Okay, so I watched several videos of people traveling with their cats , and when I watched your video, I realized I we can do it , and make it fun for all of us ! Thank you so much !
I appreciate this video so much! My kitty is almost 10 and he has the same kind of flattening to the ground, "Oh no, I'm dying" kind of reaction when I put the harness or leash on him. It's so nice to see that persistence can pay off! I'm gonna keep trying to convince my guy he wants to be an adventure kitty, too. I'm sure he'd love it once he gives it a shot.
Thank you very much, so happy to hear that the video is helpful :-) Yes, keep on trying, slow baby steps, and your kitty will absolutely love it. Depending on his personality, he may like camping more than hiking for example, but he will definitely be able to travel with you and enjoy nature!
Wow! You two are excellent cat parents. I love how in tune you are with your gorgeous cat. He is a very lucky kitty. He may be a senior cat but he has a lot of adventure left in him.
Great video. Thank you! My cat is 13 nd just starting out. He has adapted to the leash well but I still need to watch and make sure he doesn't bolt. Axel is a great cat. Tons of great info in this too!
Yay, so happy to hear that you are taking your 13 year old kitty on adventures! It will be life-changing for him. Enjoy it!! And yes, Axel is such a good kitty, I am super proud of him 🐈💗
Thank you so much guys for sharing this topic with us! I'm planning on going full time nomad, and the only thing that I wouldn't like is having to sacrifice the joy of living with cats. I just adore cats and knowing that there are at least some chances of sharing my nomad lifestyle with an adventuous kitty just makes me so happy. 😊😍 Thank you thank you for the inspiration! Oh and you two are awesome cat parents! Well done! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you too much Clara!! And wishing you the most amazing adventures with your kitty. Take it slow and give them some time to adjust to this lifestyle. Safe travels!
Did you ever consider making under the bed a more secure place like his comfort zone back pack is. When you drive? I have 3 cats in my minivan. We have to be here due to mold I. Our rental took one of my cats lives. RV i bought also has mold. Now I'm trying to decide what my next move is. We are homeless and i will need good ventilation and such to go warmer. Lots of things needed to leave Maine from the cold and snow. Soon.
I have been watching a number of videos on cats traveling and am very encouraged by what I have seen. I have a feral rescue and a stray rescue I will be taking on the road with me once my bus is fully converted. I did a few test drives with them, a few day trips and even a vacation in my bus I am working on. Other than a couple of brief stress moments they adjust very quickly, to my surprise, to the bus movement. When I got to my vacation stop they were 100% happy to hang out in the bus. Knowing there is a natural option for flea and tick is awesome, love the cat backpack!
Yaaay! So happy to hear. Your kitty will love the adventures. They are so curious by nature and just need a little training to help them get over the fear. Axel is so fun to travel with especially hike. He always notices tiny little beautiful details, creatures and plants and that I would have missed otherwise. Good luck and enjoy it!
Amazing! I love cats too, have 5.. and i lost one cat orange like this, his name was Dante, he gets cancer, and die on 3 weeks, very sad. But now we have 5...and we are making our rv too, but i dont know if we will bring with us one or two, because we have a dog too ^^ But your video is amazing, learn a lot! Thanks! Great Adventure!
Awww thank you Lucas! Sorry to hear about Dante... And wow, 5 kitties and a dog - this will be a great RV adventure! Bring them!! Wishing you safe and fun travels :-)
One of our cats used to walk on a leash also - he'd been a sweet ginger one too - we still miss him - he died in the age of 17 7 years ago 😿. We'd got him being 5 or 6 months old. We enjoyed our walks together - but after a year he suddenly stopped wanting to go out - he stopped in front of the door and never walked out again - nothing happened outside - no cruel dogs etc. ... He remained as an indoor cat .... I really enjoyed your video - love & hugs & pets from Germany !!! 👵me + 😸he = he's 5 and a big grey tabby !!
Oh my goodness, how cute!! Big hugs to you and your grey tabby from us in Washington state. 👩🏻🦰🐈 How wonderful that you used to walk with your kitty on the leash! They are so smart, aren't they? Axel actually hated the leash at first but he really does enjoy hiking in nature and I have a feeling that the leash gives him extra confidence :-)
@@yuliainnnature I've enjoyed Axel's scenes very much - cats are very very smart indeed !! 😻 We are about now to order such a back pack - because our grey tabby Sir😽 likes bags - I didn't know before watching your video that these kinds of back packs do exist - I never saw them before either - some kind of stuff isn't available in Germany/Europe - but gladly these back packs are sold !! Thanks again for your inspiration, Dears !! Lots of love to the 3 of you - and treats for Axel !! 😺❤
Thank you so much for this episode. Next year we want to buy a van with my partner and I was searching yt for van life with a cat and this episode is most informative so far! my cat is 16 years old but in pretty good condition and I need to start a training soon :) much love, hugs and kisses for Axel
I'm planning on travelling with my two cats and my biggest fear is definitely keeping them safe from dogs outside, and then leaving them in the van unattended when I can't take them with me. I'm determined to make it work though, thank you for this informative video!
