Hello and welcome to episode 16 of the Ready Set Depart Podcast! We are so glad you’re here!

Today, we’re going to do things a little bit differently! We thought a chat about road tripping with pets would be a great subject for today’s discussion but since we have a cat, we could only talk about that. But I knew exactly who to call for help with dogs - my sister-in-law Julie! She has traveled A LOT with her dogs and she is really great at it. Then I thought, how fun would it be to have her as our very first guest on the show!

So, I’d like to introduce you to my sister-in-law and Trooper’s auntie, Julie!

Hey Julie, thank you for being on the show today!

Julie:  Hello. Thanks for having me. This is so fun. 

Ashley:  All right, so what we're going to do is Trooper's going to interview us and we're just going to answer a few questions and talk about road tripping with pets. 

Trooper: Hey guys, Trooper here. Tell us a little bit about your pets. Auntie Julie do you want to answer?

Julie:  Sure. So I have a little havanese, she's a rescue dog. I got her when she was seven. And she's about 10.5 pounds. Cutest little girl that is my little buddy and she goes everywhere with me when I can take her. 

Ashley: And what's her name?

Julie: Oh, her name is Roca Rose.

Ashley:  We have a 17 pound cat named Roger. He is not fat. He is just giant. We got him when he was, they told us about four months old and he was already kind of the size of a normal cat. So we should have known that he was going be gigantic. And he is.

He is one of those, um COVID cats where everyone was getting kittens and puppies, and we had just lost our cat in January of 2020, our little heart cat, Daisy. And so we were needing a little fuzzy person to come and join our family. And so Roger came with us and he is perfect for a shut-in cat. He doesn't like change, he doesn't like us to be gone. And so we have started traveling with him and he loves it, but we'll get more into that. 

Trooper:  Yeah. So let's talk about actually traveling. Do you use a carrier for your pet? Mom? Do you want to go? 

Ashley:  We actually do use a carrier for our pet. Some people don't with cats in the car. We were afraid that Roger would freak out and get underneath the driver's feet. And so I ordered I guess probably 10 different carriers to try out for him because he is huge. We wanted him to be able to move around in it, and I wanted it to be attached to the car somehow, not just sitting there in case, you know, we had to stop quickly. And so we finally found one, and I'll put it on our website.

This one is big enough for him. It attaches kind of like a baby seat with the, you know how everything attaches over the back of the chair and the seatbelt goes through and he really loves it. He'll actually even go in it when we're not traveling. We'll pull it out a couple days before we go and he'll go in and he really enjoys it.

Trooper: Yeah. Auntie Julie?

Julie:  That's awesome. Safety first, right? 

So Roca is a rescue and her first seven years of her life, she kind of lived in a cage. So I let her have her freedom. I do not use a carrying case unless she is flying with me. So when I'm road tripping, it's all about comfort. And she has the ultimate setup where she can go from the front seat to the back seat whenever she wants.

I make sure that all the nooks and crannies in the car are filled in so she doesn't hurt herself. The backseat is a hammock. And so it's all contained. She's got blankets and pillows and all her comforts right there, but I do recommend still taking or throwing in that carrier in the car with you because it comes in handy when you need to go in someplace that's not pet friendly and you can put her in the carrying case and people don't even know if she's there. If they do see her, they don't question that you are a good responsible dog owner and you don't have to leave them in the car when it's way too hot. 

Ashley:  It was amazing. We just went through Las Vegas and it got so hot in the car that we had to just leave it on the whole time just because I couldn't leave him in there without it.

We have a backpack carrier for Roger as well, but I hate it because people don't necessarily notice him, but dogs notice him and that scares him. And so when you're carrying 17 pounds on your back and he starts running around because a dog is like freaking out on him, um, that's not as fun. But we do have one and we have used it going on walks and stuff. 

I forgot to say though, with our carrier, we do put puppy pads underneath it just in case. Just in case there's some sort of thing that happens and it feels like that would be easier to clean up. 

What do you think, Julie? 

Having stuff right there is nice because you just never know what's going to happen. You don't know what's going to happen with anybody. I could get car sick and you know, but just having that cleanup stuff right there is nice. Right?

