🐾 Fluff on the Move: Ron’s First PCS Adventure

Written By Brianne Hartley

Starring one Maine Coon, a Penske truck, and an absolute refusal to take his calming meds.

When we made our first PCS move from Vermont to Kansas City, there were a lot of moving parts: new duty station, tight timeline, a full DITY move across states. But one of the most memorable elements?

🚛 Ron.

Our Maine Coon. Our 16-lb fluff commander. Our first and only cat at the time.
And the very dramatic feline passenger in our bright yellow Penske truck.

Let’s just say… Ron had opinions.

🚫 Medication? He Said No.

We talked to the vet before the trip and were given gabapentin to keep him calm. Great in theory. Except Ron took one sniff, gave us the death glare, and flat-out refused. He even had the nerve to spit his medicine out like a toddler - rude.

So we hit the road med-free, meowing and all.

🚚 Dashboard King of the Interstate

Shockingly? He was kind of a natural.

Ron liked to ride on the dashboard, stretched out like a regal roadtrip gremlin, watching the semis and scenery go by. He only hissed at some of the truckers.

He actually did really well for his first cross-country haul.
We stayed in hotels each night, and Ron adapted like a fluffy little pro. (Probably helped that he had an entire moving truck to himself, minus the litter box and snacks.)

🧳 Traveling With a Cat: What You Need to Know

Here are the lessons we learned — and what you need if you’re bringing a cat along for a PCS road trip:

✅ Before You Go

  • Vet check: Make sure vaccines are up-to-date and they’re current on flea/tick meds (you never know what’s in hotel carpets 😬).

  • Microchip and collar with ID tags — just in case.

  • Talk to your vet early about meds or calming options — and do a trial run before the move if your cat’s picky like Ron.

🎒 Pack Their Essentials in a Grab Bag

Things to keep handy (NOT buried under boxes):

  • Travel litter box + scoop

  • Pee pads (trust me, one rogue paw in a puddle and it’s over)

  • A towel or blanket that smells like home

  • Favorite toys or treats

  • Food, water, collapsible bowls

  • Medications

  • Lint roller. (You’ll thank me later.)

🕒 Food, Water, and Litter: The Travel Rhythm

Here’s what works for us:

  • Pull food and water at least 2 hours before hitting the road in the morning

  • Do not offer food/water until you’re stopped for the day

    • I know it sounds mean, but it really helps avoid accidents in the truck

    • Most cats do just fine with this temporary travel schedule

  • Litter box gets packed last — so they can use it right before departure

  • Set it up first thing when you arrive each evening

🧺 Carrier or No Carrier? That Is the Question.

Some cats are strictly carrier-only.
Ron is not “some cats.”

Ron is very much a no-carrier kind of cat.
He prefers to be loose in the cab, ideally perched on the dash or crawling into our laps like a judgmental (and very large) baby raccoon.

If you go carrier-free:

  • The non-driving spouse becomes the official Cat Nanny

  • Expect to offer constant pets, soothing words, and occasional bribes

  • Be ready for spontaneous meowing and dramatic floor flopping

🏁 Ron’s Final Thoughts (Probably)

Ron did amazing on that trip.
Shockingly well, considering the truck, the hotels, the lack of meds, and the total upheaval of his world.

That said… he doesn’t always travel well.
But that? That’s a story for another day. 😼


💬 Have you PCS’d with a cat (or five)? Got travel hacks or hilarious pet stories? Share them below or tag me in your fur baby chaos — the Cat Corner is always open for fellow roadtripping weirdos.

Brianne Hartley