Fantastic! Paws up for Adventure Cats! You go Axel! Me and mommy are upgrading our sailboat to go sailing for a year or two. Thank you for sharing your amazing Adventure! 🥰
Thank you guys so much for this awesome video. It's everything I could've hoped for and more. I am attending van life with my cat Titus in spring and couldn't even imagine bringing him, before I watched this video. Thank you! 💛
Very cool how u trained him. I’ve got a 10 1\2 year old boy cat. He’s scared of most things but not me. Unfortunately I’ve spoiled him with treats because I can’t handle the non stop screaming and begging for them ev few hrs. Even wakes me up and pounces on me. He won’t give up till I give him greenies. He hates his collars, I’ve given up. He slinks out of a Harness and he’s 19 lbs! I eventually want to live Van Life bec I’m old now and I can’t afford a house and sick of paying rent to live amongst awful people in Portland, OR. I’m hoping we can eventually do it. SOON! Pay 1300-1400 a mo to live in a ghetto amongst druggies and people who’ve never worked a day in there lives! Be never camped a day in my life, never camped in a tent only a cabin with kitchen and shower and beds but I’ve been watching these camber Van life vids for months now and I think I can do it. Cheers to you and what a great cat!
Sending you wishes to get on the road very soon! It feels really good and especially to be in nature. Don’t give up on training your kitty - he may come around! Axel was also overweight and hated the harness but eventually he absolutely loved camping and adventures!
Hi Yulia. I loved your video. I'm curious about the night routine. During night they are more active what concern me about they feel crazy to go out. Also I would like to know how many times you used to go walk with him. My cat is 3 years old and love explore all day.
Hi Thais! Thank you so much :-) After dark we usually don't let Axel out, only sometimes if we are camping by a fire, he will sit on my lap with a leash on. And walking depends on him! Sometimes he can go for a couple of miles and some days he just wants to chill and sit outside and no walking!
Awww Mariela, completely agree!! There is something about orange cats... they are so cute, humble and smart! Leonardo is a cute name. He sounds proper! Axel is real proper gentleman 😂
Hi Axel, it's great that you can now enjoy the outdoors with all those lovely smells. We travel with our cat (Kedi) in the caravan here in New Zealand. Kedi says hi ;-) We've been to Sedona and love it there! A beautiful part of the world!
Awww!! Sorry for the late reply. Axel says hi back and it's our dream to visit New Zealand!! It's been at the top of our list for years now. And yes, Sedona is absolutely gorgeous and such beautiful energy there ✨♥️
Thank you so much, Bernd! Sending you virtual hugs from California. Times are so crazy now... and we wanted share our love and good vibes to hopefully bring a smile to worried people. Stay healthy!!
@@yuliainnnature Thank you so much. Your video fits perfectly. My cat is 11 years old and always stayed in the house. But i think she could get used to vanlife too. We will find out soon. 😁🤩😉
Thanks for all your valuable information. I am feeling more confident in the idea of me living an alternative lifestyle with my two cats due to your example. What is the name of the natural flea repellent you use?
Thank you so much for explaining how you leash and harness trained Axel! I want to do the same with my cat when I get my van in a couple months but was so clueless about where to start. You three are #catinavan goals!
Hehehe! Thank you! I hope you will get to do travel with your kitty too. Just take it easy and slow at first and then it will be a fun adventure!! Safe travels :-)
That's great! Cats have different personalities and you know best what your kitty is capable of. For 13 years Axel was a scaredy indoor cat so both he and I are not fully comfortable with him being off leash. Especially when traveling to new places. If you train your kitty early and they go outside a lot, you don't need a leash. Although - if you are hiking in state parks or camping in a national park, your pet needs to be on leash at all times. So you should train your cat to be on leash, regardless.
Thank you so much for doing such a detailed video and blog post. We just got our own van in March. Prior to that I spent a lot of time trying to find info from people who travel with cats and I really couldn't find too much info. We were really concerned about how our 2 cats would do. So far, we have done 2 trips with them and they surprised us with how great they did! However, our main concern is that they have been able to slip their harnesses. It's not uncommon for them to panic and our fear is that they'll escape their harness and run off. I noticed that Axel has a few different leashes/harnesses. Is the one you list in your description your favorite and do you think he could escape it if he wanted to?
