Training Cats and Kittens for a Walk in the RV Park

...plus a great recipe for your hungry RVing feline!!

Contributed by guest blogger Dr. Amy Cousino, DMV

“Ginger” is a 9-year-old green-eyed calico cat who wandered onto her owner Jim’s farm in Ohio as a kitten. When viewed from the backside it appears as though she has on caramel colored shorts because the color is evenly distributed on either side of her tail.

Jim is retired and visits Florida in his motorhome every winter to escape the cold up north. In April and May Ginger visits Florida with Jim.

Ginger was a lucky kitten to have found Jim – he has provided her with a comfortable home and a good life over the last several years. Jim and Ginger take long walks in Whispering Palms Resort. She wears a blue harness and Jim keeps her on a leash. Jim always wears a smile on their daily walks.

Using a comfortable harness and leash to take your pet cat for a walk is a great tip when traveling in your RV. Your cat can get fresh air every day and can enjoy the great RV parks with you. To train your cat to walk on a leash first get a harness, the kind with two rings, not the figure 8 type – the figure 8 type is easy for a cat to slip out of. Get a six foot leash as well.

Put the harness on your cat daily, gradually increasing the time your cat wears it. At first most cats will just fall over on their side when you put the harness on, but once they get used to it they will stand up again. After your cat is used to the harness attach the leash and allow them to wander about your home dragging the leash. Watch carefully to avoid hang-ups, though.

Finally, take your cat outside with the harness and leash on, gradually increasing the time outside. Stay away from dogs, they scare cats. Take a few steps, when your cat lags behind give a gentle tug on the leash and some words of encouragement. Keep a good grip on the leash as some cats will start running for fun. If you see a lady running across a meadow behind a big Maine Coon cat on a leash it’s probably me!

Here is a recipe this lady makes, made with the parts of a chicken that are not often used, but are well loved by cats on farms (and RV parks) everywhere:

Chicken Giblets for Cats and Kittens Dr. Amy Cousino, DMV

Chicken giblets (from a roasting chicken)
Chicken broth to cover, homemade, without onion, garlic or seasonings
Celery, ¼ of the stalks, chopped

Place the giblets including the gizzard, liver, neck, and heart in a small saucepan.

Cover with the broth, add the celery. Bring to a boil, immediately turn to simmer and cover, cooking very slowly for 30 minutes.

Take off heat and leave covered for one hour. Remove giblets, reserving the broth and chop fine before serving. Add broth to moisten the giblets.

Remove the meat from the neck, discarding the bones and mix with the other giblets.

Feeding Guide: adult cat 4 T, twice daily; kitten 1-2 T, 3-4 times daily (T=Tablespoon)

Until next time,

Dr. Amy Cousino, DMV
Author, How to Cook for Your Pet
AmiesPetCuisine.com

PS - I have a new pet book coming out in the very near future! Stay tuned...I'll keep you posted...