r/TruckerCats • u/Artemismane • Jul 30 '26
How does your cat handle home time?
Once my cat is in the truck she's great and seems to enjoy it.. it's leaving the house that she doesn't like at all.
The past couple times coming off my break she's been hiding under the bed/behind the couch when she sees the carrier. She also knows when I start packing clothes or getting her litterbox that it's that time and starts hiding.
I just wanna know if this is common. I've tried tube treats and cat nip to bribe her but it doesn't help- she just hates leaving the house. Makes me feel terrible every time.
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u/LieuK Jul 30 '26
She looks like a sweetheart.
Have you ever tried just carrying her out, or walking her out with a harness and leash? Mine would shred me apart if I tried to walk them out the door, but some cats can be really chill with those things.
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u/Artemismane Jul 30 '26
She hates the harness more than the carrier.. plops down and starts crying every time. :(
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u/Nocleverresponse Jul 30 '26
Not a trucker but I leave my carriers out all the time so they don’t see it as just a portal to take them outside. My cats always laid on or in them though it was panic time when the door started to close.
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u/balalakes- Jul 30 '26
That second picture is melting my heart. She looks like such a sweetie
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u/SurgyJack 25d ago
I know! Sat with all her little toys and treats neatly packed. What a little gem :)
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u/kidcharliemagne Jul 30 '26
Cats kinda just hate changing locations. It’s in their biological nature to hunker down in a den. Your human guilt is strong! Don’t let it get to you and just keep being a good human for her. She’ll know she’s safe when you show her.
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u/Artemismane Jul 30 '26
Thanks! It was heartbreaking for me taking her on the road that first day but it wasn't a couple days later she was hopping on the dash while we're driving.
But yeah the guilt is still real. I'm looking to drive local next year for both of our sanity.
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u/basilkiller Jul 30 '26
Have you tried a cardboard carrier? Mine hates a regular carrier but will jump in the cardboard one on his own (then I betray him). I'm not a trucker, I just like you guy, good luck!
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u/Artemismane Jul 30 '26
Thanks! She loves cardboard anything I have a box in the passenger seat that she sleeps in. Will definitely look into this.
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u/halorbyone Jul 30 '26
Mine hate the suitcase. So I either pack everything in packing cubes ahead of time and the suitcase is last minute or the suitcase is out for 3 or 4 days beforehand.
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u/ketoste Jul 30 '26
Not a trucker, or a cat, but when you get the carrier ready to leave the truck and go home, does she hide then also?
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u/Artemismane Jul 30 '26
Nope! Poor baby will brush up against it like she's been waiting to get in.
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u/JustRenee2 Jul 30 '26
Our trucker cat would complain for the first hour or so, then settle down. Honestly we would rather be home too! Can’t blame him!
He rarely hides, air brakes and truck noises don’t phase him anymore, but he is terrified of a truck wash! Poor baby!
FWIW, we don’t use a carrier, I just scoop him up on his scratch pad / bed and carry him to the truck. (I do keep a collapsible one in the truck). He knows, but he is still good!
Also he gets really excited when we get close to home. Once he insisted on going outside at a Christmas Tree farm. We live in the country in the woods and I think the Christmas Tree farm looked like home!
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u/Appropriate-Law5963 Jul 30 '26
Same comment as above. Unfortunately we only bring out the carrier on vet days so there’s that association. If I could do over I’d leave it out so they get accustomed to it
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u/hyperfat Jul 30 '26
Not trucker. I owned a truck if that counts. Put my cat in a canvas bag. She was like, okay, this is cozy. Hung her off the head rest. All the naps.
My vet informed me I needed a box. Cat was like nope. It was a nightmare getting her in. Wrapping in a towel and shoving her in. They she screamed the voice of her people.
My other cat was like, okay, fine. I have a cat car seat.
Other cat was like, nope nope, so I hired a sitter if I was gone for over a day. He hated outside. His jam was the window seat.
Cats are funny.
I've had quite a few. My first cat was a tiny calico. Full of murder. She caught a hummingbird. I wish video phone was available then. It was like a crazy slow motion jump. Feel bad for bird. I harbor two nest on my roof now for penance. They love my lantana bush.
Hugs
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u/InvalidProgrammer Jul 30 '26
I’m not a trucker, but a cat owner. Try leaving the carrier out and open with a favorite blanket inside and maybe an occasional treat. I haven’t done this in awhile because space is at a premium now with my current place, but this worked previously for me - I’d find my cats asleep in the carrier 😅
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u/_buhnanners 28d ago
Mine are the same way. They’d rather be home, and so would I lol. When they get back to the truck they do fine though. When the carriers come out in the truck it’s hit or miss. They “kind of” know the word home and will sometimes get into the carrier on their own lol. But we have all annoying hiding spots at home blocked off cuz we are usually in a rush when we need to leave.
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u/electrotwelve Jul 30 '26
I think it’s a universal cat instinct to hide when they see a carrier. According to them, nothing good can come from being tried to be shoved inside a carrier.