Hi Steve and Audra! Awww so happy to hear you are starting your vanlife adventures and traveling with kitties! Axel loves van adventures 🐈🌲 I use two harnesses - a gray one would be impossible to get out of and I use it on longer hikes. But honestly, Axel really likes the other one - it's more minimalist and feels lighter on his body. He could potentially get out of it if he really wanted to... but I now trust him to not do that. You can definitely get a harness that is more secure if that's a concern with your kitties! Have fun on your adventures!!!
Your cat is soo cute and I never thought a cat liked the lead he is do cute I wish I could get a cat well, I probably am Because my parents said I could get a cat when I'm 12
Thank you Emma, you are so sweet! I hope your parents will get you a kitty and you will be able to train him or her to be an adventure cat. It will be so much fun to go hiking together :-)
Wow, thank you so much for all the information! I've learned so much in those 22 minutes! One question: do you think it's possible to travel and hike with two cats? I have no van experience at all, but I'm dreaming of going on adventures with my two cats. They already learned to walk on a leash through the house but I haven't had a chance to go any further since I'm a little concerned of handling two cats at once.
So glad to hear Dani! I would suggest maybe training each one at a time, at least initially. Just take one on a walk around the house, some place quiet with no dogs or people. After you learn how they behave outside, you can handle both at the same time. Have fun!! You will love it and so will they :-)
Can you please tell me what brand is that harness, and do you like it? (Is the leash attachment deliberately on the side or has it slipped over). I'm always worried that style will be wimpy/easy to break out of so I have one more like a sturdy "puppia" style for my cat. But I'd like to get a lighter one for her as an option in the heat.
Links to the harness are in the description to the video. I really like it and yes, it slips to the side but it is totally fine. I was initially afraid it was wimpy and bought an alternative "sturdy" harness for hiking but it feels too heavy. Axel loves it and I am confident he won't slip out.
Its great you take Axl into account and I like the care you took in his training. Maybe you can build in a discreet unit for his litter tray? Am seeing more of those backpacks being used by travellers. Harnesses are also useful in emergency to extricate cat from sticky situations! Lots of vanlifers travel with animals, which I love to see, but if you're not already subscribed, check out British couple Theo & Bee of Indie Projects. They travel with Ginjeybear the cat. She's a seasoned traveller, as they've been on the road for over 5 years. Currently in lockdown but there are plenty of videos to watch of their travels across Europe and up to the Arctic Circle 😀 anyway, best wishes from me & my 3 elderly rescue cats in the UK xx
Hello from California, Sammi! And hope you are doing well in UK... well, considering the global events:( Completely agree on the harnesses - they are a must!! Thank you so much for the tips, we will check out more of Theo & Bee’s videos for sure! And Axel sends a big hug to your rescue kitties!! 🐈 🐈 🐈
You guys are so thoughtful and loving with your cat. I’m curious how much Axel weighs? My big orange guy weighs 17 pounds, and I wonder about the backpack fit. My guy likes his van but I’ve only camped a few times with him. He walks me on the leash. I can’t get him to go my direction yet. I’d like to do some extended travel with him, so the backpack seems like a great solution for getting him out of the van and with me for a few mile walk.
Lol! Axel weighs 13 pounds and some days he walks me and other days I walk him :-) It does help to have a leader walking in the front, then Axel follows. And the backpack is great!! The other that we have is designed for large cats and I am pretty sure you can get it for your kitty. Link is in the video description and blog. Enjoy hiking with your kitty!!
he matches your hair ha ha we are in training (check out our channel) to go further and beyond. go axel you rock. good on your humans for adopting you and supporting you getting out there. meow
I love how you guys include your kitty in your plans! I'm currently making my plans carefully because I have an indoor, semi-feral. He's probably twice the scaredy cat yours is! 😅 I had the same squat down response with the leash and harness and he escaped the bubble backpack I put him in. I mean, he literally knocked out the bubble from the inside and made a run for it. Luckily, I had him clipped in to a spot in the bag. He doesn't like confined spaces. I have, however, been putting his litter box in a medium-dog-sized carrier. It's been a few months and he has no issues with it, so maybe it's a good time to try again. Also, what do you do if yours encounters a dog or snake on the trail? My cat has a high prey drive. He's a scaredy cat when it comes to people and strange noises, but he's also a killer and would probably provoke a snake or start hissing at a dog. 😳
Hi Alexis! Omg, so happy for you training your kitty for adventures! We need more kitties on trails 🐈🌿 I always carry a kitty backpack and keep an eye out for dogs and usually Axel goes in the backpack if a big dog is on the trail. Of course, it will depend on your cat. AllTrails is a great app for hiking and you can pick lightly trails that allow dogs and chances are you will not see anyone on the trail! Axel hates pet carriers (I had one like the airline carrier) but doesn't mind the backpack. I think it is because he knows he is going to see nature :-)
@@yuliainnnature Good to know! I think I'll stick with the backpack carrier then. I've managed to get him used to an enclosed litter box now, so I think the time is ripe for getting him into a backpack again. Wish me luck! 😂
Hi! It is Mad about Organics organic flea and tick wipe on. I bought in in Portland in a healthy pet store, I am not sure if you can find it on Amazon. Vet's+Best is also a good brand.
