If you’ve been following our posts on Facebook or YouTube, you probably saw that I recently traveled with all my kitties and doggies—GB, Buttercup, BB, and Phoebe. A lot of people were surprised to learn it was just me and the kids this time, without my husband. Don’t worry—our marriage is just fine! There’s a story behind that decision.

Several months ago, my husband and our extended family planned a two-and-a-half-week trip to Europe. I was invited, but there was never any pressure to go. Everyone knows how I feel about traveling without my furry kids.

My husband learned that pretty quickly when we first started dating. Early on, he asked if I wanted to take a trip and whether someone could watch my late dogs, Jazzy and Cooper. I was shocked.

Before I met him, I spent most of my time around people who were just as devoted to their dogs as I was. To us, vacations always included our dogs—period. Trips without dogs were either business trips or trips we couldn’t get out of. I realized not everyone chose to always travel with their furry companions.

Back then, I wasn’t very good at expressing my feelings. I often avoided difficult conversations because I didn’t want conflict. But I really liked this guy and wanted to make things work. Instead of trying to explain myself, I handed him a copy of my first book, which captured what dogs meant to me and how they shaped my life.

A couple of days later, he called me to talk about the book. He told me he had learned so much about me from reading it and that he totally got it. From that point on, we planned our trips around our furry family members because he knew how important it was to me.

While everyone else was in Europe, staying home was certainly an option. But since I can work remotely, I thought, “Heck, I’m going on a road trip!”

Planning My Own Adventure

I knew my trip had to be a road trip.

For a brief moment, I considered renting a tiny RV, but I quickly realized that was more than I wanted to tackle on my own. I had recently traded in my old Jeep Wrangler, which had taken Jazzy, Cooper, and me on many adventures, for a Bronco, which I named “FurMobl.”

I decided to return to one of my favorite places in the United States—Colorado.

Colorado holds so many memories for me. I’ve explored it with Jazzy and Cooper, and later with my husband, BB, and Phoebe. Every visit leaves me wanting to come back.

I also invited one of my dearest friends, who now lives in a northern state, to join me for part of the trip. To my delight, she said yes.

I’ve always enjoyed traveling with a purpose. Years ago, when I was involved in Search and Rescue, my teammates and I attended week-long training seminars all over Texas. I loved those trips because they combined learning, adventure, and meaningful experiences with my dogs—I called them “vacations with purpose.”

These days, my life revolves more around kitten rescue. I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to visit another rescue organization or sanctuary. I asked for recommendations on my social media platforms, and one name kept coming up over and over again: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, just a half-day drive from Colorado.

Someone from Best Friends kindly responded to my inquiry. She helped arrange visits and educational opportunities that would allow me to learn more while I was there.

Suddenly, my trip had three meaningful objectives:

1. Relax in Colorado, reconnect with a dear friend, and let the kids immerse themselves in nature.
2. Visit Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah to learn.
3. Leave room for spontaneous adventures along the way.

Now all I had to do was figure out how to get there—with four furry travel companions.

Overcoming My Driving Anxiety

There was one problem.

I used to take road trips with Jazzy and Cooper all the time, but over the last decade, I had developed anxiety about driving, especially on bridges, narrow roads, and in heavy rain. My husband almost always drives, and over the years I had become more and more reluctant to get behind the wheel myself.

The most recent road trip I had taken on my own was when the Mini Cereals—Pebbles, Frosty, and Honey Nut—were adopted. To work around a scheduling conflict, it made sense for me to drive halfway and meet their new family. My husband had to work, so I had no choice but to be the driver.

To my surprise, the trip turned out to be much more enjoyable than I expected. Having GB next to me helped tremendously. He spent most of the drive sleeping, but there was something comforting about having him there. Watching him relax made it easier for me to relax,  too.

Maybe successfully completing that trip gave me the confidence I needed. As the Colorado and Utah adventure grew closer, I found myself becoming less nervous and more excited.

Taking All Four Kids

The first challenge was figuring out who could watch my foster kittens for two weeks. It wasn’t easy to find people who were willing to care for three kittens. Fortunately, friends and a volunteer graciously agreed to help. They even sent me photo and video updates so I wouldn’t worry! The kittens actually ended up getting extra socialization from those households.

The next challenge was deciding whether bringing all four furry kids was actually a good idea. Leaving one or two behind with someone I trust was always an option. But I couldn’t do it. Each of them deserved to come, and each had their own reason for being part of the adventure.

BB loves the country. She’s a completely different dog when she’s surrounded by nature. She’s getting older, too, and I wanted her to have this trip. Phoebe has been a rock throughout our fostering journey. If any of them deserved a vacation, it was Phoebe. GB is my soul kitty. There was never any question about whether he was coming. And then there was Buttercup, the newest member of our family. I wanted her to experience a road trip while she was still young. My hope is that she’ll grow into another adventure kitty.

Once I decided everyone was coming, I had to be smart about the vehicle setup. GB always rides next to me. Even when there are other cozy places available, that’s where he chooses to be. The girls prefer the back seat, but I knew BB wouldn’t be comfortable spending hours right next to Buttercup. So I dedicated the rear cargo area entirely to her. It became her own spacious, cushy retreat where she never had to worry about a cat invading her personal space.

Because I was the only human on this trip—and solely responsible for everyone’s safety—I planned everything around one simple motto:

Safety first.

I could have driven straight to Colorado in a single day, but there was no reason to push myself that hard. Instead, I split the 22-hour drive into three days. I limited myself to about six hours of driving per day, with a little flexibility if needed. I also planned to arrive at each destination before sunset so I could avoid driving at night.

This trip wasn’t about getting there as fast as possible. It was about enjoying the journey safely and comfortably.