Julie:  Absolutely. So I have a designated spot for all of Roca’s stuff. It's behind the passenger seat so that when I am stopped at a stoplight, I can easily and safely grab her treats, grab, you know, anything she needs.

And that's also the designated spot to have the paper towels and the cleanup. I take gloves. So just to have gloves with you as well, just so I know where to find it. The poop bags and all of that right there contained where I know easily where it's. And easily able to grab it.

Trooper:  Yeah. So let's talk about food and water. What do you do Auntie Julie? 

Julie:  Yeah, so food and water is huge. I mean, it's what they live for, right to eat and have all their snacks. And so I like to plan my trip where I can actually be to my end destination by the time she has dinner.

If that's not possible, then I look at the map and see where a good stopping point is. And look for areas where I can then have a longer break, pull out her food, let her stretch her legs, and then, water is accessible to her at all times. I actually have a, it's kind a pillow, the wedge is what I call it, and it's become Roca’s stepper onto the couch. And I also use it on road trips. I put it right in the passenger seat of the front, and it's a safety for her from hitting the dashboard. To that, I attach her water dish, so it's secure. It's always accessible. She can come up and get the water as she pleases throughout the whole trip.

Trooper:  Yeah, I think that's a great idea. Mom?

Ashley:  Our first trip with Roger was from the top of Washington to the bottom of California, and I was super nervous and I talked to our vet about what to do about water and food and they said, cats are a little different than dogs. He's probably not going to eat while you're on the road. He probably won't drink while you're on the road, and that's okay.

And so the first little bit, like the first day we were traveling, I put some food in there and he didn't touch it. He didn't even want to look at it. But what I have learned is I have little collapsible bowls and every time we stop, I will fill up his bowl of water and just put it in there with him.

And then if no one's in the car or if it's quiet, like if it's just one person in the car, he'll drink. But if all of us are in the car talking, he won't. So we'll just be quiet and let him drink and he'll drink a little bit. But then he's fine not eating the whole time. We do have his,regular food with us.

I put it in one of those cereal Rubbermaids, so it's easy to not spill and it's easy to pour when we get there. And like I said, I have those collapsible bowls, but yeah, cats, they just, they don't really want to when you're on the road. 

Julie:  Dogs are also very finicky. So don't be super alarmed if they're not eating right away or if they're not drinking, they're just, you know, a little bit stressed and give them time.

I have found with my previous dog, a little poodle, she would not eat unless I hand fed her when we were on the road. That was okay. Like that worked for us. And she finally got comfortable with the new environment and then she was able to eat. But there for the time, you know, the first couple days she was always a bit anxious and a bit stressed and so I would actually hand feed her a little bit and she was able to then eat.

So don't be alarmed if they are a little bit, you know, more stressed or not acting like normal. 

Ashley: Yeah, for sure, I agree. They just have to get used to it.

Trooper:  So let's talk bathrooms. What do you do, Mom? 

Ashley:  Well, cats, so Roger is not leash trained. We have tried. He's one of those that will just lay there and we can drag him, but it doesn't really work.

So we have to keep him inside at all times. And we have a litter box. But again, the vet warned us that he probably wouldn't use it when we were on the road. We always give him access to it. It's one of the top down ones, like there's a hole in the top and he can go in and that just feels like it's not going to spill as easily when we're traveling. But he's never used it on the road. And I do sometimes wish I could tell him, like, dogs, they're kind of trained where you go outside and you're like, it's time to go potty. I wish cats could do that. Because I'm always afraid that he's been holding it and then we stuff him in the car and he's like, wait, wait.

But cats aren't trained like that. But, we haven't had any problems, knock on wood yet. 

Trooper: Yeah. Auntie Julie?

Julie:  Yeah. So they are trained when they go outside and it's a good thing. So definitely give them an opportunity to go out right before you get in the car. Then Roca is really good to let me know if she actually has a potty emergency. She comes up, you can just tell she's not drinking her water, but kind of like staring at me. And so then I know that she does need a break. And so I get to the safe spot where I can pull over if it's truly an emergency safe spot, pull over on the side of the road, or I look for an exit where I can get off and then give her that opportunity to get outside.

Trooper: Yeah. So, what about calling treats? Do you use them? Auntie Julie?