This is a special formula for pets and I have a link in the blog post. Yes, essential oils are toxic to cats in high quantity. Basically it comes down to you using very strong chemicals such as Advantage or natural essential oils. I have no doubt that both are somewhat toxic but having seen Axel's reaction to Advantage, I will never use this stuff again. Ever.
Thank you so much, we love it too! We are trying to let him know it's ok to go to the bathroom outside, he will sometimes walk off the trail and pee, but his not comfortable to go number 2 outside yet.
Yulia, considering your name and slight accent I'd say that you are not from the hills of Tennessee. Where are you from, and did you visit many outdoor spots/parks back there? My great-grandparents are from Tursk, Belarus.
Hello Raymond! Sorry about the delay in answering! I am originally from Siberia, Russia. Unfortunately, I didn't travel in Russia much when I was young... and this is definitely a dream of mine to go back and travel Russia, maybe even in a van. Nature is amazingly beautiful there, forest, flowers, rivers... If you haven't been to Belarus, Eastern Europe, or Russia yet, you have to visit! You will love the outdoors.
You two are lovely cat parents! I wanted to ask how you convince him to go back inside after you're done with a walk? Also, does he go out walking during the cold winter months and if so, any tips?
Thank you so much Nada! Axel is the cutest smartest kitty and makes me so proud as a parent! Honestly, treats and food is all you need. I mean sometimes I have grabbed him and put him the van but most of the time, all it takes is shaking a bag with little snacks 😹 He never hiked on snow so I am not sure how it would be... and usually I keep his walks limited in cold weather. A kitty sweater or just wrapping him in a blanket after the hike is great.
Please do NOT diffuse essential oils in your van with your cat. Essential oils are highly toxic to cats. Also am very concerned about the flea and tick medication containing essential oils - not a good idea. :-(
Hello and thank you for being concerned about our kitty ☺️ We usually just use very small amounts of lavender and if I have to use peppermint or anything else (for pest or critters), we keep Axel outside and keep it to the very minimum. Regarding flea medication - if you know a remedy that prevents fleas and ticks that is completely safe for pets, please please share! As far as I know, it’s either a conventional (and super poisonous) medication or a small dose of essential oils that repel bugs.
Axel is a rock star love him
Awwww thank you, you made our day! We are so proud of him!! 💕
Okay, so I watched several videos of people traveling with their cats , and when I watched your video, I realized I we can do it , and make it fun for all of us ! Thank you so much !
So glad to hear Betsy! Your kitty will love it :) Enjoy!!! Happy travels 🐈♥️
I appreciate this video so much! My kitty is almost 10 and he has the same kind of flattening to the ground, "Oh no, I'm dying" kind of reaction when I put the harness or leash on him. It's so nice to see that persistence can pay off! I'm gonna keep trying to convince my guy he wants to be an adventure kitty, too. I'm sure he'd love it once he gives it a shot.
Thank you very much, so happy to hear that the video is helpful :-) Yes, keep on trying, slow baby steps, and your kitty will absolutely love it. Depending on his personality, he may like camping more than hiking for example, but he will definitely be able to travel with you and enjoy nature!
"ADVENTURE CAT" - the first scene- cat walked on a leash 😂 Ok, I'm watching.
Lol! Axel loves walking on a leash... she always looks so proud when he hikes hahaha! 🐈 Thank you for watching :-)
What an adorable pudy-cat😺!
Beautiful baby! Love ur cat❤
Thank you. I love him so much. He was the sweetest boy and the coolest adventure kitty! He recently passed away and I miss him so much...
Wow! You two are excellent cat parents. I love how in tune you are with your gorgeous cat. He is a very lucky kitty. He may be a senior cat but he has a lot of adventure left in him.
Aww thank you so much! He does have a lot of adventure left in him :-) It just proves that it is never too late to start anything you truly love.
The cat is like your son because you and the cat have the same colour hair 🤣
Awww he is totally my son! Hehehe!! He also has similar personality :-)
What a handsome marmalade pussy-cat! He’s an absolute star!
