They are working on forthcoming titles.

Photo: Muffet

Safe car travel is best achieved by using a sturdy cat carrier. The carrier, for all cats can be either a soft sided pet airline carry-on bag or a small crate and either should be strapped to the seatbelt so each cannot move in the case of an accident or a swerve. The back center seat is the safest location. Multiple cats can be transported in a larger crate together in the cargo area of a van, SUV or station wagon. The crate should be secured so it does not move, in the case of a sudden stop. The open cargo bed of a pick up truck is a simply unacceptable and irresponsible location for a cat carrier, unless your cat happens to be a cheetah or a lion. If you have a convertible, put the top up when traveling with your cat, even if he is in a carrier.

Breaks:

Given the length of the trip and the size, you might be able to get a litter box inside. Covered litter boxes are recommended since they will not spill or splash litter in transport. Never allow your cat to roam outside the car on a trip no matter how much he wants to stretch his legs. Cats will bolt and finding them in unfamiliar terrain near a roadway is simply too nerve wracking and dangerous.

Windows:

Safe car travel with pets suggests that windows are best left up, but if your cat is secure in the carrier with a study latch you may open the windows. Remember that your cat will probably be annoyed by wind rushing over him, so locate the carrier away from the windows, and especially away from direct sunlight that can heat him up unduly.

Motion Sickness:

Some cats get carsick, either from actual motion sickness or nerves. In this case, locating your cat's carrier on the floor of the back seat will help prevent his seeing outside and may help with motion sickness. Make sure the heat ducts do not blow on him excessively in that location. If you must travel for a long period with an overanxious cat, you may have to ask your vet for mild medication.

Food And Water:

For long trips, it is advisable to secure cat food and water in the crate. One of the best car travel tips for food is that you should take all precautions to put the water in a sturdy-bottomed bowl and do not overfill or your cat and seat will both be soaked.

Leaving Your Cat In The Car:

Don't do it. If you absolutely must, do crack the windows, but not enough for an arm to enter and release your cat from your custody. Since pets left alone in a car have come to so many undesirable fates, you will have to think very carefully and monitor all conditions wisely before leaving your cat in the car, even for a few minutes.

And if you do leave your cat unattended in the car, do not release him from his crate. Roaming cats can step on a button and unlock the doors. They can even crawl into the area under the dashboard and chew on wires or become entangled.

Part of learning how to travel with your cat involves learning how to get your cat out of the car. If you have let him out of his crate in the car, and have succeeded in not having him lodge himself under the brake pedal, you will still have to collect and coral him before opening the door, as many cats will express their feelings about car travel by immediately running away. Keep him in his crate and you can carry him inside in safety, no matter how much he may resent having been taken on a drive.

About the Author: Helen Fazio and her dog Raja blog on pet travel and related topics at www.traveldogbooks.com. In their first book, "The Journey of the Shih Tzu," Raja tells the wolf to woof story of the development of this amazing breed. They are working on forthcoming titles.

Photo: Emdot

The AAA has a pet-friendly travel guide for the United States. If you are a member, this may help you, as will some of the many online pet travel sites. Nevertheless, when planning for cat travel in areas where hotels are dense, if the website does not help you out with a "pets allowed" icon, the best way to find out is to choose a few hotels you like and simply ask, via telephone or internet inquiry.

Never assume that a particular hotel, at home or abroad, will not accept cats. You will be surprised how many hotels can host your cat and by how many nations consider traveling with cats to be a rather common way to travel. On the other hand, without the permission of the hotel, do not assume that a surprise cat will be warmly greeted. You do not want to end up very far from home and without a hotel as night closes in.

Hotel Chains

Hotel chains do not consistently have blanket policies on cats. Also, chains have various levels of service and accommodations that respond to different price points and to different local trends and needs. When booking, check your chosen chain hotel website to see if the "pets allowed" icon is visible. If so, great. But if you do not see it, call and ask. Pets may not be encouraged, but often individual hotels, especially during the recession, will make concessions to fill rooms.

Motels

Cat-friendly motels are fairly common in areas where families vacation. A motel offers easy access in and out to accommodate any needed midnight walks, although be careful about off-leash walks in places where the highway is near the door. And be careful about leaving a cat in a room where a careless service person could accidentally let your cat out.

Resident Hotels

Resident hotels that can accommodate long-term stay for consultant workers or families on the move often take pets. Many have designated pet walking areas. Even in major urban centers like Las Vegas, places like the Marriott Residence Inn offer a slot machine-free haven with grass lawns for people traveling with pets. Resident hotels often include sitting room areas and kitchenettes that make feeding and relaxing with pets easier.

