Happy cat

Last year we pretty well decided we were done taking the cat to the cottage with us. He's getting up there in years (21 at the time we made the decision, 22 now) and he really hated the hour-long trip in the car. Hated it so much he'd invariably poop or barf on the way. The kids would freak out because his carrier was always buckled between them in the back seat and they'd be stuck smelling it, but we got pretty efficient at changing the pad in his carrier, cleaning up the cat, and getting back on the road.

Because of his dislike of car rides, we'd been leaving him behind at home on weekend trips and only bring him with us when we'd stay for a week or longer.

This plan had to change this year. He has started to suffer seizures in his old age. We couldn't, in good conscience, leave him alone in that condition; who knows what we'd return home to?! So, we packed him up in his carrier for a weekend trip and set out for the cottage.

He mewled and he howled as he was miserable. The kids were flipping out over every little movement he made, convinced he was depositing "presents" in his cage for them.
In desperation, I let him out of his carrier as held him on my lap.
And he sat there happily for the whole trip!!

What?!?

We've now made 4 trips this way and he's been as good as gold. He fidgets a little bit, but mostly he's a happy cat. I know this isn't the safest way to transport him, but he never leaves my lap, and he's content. At the ripe old age of 22, I think he has earned that much.