Really good info for travelers to be. Thank you! 😺
I am so glad to hear! Happy adventures to you!!
Axel has a great life.
He really does :-) And he deserves it, he is the sweetest loving boy ❤️
Great video. Thank you! My cat is 13 nd just starting out. He has adapted to the leash well but I still need to watch and make sure he doesn't bolt. Axel is a great cat. Tons of great info in this too!
Yay, so happy to hear that you are taking your 13 year old kitty on adventures! It will be life-changing for him. Enjoy it!! And yes, Axel is such a good kitty, I am super proud of him 🐈💗
Thank you so much guys for sharing this topic with us! I'm planning on going full time nomad, and the only thing that I wouldn't like is having to sacrifice the joy of living with cats. I just adore cats and knowing that there are at least some chances of sharing my nomad lifestyle with an adventuous kitty just makes me so happy. 😊😍 Thank you thank you for the inspiration! Oh and you two are awesome cat parents! Well done! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you too much Clara!! And wishing you the most amazing adventures with your kitty. Take it slow and give them some time to adjust to this lifestyle. Safe travels!
Did you ever consider making under the bed a more secure place like his comfort zone back pack is. When you drive? I have 3 cats in my minivan. We have to be here due to mold I. Our rental took one of my cats lives. RV i bought also has mold. Now I'm trying to decide what my next move is. We are homeless and i will need good ventilation and such to go warmer. Lots of things needed to leave Maine from the cold and snow. Soon.
Beautiful boy
He was the sweetest and cutest boy. I miss him so much.
I have been watching a number of videos on cats traveling and am very encouraged by what I have seen. I have a feral rescue and a stray rescue I will be taking on the road with me once my bus is fully converted. I did a few test drives with them, a few day trips and even a vacation in my bus I am working on. Other than a couple of brief stress moments they adjust very quickly, to my surprise, to the bus movement. When I got to my vacation stop they were 100% happy to hang out in the bus. Knowing there is a natural option for flea and tick is awesome, love the cat backpack!
Yaaay! So happy to hear. Your kitty will love the adventures. They are so curious by nature and just need a little training to help them get over the fear. Axel is so fun to travel with especially hike. He always notices tiny little beautiful details, creatures and plants and that I would have missed otherwise. Good luck and enjoy it!
Amazing! I love cats too, have 5.. and i lost one cat orange like this, his name was Dante, he gets cancer, and die on 3 weeks, very sad. But now we have 5...and we are making our rv too, but i dont know if we will bring with us one or two, because we have a dog too ^^
But your video is amazing, learn a lot!
Thanks! Great Adventure!
Awww thank you Lucas! Sorry to hear about Dante... And wow, 5 kitties and a dog - this will be a great RV adventure! Bring them!! Wishing you safe and fun travels :-)
One of our cats used to walk on a leash also - he'd been a sweet ginger one too - we still miss him - he died in the age of 17 7 years ago 😿.
We'd got him being 5 or 6 months old.
We enjoyed our walks together - but after a year he suddenly stopped wanting to go out - he stopped in front of the door and never walked out again - nothing happened outside - no cruel dogs etc. ... He remained as an indoor cat ....
I really enjoyed your video - love & hugs & pets from Germany !!! 👵me + 😸he = he's 5 and a big grey tabby !!
Oh my goodness, how cute!! Big hugs to you and your grey tabby from us in Washington state. 👩🏻🦰🐈 How wonderful that you used to walk with your kitty on the leash! They are so smart, aren't they? Axel actually hated the leash at first but he really does enjoy hiking in nature and I have a feeling that the leash gives him extra confidence :-)
@@yuliainnnature I've enjoyed Axel's scenes very much - cats are very very smart indeed !! 😻
We are about now to order such a back pack - because our grey tabby Sir😽 likes bags - I didn't know before watching your video that these kinds of back packs do exist - I never saw them before either - some kind of stuff isn't available in Germany/Europe - but gladly these back packs are sold !! Thanks again for your inspiration, Dears !! Lots of love to the 3 of you - and treats for Axel !! 😺❤
Thank you so much for this episode. Next year we want to buy a van with my partner and I was searching yt for van life with a cat and this episode is most informative so far! my cat is 16 years old but in pretty good condition and I need to start a training soon :) much love, hugs and kisses for Axel
I'm planning on travelling with my two cats and my biggest fear is definitely keeping them safe from dogs outside, and then leaving them in the van unattended when I can't take them with me. I'm determined to make it work though, thank you for this informative video!
You are so welcome! It will be a bit of learning and adjusting for all of you but then it will be so much fun!! Happy adventures and safe travels!