Hotels

Hotels that accept cats take various approaches to accommodating your and their needs. Some charge an extra fee to allow your cat. You may try to negotiate this if your cat will not be alone in the room ever or if your cat is small or crated. Some require you to hang a "pet in room tag" on the door. Some offer pet bowls and beds. Some offer a pet menu for in-room dining. Some offer sitting, walking and pet massage services. Some have rules for designated pet walking and playing areas. Some welcome your pet at the pool and on the dining patio. Never be afraid to ask as customs vary.

When booking a hotel room, or at check in, always try to negotiate with the desk clerk to get a room that is not too high up in the building - your elevator ride with a pet that needs a walk should not be uncomfortable or very long. Try to be placed near an exit door.

Some hotels attempt to put pet-owning travelers in rooms that are smoking permitted or need renovations most. If this does not please you because you do not smoke or because you know your pet will not damage the accommodations, you should speak up. Why pay for a bad and undesirable room just because you are on vacation with a good and well-trained pet?

If your hotel will not accept your pet, do not leave your cat in the car overnight. Highly traumatizing for cats and highly lacking in security and accountability, this practice is an unreasonable solution for all concerned.

About the Author: Helen Fazio and her dog Raja blog on pet travel and related topics at www.traveldogbooks.com. In their first book, "The Journey of the Shih Tzu," Raja tells the wolf to woof story of the development of this amazing breed. They are working on forthcoming titles.

Rabies Inoculation:

At the least, most countries require a recent rabies shot within one year and 30 days of passage. Speak with your vet about the safest options for rabies shots for cats that will travel frequently. Always keep a current rabies inoculation tag on your cat's harness or collar and keep the documents safe with you while traveling. Putting them in a zippered pocket in your cat's carrier is the best way to keep them close to hand should you be asked to present them. And make a few copies in case an official at point of entry wants to keep the documents on record.

Health Certificate:

Technically, countries require you to carry a health certificate from your vet done within 10 days of travel. All normal inoculations must be up to date and accounted for. Simply visit your vet, have a check up, and take signed documentation stating that your cat, indeed, is in good health to travel. (Chronic illnesses that are non-infectious do not compromise the health requirement, but always be sure your cat feels well enough to take on the stress of travel. And remember to take a good supply of all regular and emergency meds, carrying them securely in your carry-on bag.)

Documentation:

Pet Passports were introduced in the UK by the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) to ensure easy passage of pets into the UK. The passport is associated with information on microchipping and other inoculation and health documentation and spares pets going into the UK from having to undergo quarantine. While some other EU countries have adopted the Pet Passport, it is currently not required for entry into most non-UK countries, nor do most countries acknowledge it.

The microchip is technically required by many countries. Inconsistently, the chip id is rarely asked for when entering. If you do microchip, consider it yet one other precaution. Make sure you have memorized the microchip number and microchip issuing agency call-in phone number.

Difficulties and inconsistencies remain when researching pet regulations for individual countries around the world. The consulate or embassy office has been the traditional place to get answers, although actual practices on the ground rarely conform rigidly to the official information you will receive when calling a consulate or an embassy. In actuality, most of the stringent regulations are not enforced consistently, with the exception of the UK which is a carefully regulated pet border.

Immigration Forms do not require you to list pets.

Quarantines exist for the UK (without Pet Passport), some of the Caribbean Islands, Hawaii and several other destinations. As these quarantines can be for much longer than 5 days, think carefully before casually bringing your pet into such territories. Quarantine conditions can vary widely. Also, in some situations, they can be amended by negotiating a safe isolation facility, but this is an individual negotiation and should never be agreed to without written documentation.

Some countries have signs at the point of entry for "Livestock Inspection." Your cat is not farm livestock and you need not report to those stations. International travel with pets is regulated entirely differently than livestock exchange.

While some countries' regulations are stringent, most are not; traveling with your cat to other countries is usually a wonderful opportunity to move your pet to his new home. Several topics to keep in mind are: travel style, interactions with local animals, and medical emergencies.

Travel style: When arriving with your pet, have all papers at the ready and make it easy for any official who wants to inspect your pet to do so. Since most officials at borders are more concerned about security and safety from terrorists, do not be surprised if your pet is easily waved through. Provide information and opportunities to inspect only when requested.