Julie:  I have been so lucky that I actually have not needed them. Both my dogs are so well behaved and really don't need the calming treat. So I haven't actually used them, but I did get them in case they were needed when I didn't know how they would react.

And so I actually talked to my vet before a big road trip or before traveling with them on the plane and they prescribed little, um, Ashley help me out what that name is, 

Ashley: Gabapentin.

Julie:  Gabapentin. Yes. So they prescribed that for me that I was able to have it on hand in case we needed it because once you go on a road trip, you have to get back. And so if the first day is absolutely terrible, then it would be nice to have it on hand so you know that you're able to use it on the road home. 

Trooper: Absolutely, yeah. Mom?

Ashley:  We tried to use calming traits so we could have gotten the gabapentin from our vet. We chose not to do that because, I don't know, I'm a little bit afraid to try to give this cat a pill, to be honest. He’s a little bit crazy sometimes.

But they do have calming treats like at Petco or PetSmart that are just like little chewy treats, and we got him to eat it once and he won't eat them again. He knows that there's something in there and he won't eat them again. But we've been lucky to where he hasn't been that bad.

But we did almost make a mistake, and I have to tell you this just because I don't want anyone else to make this mistake. So at our vet hospital that we go to, when you come in, they hand a bandana to the dogs and a blanket to the cats that is sprayed with a pheromone that calms the animals. It seems to calm him, you know, and they do sell it.

And I thought, this is so smart. Like, I'm going to spray it inside his carrier and he will be super chill and it'll be great. And luckily the vet said, don't use the calming spray in a car because it will calm everyone, including the driver. And so she's like, that could be kind of dangerous. And I hadn't even thought of that, but yes.

So don't use that in a car, the calming spray, try the calming treats or get that prescription from your vet.

Trooper: Genius!  So where do you like the stop at gas stations, rest areas, something else? Julie?

Julie:  I have found it works really well to make rest areas the stop for the dog and the gas station the stop for me.

That way it keeps the stops to a minimum. Rest areas are fantastic. They're right off the freeway, typically. They're pretty nice, and they also offer picnic tables, the dog stations, a place to walk, and so it does allow a nice break and allows, you know, Roca and I to stretch our legs and go for a little walk where a gas station, obviously it's nice to fill up, get some food for myself, get myself a break, but then be on the road pretty quickly.

Trooper: Mom?

Ashley:  Well, since we don't take Roger out, we just stop at gas stations usually or wherever we need to stop. I guess we have found that unfortunately Washington rest areas are kind of on the most part, yucky. Idaho rest areas are amazing and so are Oregon. And then California's kind of hit or miss. Those are the ones that we've done with Roger. 

So we just stop wherever we stop. And like I said, we give him a minute of quiet because cats do like that, for things to just be a little bit less crazy for a minute.

Trooper:  Yeah. So what are your favorite pet friendly hotels? Mom? 

Ashley:  Well, one of our travel tips is when you're staying in a hotel, stay within the same family of hotels, and then you can earn points and get free time. So our chosen one is Marriott, and Marriott has the extended stay hotels. Like the residence Inns and stuff. And they have always been really good for us. They're clean, but they're also pet friendly. Not every hotel that says it's pet friendly is cat friendly, so sometimes we have to make sure that that's okay. And then kind of like Julie was saying, in her car, we always make sure there's no place that the cat can get into and hide because sometimes those things under the bed are open at one end and then they can get all the way down and that would be ridiculous to try to find him in. 

I always, because Roger is not an outdoor cat, we don't always keep up on the flea medication, which we should, but he hates it and I hate making him do it. But whenever we're going to be in a hotel or in, uh, you know, go someplace else, we always make sure he's up to date on his flea medication. 

And my last thing is that we always bring a little dustpan and broom to clean up all those little bits of litter…

Trooper: Litter sand.

Ashley: Yes, litter sand  that gets out when he uses the bathroom. Because we try to be respectful of where we are. 

We have stayed in an Airbnb with Roger. We made sure that pet friendly meant cat friendly and it was perfect. They had a huge bathroom that he could watch the deer and the turkeys and everything. We were in a cabin near Lassen National Park and it was perfect. And so that is an option, but you have to definitely ask because not all pet friendly means cat friendly. 

