How do I protect my cat in a pets-okay motel?

Question

Do I tell housekeeping to not open the door? Will my cat be okay? Has anybody actually done this? Tips? Thanks!

Answer 1

Leave the 'Do not disturb' sign on the doorknob and the maids should steer clear (to be doubly sure call the front desk and tell them to tell the maids to not clean your room). You could even lock the cats in the bathroom if you wanted.

I put the litterbox in the shower (my cat will do his business in the shower anyway if he can't find his box)

Leave toys for your kitties to play with and the TV on to mask any crying they do.

You know the boards under the beds (so that you know prowlers aren't hiding under the dust ruffle)? Those aren't actually platforms the bed is resting on. They are just little walls that go around under the bed. My cat has gotten into those and camped under the bed. So if a cat mysteriously goes 'missing' check there. It doesn't take a large gap for a cat to slip in through. To get to the cat you may have to move the mattress and box springs.

Don't bring a cat who's known to spray things. You have no way of knowing whether or not the hotel is one more instance of annoyance away from a 'no pets' policy.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

I have traveled across the country a few times with my pets. One trip I had two birds, a cat and a pig. When you are traveling with your cat, you should have a crate to start with. It needs to be large enough for your cat to turn around in.

When you get the motel, put the 'do not disturb' sign on the door. Only let the cat out of the crate when you are in the room and you have all the locks locked on the door (there is that inside latch that can only be opened from the inside). For the trip, go to the grocery store or pet store. Johnny Cat makes this great portable litter box. It's a plastic litter box with litter in the bottom, sealed with a paper cover. You just remove the paper when you are ready to use it. Then you can just throw it in the dumpster at the motel when you are ready to leave. You can buy a couple of them so you have some for the road, the motel and your destination until you get settled.

If you leave the room, the safest thing to do is put the cat back in the crate and still leave the do not disturb sign up. This is just a double precaution.

Make sure the cat has access to water in the car and in the motel. Also, make sure the cat eats (when they get stressed, they may go off of food), there can be trouble if a cat does not eat for two or three days.

Most cats do ok on road trips, some like the car, some don't. If you are going to be on the road for a very long time (more than 2 to 4 hours) and your cat is not a good car cat, talk to your vet about some kitty valium or equivalent. When I helped my sister move from Spain to Texas, we got some low grade valium type stuff for the cat for the plane ride (she was in the cabin with us, not in the belly of the plane - it is not advised to sedate your pets for transport in the belly of planes). She did pretty well.

My older cat does not like the car and I had to drive with him and the pig from LA to Houston and I too, have kitty drugs. We stopped twice along the way. I never had to use the drugs, as it only took him a short time to calm down.

Last but not least, make sure you cat has a microchip and I strongly suggest that you put him in a harness (not a collar). A harness is the safest way to put identification on your cat, they cannot get out of it, and does not pose a choking hazard. It's also a very easy way to hold on or grab the cat if you need to. Put the cat in the harness now so they can get used to it.

I hope this helps! My pets have been on both coasts and a couple of places in the middle . . . too bad I can't get travel points accumulated for them!

Answer 3

put the do not disturb sign on the door and when you need things tell housekeeping to put it outside the door so that you can pick it up and be able to keep an eye on the cat. or have them do stuff to the room when you are there so that you can keep kitty safe! DONT trust that because they work in a place that accepts animals that they are going to be nice to animals. if you kitty want to rub them to say hi and they don't like it and hurt it that would be way to tragic of an outcome!!

Answer 4

Yes, you have to make sure that nobody opens the door so your cats can't escape. Keep your do not disturb sign on the door 24/7. Also tell the front desk that you really mean do not disturb and you do not want any maid service at all.

Answer 5

Tell the front desk or office that you don't want any housekeeping. Then put the "Do not Disturb" sign on your door. You will not get any maid service so be prepared to make your own bed and clean your own bathroom. You can pick up clean towels from the front desk or from the maids when you see them out with their cleaning carts. If you tell them that your critter doesn't like strangers they won't risk injury to themselves or the cat.

Answer 6

If you're staying in the motel for more than one night you can put in a request not to have any housekeeping done. This will ensure no one enters the room and lets the cat out. You can also put the cat in a carrier if you're worried about it escaping. Just be sure to leave water and food.

Answer 7

Take a crate with you and put your cat in the crate if you are going to be out of the room. It's the only way to be sure your cat wont' make a "get away" when the maids come to clean. Or put the "Do Not Disturb" sign up and tell the front desk you do not want maid service.

Answer 8

Well you going to have to clean your own room, but you can get clean towels and the like at the desk, just bring your dirty ones with you when you go..