Fantastic! Paws up for Adventure Cats! You go Axel! Me and mommy are upgrading our sailboat to go sailing for a year or two. Thank you for sharing your amazing Adventure! 🥰
Thank you guys so much for this awesome video. It's everything I could've hoped for and more. I am attending van life with my cat Titus in spring and couldn't even imagine bringing him, before I watched this video. Thank you! 💛
You are so welcome!! And good luck training Titus. It will be a great adventure!!
He looks so happy... I love him n u too so gentle with him he is the happiest kitty ever 🥰
He is the happiest and cutest kitty ever:) Thank you so much for saying that ❤️🐈❤️
He is so sweet❤️😍
Very cool how u trained him. I’ve got a 10 1\2 year old boy cat. He’s scared of most things but not me. Unfortunately I’ve spoiled him with treats because I can’t handle the non stop screaming and begging for them ev few hrs. Even wakes me up and pounces on me. He won’t give up till I give him greenies.
He hates his collars, I’ve given up. He slinks out of a Harness and he’s 19 lbs!
I eventually want to live Van Life bec I’m old now and I can’t afford a house and sick of paying rent to live amongst awful people in Portland, OR.
I’m hoping we can eventually do it. SOON! Pay 1300-1400 a mo to live in a ghetto amongst druggies and people who’ve never worked a day in there lives!
Be never camped a day in my life, never camped in a tent only a cabin with kitchen and shower and beds but I’ve been watching these camber Van life vids for months now and I think I can do it.
Cheers to you and what a great cat!
Sending you wishes to get on the road very soon! It feels really good and especially to be in nature. Don’t give up on training your kitty - he may come around! Axel was also overweight and hated the harness but eventually he absolutely loved camping and adventures!
this cat is lucky to have owners like you guys！ cats are good at outdoors too just people didnt realize that before～
Thank you so much! Yes, kitties are so adventurous and it’s so much fun to observe Axel learning and taking it all in 🐈
Hi Yulia. I loved your video. I'm curious about the night routine. During night they are more active what concern me about they feel crazy to go out. Also I would like to know how many times you used to go walk with him. My cat is 3 years old and love explore all day.
Hi Thais! Thank you so much :-) After dark we usually don't let Axel out, only sometimes if we are camping by a fire, he will sit on my lap with a leash on. And walking depends on him! Sometimes he can go for a couple of miles and some days he just wants to chill and sit outside and no walking!
Hi guys, beautiful cat, had one just like it, Leonardo was with me for 17 wonderful years, I don't know red cats have something special, regards!i
Awww Mariela, completely agree!! There is something about orange cats... they are so cute, humble and smart! Leonardo is a cute name. He sounds proper! Axel is real proper gentleman 😂
Hi Axel, it's great that you can now enjoy the outdoors with all those lovely smells. We travel with our cat (Kedi) in the caravan here in New Zealand. Kedi says hi ;-)
We've been to Sedona and love it there! A beautiful part of the world!
Awww!! Sorry for the late reply. Axel says hi back and it's our dream to visit New Zealand!! It's been at the top of our list for years now. And yes, Sedona is absolutely gorgeous and such beautiful energy there ✨♥️
Thanks so much for this wonderfull video.
All the best for you American people from Germany, specially in this crazy times.
Thank you so much, Bernd! Sending you virtual hugs from California. Times are so crazy now... and we wanted share our love and good vibes to hopefully bring a smile to worried people. Stay healthy!!
@@yuliainnnature Thank you so much.
Your video fits perfectly.
My cat is 11 years old and always stayed in the house.
But i think she could get used to vanlife too.
We will find out soon. 😁🤩😉
@@berndschleicher5907 Awww that sounds amazing! You will have to tell us how she does :-) It will be such an experience for the whole family!
Thank you for this video of your wonderful life with a cat. Love it so much.
You are so sweet!! Thank you so much for watching, we love traveling with that guy 😽
What a great video, super informative and your knowledge is spot on!
Awesome! We just started bringing our cat camping with us!
Yay!! So happy to hear! Happy adventures to you :)
Awesome informative video. Thank you. Helped me get my cats geared up to be adventure cats 🙏
So glad to hear!! Happy travels to you all 😆
He looks just like my kitty!
Awww Orange kitties are amazing!!
Thanks for all your valuable information.
I am feeling more confident in the idea of me living an alternative lifestyle with my two cats due to your example. What is the name of the natural flea repellent you use?
Thank you so much for explaining how you leash and harness trained Axel! I want to do the same with my cat when I get my van in a couple months but was so clueless about where to start. You three are #catinavan goals!
Hehehe! Thank you! I hope you will get to do travel with your kitty too. Just take it easy and slow at first and then it will be a fun adventure!! Safe travels :-)
I've hiked with my 2 cats,,, they never needed a leash to stay with me!