Trooper: Yeah. Auntie Julie?

Julie:  That is so fascinating. I love those tips. Ashley. I wouldn't even think about the differences between a cat and a dog not being able to come to a hotel or Airbnb. Maybe because I'm just so dog oriented that it's like absolutely they're allowed.

Ashley: Well, travelling with dogs is much more normal, I think, than traveling with cats.

Julie:  That's true. So I actually try to say it in Airbnb or VRBO because Roca actually got me in trouble when I stayed at a hotel once. And this is a good thing for dog owners to be aware of. Roca does not bark. She is very quiet, but I got a phone call as I left her in the hotel room as I stepped out to go get some food.

I got a phone call from the hotel who said, um, we've had some reports of some barking coming from your room. And so I was caught, that I was not there, and that's a no-no. 

So I learned very quickly that she does bark. She does have a voice when you leave her in a hotel room. And so I choose to avoid hotels when I can and stay in VRBO’s or Airbnb’s when possible.

Trooper: Yeah.

Ashley:  Well, I just like that anyway. I think it's nice to kind of have that home feel. We definitely try to do Airbnbs or VRBO whenever we can because I do like that and we like having a separate place for Trooper to sleep. 

Tyler:  We have learned that none of us sleep well and none of us are happy in the morning when we sleep together.

Julie:  That's funny. And the other thing to think about when you're staying in a hotel is there's often other dogs. And so that may raise their anxiety and you know, put them on edge a little bit more if there's others around. And so again, to separate them into a VRBO or Airbnb where they are in that more homey place where they are, there might be sense from previous people who have stayed there, but it's not a lot.

And so it will hopefully keep them calmer too. 

Ashley: Yeah, I like that. That's true. 

Trooper:  What is something you wish you had known sooner? Auntie Julie. 

Julie:  You know, it's kind of unfair that pets aren't around for very long. We don't have them near long enough, and so I've learned that you just need to spend all the time you can with them and that they're okay to go on these adventures.

And so when possible take them, they will love you for it. They enjoy going out, experiencing new things and they love being with their person, and so definitely take them when you can. 

Trooper: Yeah. Mom?

Ashley:   I wish I could tell my before-we-started-traveling-with-Roger self that it would be okay. I was so scared that he would meow the entire time, or that he would throw up all over the place, or that he would be just so freaked out, he could never calm down. And admittedly where we live in Washington, we do not have a lot of motorcycles. And so motorcycles freak him out.  But other than that, he just really likes being with us. And he has been a trooper with traveling. We've done it quite a few times now and he just really likes to be with us and I think that that's what makes him the best.

He does sometimes meow. He's a really quiet cat anyway, and he did meow on our first trip for about an hour, which was scary because you just don't know when it's going to end, and you're like, please don't be for three days. But he only meowed for about an hour and then he was fine. And he really doesn't meow at all anymore. He really enjoys it. 

Sometimes he'll meep at us to get somebody to pay attention to him or give him a little pet. But other than that, he is pretty happy. 

So I wish I could just tell myself it would be okay. You can do it. Cats can travel too, not just dogs. And they can enjoy it too.

Trooper: Yeah. That’s awesome!

What is your favorite trip that you’ve taken, with or without Rocan or Roger? Mom?

Ashley:  Well without Roger, my favorite trips are always Europe. I love Europe. I could spend my entire life there. I just think it's amazing. 

But I just really like when all of us are together, all four of us together, we always say Home is Where Our Peeps are, and Roger's one of our peeps. And so, I just like to all be together, and so wherever that is, that we can be together and make memories, those are my favorite times. And so it's always just the last one that was my favorite. So coming home from San Diego this last time was my favorite. 

Trooper: Yeah. Auntie Julie?

Julie:  I went on a cruise, which was so fun and I loved it, but I couldn't have my dog with me.

So I really think that my favorite trips are those that my dog can be with me and the end of the beach. Like, it's so fun when you're in this happy place and they get to see the beach for the first time and they're just overjoyed. Like, it's so rewarding to see them so happy. 

And so, my road trip from Colorado to Florida, which we got to go to a beach, was probably my favorite.

Trooper:  Yeah. What is anything else that you want to touch on or get a little bit off topic that you think our audience should hear? 