Local animals: The neighborhood cats, especially in developing countries, may not have been inoculated against rabies and other illnesses. While most street cats are docile and healthy, you will want to avoid street encounters for your cat. Feral cats everywhere host a variety of illnesses.

Medical emergencies: Traveling with your cat requires you to be proactive. In each destination, locate a vet or "animal doctor's" office. In case of an emergency, you will reduce your panic. Do research local health concerns for cats in your destination. In differing climates, differing health issues present themselves.

About the Author: Helen Fazio and her dog Raja blog on pet travel and related topics at www.traveldogbooks.com. In their first book, "The Journey of the Shih Tzu," Raja tells the wolf to woof story of the development of this amazing breed. They are working on forthcoming titles.

Photo: Photo Farme

For cats that will travel in the cabin, buy an airline-approved airplane pet carrier. The best cat carriers for airplane travel are durably sewn with lots of air vents; a zippered top and side exit door; a soft, removable bottom pad; and several flat internal and external pockets. Resist the temptation to buy a "designer" carrier. The flash draws undesirable attention.

For cats that will travel in cargo, buy a sturdy, airline-approved cargo crate with a good door latch. It should have detachable food and water receptacles. Since cats are small, it is advised that they ride in cabin. Only for multiple cats who will share a container, or irrepressibly vociferous cats, is cargo travel an advisable method.

All carriers should have attachments for paperwork and name tags. Use the airplane pet carrier to transport your cat to various destinations prior to flight. It is best if these destinations terminate simply in a return home, or a visit to a friend the cat likes. If you use the airline carrier to take your cat to the vet, such journeys may engender fear and loathing.

Gradually increase the duration of the time your cat spends in the carrier, taking longer journeys to desirable destinations. Include a toy, but avoid food, because cats generally should not eat on airplane trips. (If your cat must travel in cargo on longer flights, including water may be advisable.)

Keep the carrier open in the house and put enticing cat toys (not treats) in it to make your cat happy to enter it, but never use this carrier as a day crate.

When Booking Flights:

Choose an airline that permits cats and clarify whether your cat will travel in cabin or in cargo. Some airlines restrict cargo flights during some times of the year. Most importantly, when booking, get a locator number for your cat that is associated with your seat number.

Starter Trips:

If an itinerant lifestyle with your cat is part of your plan, take a short flight to a nearby destination as a starter flight. Your cat will learn that the long wait ends in eventual release from the carrier, and will be better prepared for an upcoming long flight.

Food and Meds in Flight:

Feed your cat at least five hours in advance of travel, and avoid giving water within one hour of flight. (Water may be advisable for cats traveling in cargo on long flights.) For cats traveling in cabin, offer ice cubes or a sip of water toward the end of the flight as needed.

If your cat takes meds, schedule the doses according to your travel schedule. Remember that you will have to show up at least an hour before the flight, and once you enter the airport, your cat will be in the carrier.

Unless your vet says otherwise, tranquilizers are not advisable for high altitudes. Train, don't drug, your pet into being a good traveler.

Bladder and Bowels:

Try to keep things calm at home before the flight so your cat uses the litter box normally. Unless your cat is leash-trained, he will not be able to evacuate again until you arrive at the new home or hotel. Most cats do not evacuate while on a leash, and most prefer to use a box.

ALWAYS make sure your cat is secure in the carrier or crate and does not bolt. Keep the door closed until you are in an enclosed space. Cats are very slippery when scared. Your cat should wear an ID collar at all times (minus extra easily-snagged charms and ornaments). If you must take him out, hold extra tight. Traffic around airports is intense and extremely dangerous.

In The Airport Building:

For cats traveling in cargo in a crate, the check-in counter staff will advise you where to deliver your cat for transport. If your cat is flying in cabin, you will carry him through gate security. You must remove him from his carrier and carry him through the metal detectors, allowing his bag to go through the X-ray machine.

NEVER allow your cat to pass through the X-ray machine -- it is not permitted and is highly dangerous.

Documentation:

Make sure your cat's rabies inoculations are up to date and keep a vet's health record in your travel paperwork.

On the Plane:

Slide your carrier under the seat in front. Check on your cat now and then, but avoid exciting him to make him feel he may be let out to play. If your cat is traveling in cargo, check-in staff will advise you where to pick him up after the flight.

About the Author: Helen Fazio and her dog Raja blog on pet travel and related topics at www.traveldogbooks.com. In their first book, "The Journey of the Shih Tzu," Raja tells the wolf-to-woof story of the development of this amazing breed. They are working on forthcoming titles.