Packing for a Furry Vacation

GB is a seasoned road tripper, but this was going to be Buttercup’s very first road trip. I wanted to make sure everyone experienced as little stress as possible.

Some of the items I packed for the trip included:

• A scratching post with an elevated bed (One they are used to using)
• Lots of sheets and blankets to protect furniture
• A water filter
• A dedicated duffel bag for all the kitty and dog supplies
• Several collapsible carriers for different situations
• Disposable litter boxes and litter packed in several smaller bags
• Towels to clean up any messes (They came in handy!)
• Extra food, including a variety of brands in case someone suddenly decided they no longer liked their usual food (This can happen with cats.)
• Plenty of Churu, especially to encourage more water intake
• Harnesses for everyone (a must!)
• Long and short leashes for different situations
• A basic medical kit
• Their favorite toys including GB’s spirals

Since I’d be carrying everything into the lodgings by myself, I packed strategically. First, I packed in multiple small bags. The bags containing essentials were placed on top, where I could access them easily, while items for longer stays were packed underneath.

In case you’re wondering, all of my kids wear an AirTag. GB also wears a GPS tracker from Fi. Buttercup isn’t quite big enough for one yet. I’m still hoping a company will come up with a tracker that’s even smaller and lighter than the one GB wears now.

Finding Furry-Friendly Lodgings

Finding a place that welcomes dogs is relatively easy. Finding one that welcomes two dogs and two cats is a different story. Many property owners don’t even consider that people travel with cats. Before booking, I contacted each property I was interested in and explained my situation. I introduced myself as a responsible, laid-back, and tidy guest who would care for the rental as if it were my own home. Most owners were happy to accommodate us. A few declined because of the cats, which I completely understood.

Resources: Airbnb Vrbo BringFido PetsWelcome

At every place we stayed, I made a conscious effort to leave a positive impression—not just for myself, but for the next person traveling with cats. I want to be a good advocate for cat travelers. Cats can be wonderful guests when their people are responsible. In fact, I would argue that cats can be just as good as dogs on a road trip—sometimes even better.

When we arrived at a rental, my first priority was preparing the house for my kids. Before unpacking anything else, I would:

• Set up a litter box
• Place a scratching post near furniture — cats usually want to stretch after a long ride in the car
• Cover couches, chairs, and sometimes beds with blankets or sheets
• Move breakable items out of reach
• Raise delicate blinds and secure any cords

GB and Buttercup aren’t particularly interested in blind cords, but fostering kittens has taught me to look for potential trouble before it happens. Once the house was “kitty-proofed,” I brought everyone inside one at a time.

The dogs came in first so they could explore the yard and take care of business. Then I brought in GB, followed by Buttercup. In the beginning, I always brought GB in first because I wanted Buttercup to be greeted by a familiar face in a brand-new environment. After a few of these, Buttercup was comfortable enough to be the first one to enter a lodging.

These steps didn’t apply when I stayed at the Best Friends lodging, since it was already very pet-friendly.

Road House Hotel by Best Friends

The hotel is conveniently located, just a few blocks from stores and restaurants and a little over 10 minutes from the sanctuary. They allow up to four animals. The room is equipped with an efficiency kitchen (a plug-in stove, pots, pans, and utensils). The mini fridge does not have a freezer, but there is an ice machine outside. The kitchen had no spices, so I suggest bringing your own if you plan to cook. They have a Nescafé machine, which was amazing!

The windows faced the parking lot, so it could make your dogs nervous if they don’t like hearing people talk or other dogs. The staff are great at accommodating requests and assigning rooms based on your needs, as long as you book early enough. They have a dog park and potty areas on the property, but very little grass, which my dogs are used to using. Best Friends also offer on-site cabins and campground. There are many other pet friendly lodging in town.

Which Is the Better Traveler: Cats or Dogs?

I’ve always enjoyed traveling with my pups. My first weekend trip with cats was three years ago when we were fostering Sunny (GB) and Smokey. Since then, we’ve brought foster kittens along on some of our family trips whenever possible. After adopting GB, he became a regular travel companion and joined us on nearly every adventure.

Aside from finding lodgings that allow cats, traveling with GB has been surprisingly easy. A big part of that is probably because I spent a lot of time getting him comfortable with a harness, leash, car rides, a stroller, and new environments. When we adopted Buttercup, I worked on many of the same things with her and took her out to experience new places as often as possible.

This road trip to Colorado and Utah was going to be our longest and most complicated one yet, but both GB and Buttercup did great. In fact, I might argue that some cats can be easier to travel with than some dogs!

With cats, you don’t need to take them outside for potty breaks, they don’t bark, and they can be lower maintenance when it comes to exercise. They’re also much smaller than most dogs.

Don’t get me wrong—I love traveling with dogs. They’re fun, tend to be more engaging with people, and can provide an added sense of security.

So, after this adventure, I’ve come to one conclusion: I enjoy traveling with BOTH cats and dogs!

Closing Note

Despite my worries and the challenges along the way, this trip ended up being one of the best I’ve ever experienced. I think that’s because I stayed flexible, gave myself extra free time, and appreciated unexpected moments as they came. I didn’t set too many expectations, especially while traveling with four furry kids who all had different needs and levels of experience.

When we got home, I wasn’t tired physically or mentally. In fact, I could have kept going for another week if I had the time. A few days later, my extended family returned from Europe. They had an incredible time as well. Their trip sounded amazing, and my husband thought mine did too. He told me about the wonderful food they enjoyed in the Mediterranean, the stray cats in Greece, Pompeii, the Vatican, and many other memorable experiences. We exchanged stories and compared adventures from our very different trips.

You know what though? If I were given the choice again, I would choose the same road trip all over again.

If you’d like to order a copy of my book “Heart Dog — Angel in Disguise”, please email me at bordernerd@yahoo.com