Auntie Julie?

Julie:  A couple things. I find it really important when you're packing to pull out their stuff as well, so they see that they're going with you. It kind of helps calm them a little bit when they see their stuff being packed. So pull out their dog bed, put it next to the door. So it's like, okay, you're not going to forget about me. So that's really helpful. 

The other thing that I found useful is taking a dish wand that's already full of dish soap so you can easily clean their dishes when you get to a rest area or a hotel, or the VRBO. And so you can keep that clean. 

Then of course, I think it's already been mentioned, but definitely have that cleaner stuff and paper towels on hand because accidents do happen. And so it's nice to know where it is because I don't pack light when I'm road tripping. I don't need to. And Roca for sure doesn't pack light. She's got so much stuff, and so it really is important to have that designated spot where you can easily get to it and know where it is. 

And lastly. It's great if you can give them a bath the day of road tripping because you're going to be in close quarters with a stinky dog. And so that's great if you can do that. If you can't, I recommend having some wipes on hand so that you can wipe them down and keep that odor down. It makes traveling a little bit more pleasant for you. 

Ashley: Yeah, that’s something good that I hadn’t thought about. Especially since we don’t give Roger baths.

Trooper: I don’t think that we could anyway!

Ashley:  What I think that everyone needs to know about cats, at least the two cats that we have had, in stressful situations, they drop their fur like crazy. And so it will be even worse than normal. So definitely have those roller lint guys with you because they will leave an entire cat on you just because they're in a stressful situation.

And he does this at the vet too. So it's kind of a normal thing for us where we know it's going to happen. But having that lint roller is nice because like I say, I like to be respectful of the places we're staying as much as possible, and I don't want to leave two and a half cats worth of hair all over.

So, there you have it! We are so glad that Julie was able to come on and help us with this episode!

It’s so nice to get both perspectives because like Julie said, she’s so dog focused and we’re so cat focused that there were things that surprised us. 

Did anything surprise you?

Before you hit the road with your pet, here are some things to remember from today’s episode:

• Know your pet’s personality. Some need more comfort and quiet (like cats), others thrive with flexibility (like dogs).

• Carrier or free-range? Use what makes your pet feel safe. For cats, a secure carrier is usually best. Dogs might prefer a cozy setup with freedom to move—just make it safe.

• Prep for messes. Bring paper towels, wipes, gloves, puppy pads, and a lint roller. Accidents (and shedding) happen.

• Plan food and water stops. Dogs might eat and drink on the go. Cats? Not so much. Offer water at stops and don’t stress if they skip a meal or two.

• Bathroom needs vary. Dogs go outside. Cats need a litter box (even if they don’t always use it during the drive). Just keep it accessible.

• Pack their stuff where they can see it. It helps them feel included—and reassured.

• Rest stops vs. gas stations. Dogs love a walk at a rest area. Gas stations work for humans and cats who stay inside the car.

• Consider calming aids. Calming treats, vet-prescribed meds (like gabapentin), or even just quiet time can help anxious pets.

• Hotels vs. rentals. Not all “pet friendly” means cat friendly. Always ask! And double-check for hiding spots.

• Bring comfort items. Favorite beds, blankets, or toys can go a long way in helping your pet settle in.

• Don’t forget a dish wand. Makes it easy to clean up pet bowls on the road.

• Baths (or wipes) before you go. No one wants to be trapped in a car with a stinky travel buddy.

• Your pet wants to be with you. If you can take them, do it. The memories are worth it.

That’s a wrap on our first ever guest episode—huge thanks to Julie for joining us and sharing all her dog travel wisdom! I loved getting both perspectives today, and I hope it was helpful whether you travel with a pup, a cat, or you’re just thinking about adding a furry friend to the road trip crew.

If you’ve got questions we didn’t answer, or tips of your own, we’d love to hear them. You can find us on Instagram @readysetdepartpodcast.

And hey, if this episode made you feel a little more confident about traveling with pets—or if you just loved hearing about Roger and Roca—would you mind leaving us a quick review? It really helps other families (and their pets!) find the show.

Until next time,

Remember: home is where your peeps, and your pets, are.

We’ll see you down the road!