Anybody keep a cat in the truck?

Lupe, most trucking companies do not allow pets in the truck. I'm guessing maybe 10% do allow some sort of pet to ride along. When I was OTR i specifically picked a company because they allowed my dog to come with me.

Under no circumstance should you consider sneaking a pet into the truck if the company doesn't authorize it. Most no-pet companies consider unauthorized pets the same as unauthorized passengers and will fire such a driver.

It would be easy to sneak a small dog or a cat into a truck and not get caugh, except for the unexpected events that will give you away. All it takes is another driver for your company seeing your pet and asking the dispatcher how come he's not allowed to bring a pet when the driver in truck #8908 has a cat. Or your truck breaks down and you have to sit at th truck shop all day for repairs. Or a car or truck causes an accident and your truck must be towed, etc. Laying over at a hotel can also be a problem, they were for me and my beagle/mix. Most of the reports that company XYZ allows pets comes from other drivers seeing an unauthorized pet in a truck from XYZ. The company I work for is sometimes noted as allowing pets because of this, and they will fire you immediately for a pet or unauthorized passenger.

A cat will do just fine in the truck, much easier than taking a dog. I woudn't go back over the road except with a company that allows pets. It's a small hassle that pays off big in mental health. Also, a leash is mandatory. There is no way to predict if/when a pet will chase something or get spooked and run. You do not want to deal with half of your pet being run over and surviving in the middle of a strange town.

 

Not only that, she is the cutest pet out on the road!

Evidence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFJu678ELOo

 

Jim, I'd imagine the dash of a truck would be the perfect environment for a cat. It's like a greenhouse and there's moving objects wizzing by constantly!

 

Ummmm, litterbox! Sorry, cats are disgusting! Make sure to carry extra a/c filters with you.

 

Not even close to the mark. Dogs are canines who evolved as pack hunters and rely on scent to identify other members of the pack. Cats are felines who evolved as solo hunters and are generally very fastidious. A truck with dogs will almost always have their distinct scent whereas you would be hard pressed to find any scent in my truck, as I do clean the litter box each time I fuel.

With modern feline diet (Science Diet in particular) and clumping cat litter there is no real odor to notice. Since drivers have to walk dogs regularly, their feet bring in all the cool scents found in truck stop and rest area parking lots back to the truck and all over the floor and bedding. I'll leave it up to your imagination which scents those remind you of.

Jim

 

Comments removed by moderator.

 

Two letters: P and U. ...That is, unless you have super-anti-stink food and new generation hyper-drive cat litter. i read some of the other posts and see that you in fact found the food and litter combo that creates either an unscented or flower scented cat waste. Good!

 

cat looks like he's recovering from a long night of drinking. i could never do otr anytime soon. i've got 2 pitbulls, one at 90 pounds the other one close to 70. they'd be fine in the cab but i doubt a company would ever let me bring them lol.

 

Thanks Pussywhisperer!

p.s. I mean no ill will toward you but you have to admit, that's funny! Maybe change your profile name.

 

JR OTR, if it wern't for the cat moving her head every once in a while i'd think you were filming a dead cat. So, if your sopoused to have one hand on the wheel, one hand on the coffee cup, and somehow find a third for the gearshift, dare I ask what you used to film the cat while driveing? I have 3 cats at home and a dog and 3 kids (yeah it feels like a zoo), I know my cats attack imaganary things by the window does yours try to attack the lines on the road?