That's great! Cats have different personalities and you know best what your kitty is capable of. For 13 years Axel was a scaredy indoor cat so both he and I are not fully comfortable with him being off leash. Especially when traveling to new places.
If you train your kitty early and they go outside a lot, you don't need a leash. Although - if you are hiking in state parks or camping in a national park, your pet needs to be on leash at all times. So you should train your cat to be on leash, regardless.
super
Thank you so much for doing such a detailed video and blog post. We just got our own van in March. Prior to that I spent a lot of time trying to find info from people who travel with cats and I really couldn't find too much info. We were really concerned about how our 2 cats would do. So far, we have done 2 trips with them and they surprised us with how great they did! However, our main concern is that they have been able to slip their harnesses. It's not uncommon for them to panic and our fear is that they'll escape their harness and run off. I noticed that Axel has a few different leashes/harnesses. Is the one you list in your description your favorite and do you think he could escape it if he wanted to?
Hi Steve and Audra! Awww so happy to hear you are starting your vanlife adventures and traveling with kitties! Axel loves van adventures 🐈🌲
I use two harnesses - a gray one would be impossible to get out of and I use it on longer hikes. But honestly, Axel really likes the other one - it's more minimalist and feels lighter on his body. He could potentially get out of it if he really wanted to... but I now trust him to not do that. You can definitely get a harness that is more secure if that's a concern with your kitties! Have fun on your adventures!!!
Your cat is soo cute and I never thought a cat liked the lead he is do cute I wish I could get a cat well, I probably am Because my parents said I could get a cat when I'm 12
Thank you Emma, you are so sweet! I hope your parents will get you a kitty and you will be able to train him or her to be an adventure cat. It will be so much fun to go hiking together :-)
Wow, thank you so much for all the information! I've learned so much in those 22 minutes!
One question: do you think it's possible to travel and hike with two cats? I have no van experience at all, but I'm dreaming of going on adventures with my two cats. They already learned to walk on a leash through the house but I haven't had a chance to go any further since I'm a little concerned of handling two cats at once.
So glad to hear Dani! I would suggest maybe training each one at a time, at least initially. Just take one on a walk around the house, some place quiet with no dogs or people. After you learn how they behave outside, you can handle both at the same time. Have fun!! You will love it and so will they :-)
Can you please tell me what brand is that harness, and do you like it? (Is the leash attachment deliberately on the side or has it slipped over). I'm always worried that style will be wimpy/easy to break out of so I have one more like a sturdy "puppia" style for my cat. But I'd like to get a lighter one for her as an option in the heat.
Links to the harness are in the description to the video. I really like it and yes, it slips to the side but it is totally fine. I was initially afraid it was wimpy and bought an alternative "sturdy" harness for hiking but it feels too heavy. Axel loves it and I am confident he won't slip out.
Cool cat🐕
Thank you so much! We think so too :)
Its great you take Axl into account and I like the care you took in his training. Maybe you can build in a discreet unit for his litter tray? Am seeing more of those backpacks being used by travellers. Harnesses are also useful in emergency to extricate cat from sticky situations! Lots of vanlifers travel with animals, which I love to see, but if you're not already subscribed, check out British couple Theo & Bee of Indie Projects. They travel with Ginjeybear the cat. She's a seasoned traveller, as they've been on the road for over 5 years. Currently in lockdown but there are plenty of videos to watch of their travels across Europe and up to the Arctic Circle 😀 anyway, best wishes from me & my 3 elderly rescue cats in the UK xx
Hello from California, Sammi! And hope you are doing well in UK... well, considering the global events:( Completely agree on the harnesses - they are a must!!
Thank you so much for the tips, we will check out more of Theo & Bee’s videos for sure! And Axel sends a big hug to your rescue kitties!! 🐈 🐈 🐈
Helicoptor parents in training. lol
Lol! Maybe 🤣
You guys are so thoughtful and loving with your cat. I’m curious how much Axel weighs? My big orange guy weighs 17 pounds, and I wonder about the backpack fit. My guy likes his van but I’ve only camped a few times with him. He walks me on the leash. I can’t get him to go my direction yet. I’d like to do some extended travel with him, so the backpack seems like a great solution for getting him out of the van and with me for a few mile walk.
Lol! Axel weighs 13 pounds and some days he walks me and other days I walk him :-) It does help to have a leader walking in the front, then Axel follows. And the backpack is great!! The other that we have is designed for large cats and I am pretty sure you can get it for your kitty. Link is in the video description and blog. Enjoy hiking with your kitty!!
He is so cute! We have 4 cats~
Awww we love kitties! 🐈 Sometimes I wish Axel had a sibling. One day!
he matches your hair ha ha we are in training (check out our channel) to go further and beyond. go axel you rock. good on your humans for adopting you and supporting you getting out there. meow
Love this so much, dreaming of the day I can do van life and have to bring my cat!
I love how you guys include your kitty in your plans! I'm currently making my plans carefully because I have an indoor, semi-feral. He's probably twice the scaredy cat yours is! 😅 I had the same squat down response with the leash and harness and he escaped the bubble backpack I put him in. I mean, he literally knocked out the bubble from the inside and made a run for it. Luckily, I had him clipped in to a spot in the bag. He doesn't like confined spaces. I have, however, been putting his litter box in a medium-dog-sized carrier. It's been a few months and he has no issues with it, so maybe it's a good time to try again. Also, what do you do if yours encounters a dog or snake on the trail? My cat has a high prey drive. He's a scaredy cat when it comes to people and strange noises, but he's also a killer and would probably provoke a snake or start hissing at a dog. 😳
Hi Alexis! Omg, so happy for you training your kitty for adventures! We need more kitties on trails 🐈🌿
I always carry a kitty backpack and keep an eye out for dogs and usually Axel goes in the backpack if a big dog is on the trail. Of course, it will depend on your cat. AllTrails is a great app for hiking and you can pick lightly trails that allow dogs and chances are you will not see anyone on the trail!
Axel hates pet carriers (I had one like the airline carrier) but doesn't mind the backpack. I think it is because he knows he is going to see nature :-)
@@yuliainnnature Good to know! I think I'll stick with the backpack carrier then. I've managed to get him used to an enclosed litter box now, so I think the time is ripe for getting him into a backpack again. Wish me luck! 😂
Good luck Alexis!! It will all be worth it, I promise :)
Hi whats the brand of flea protection? Cant make it out in video, not in description, not on blog. Thank you.
Hi! It is Mad about Organics organic flea and tick wipe on. I bought in in Portland in a healthy pet store, I am not sure if you can find it on Amazon. Vet's+Best is also a good brand.
thank you :)@@yuliainnnature
What flea stuff was that? I thought essential oils were toxic to cats?
This is a special formula for pets and I have a link in the blog post. Yes, essential oils are toxic to cats in high quantity. Basically it comes down to you using very strong chemicals such as Advantage or natural essential oils. I have no doubt that both are somewhat toxic but having seen Axel's reaction to Advantage, I will never use this stuff again. Ever.
Great van and kitty! Does Axel pee and poo outside? Do you keep a litter box in the van?
Thank you so much, we love it too! We are trying to let him know it's ok to go to the bathroom outside, he will sometimes walk off the trail and pee, but his not comfortable to go number 2 outside yet.
Hah! Even at home, my guy can be outside in the yard for an hour and will come inside specifically to poo in his box.
Yulia, considering your name and slight accent I'd say that you are not from the hills of Tennessee. Where are you from, and did you visit many outdoor spots/parks back there? My great-grandparents are from Tursk, Belarus.
Hello Raymond! Sorry about the delay in answering! I am originally from Siberia, Russia. Unfortunately, I didn't travel in Russia much when I was young... and this is definitely a dream of mine to go back and travel Russia, maybe even in a van. Nature is amazingly beautiful there, forest, flowers, rivers... If you haven't been to Belarus, Eastern Europe, or Russia yet, you have to visit! You will love the outdoors.
You two are lovely cat parents!
I wanted to ask how you convince him to go back inside after you're done with a walk? Also, does he go out walking during the cold winter months and if so, any tips?
Thank you so much Nada! Axel is the cutest smartest kitty and makes me so proud as a parent!
Honestly, treats and food is all you need. I mean sometimes I have grabbed him and put him the van but most of the time, all it takes is shaking a bag with little snacks 😹 He never hiked on snow so I am not sure how it would be... and usually I keep his walks limited in cold weather. A kitty sweater or just wrapping him in a blanket after the hike is great.
Ok...one look at Axel and ....😽😽😽new sub!!!!👍👌
Lol! He is too much! Axel says thank you 😽
Please do NOT diffuse essential oils in your van with your cat. Essential oils are highly toxic to cats. Also am very concerned about the flea and tick medication containing essential oils - not a good idea. :-(
Hello and thank you for being concerned about our kitty ☺️ We usually just use very small amounts of lavender and if I have to use peppermint or anything else (for pest or critters), we keep Axel outside and keep it to the very minimum.
Regarding flea medication - if you know a remedy that prevents fleas and ticks that is completely safe for pets, please please share! As far as I know, it’s either a conventional (and super poisonous) medication or a small dose of essential oils that repel bugs.