A Surprise Diagnosis: Well, I found out why my cat, Leesha. hasn't been feeling well -- she has diabetes. She needs insulin shots twice a day, so she has to travel with me now. She's almost 17 years old! So we're going to try her first car trip. Brian and I are meeting in Nevada City CA, on April 7, to take a trip down to Big Sur, Carmel, and Santa Cruz. My long-time friend, Denise, is going along with me from Rapid City; Brian's driving down to California from Bozeman. 
April 4: Denise and I left Rapid City today, and we packed Leesha in my RAV-4 with the back seats folded down. She had her little purple cat house and a covered litter box. Amazingly, she did well! In Wyoming, however, she stayed down on the floor in the front seat -- too much wind!
Leesha Contemplates Her First Road Trip
We stopped in Salt Lake City tonight and are visiting friends, Dick and Susan. Leesha is afraid to look out their patio door because of the traffic on the street outside. And she keeps trying to go into Dick's bedroom to get in the closet and nest in his clothes -- like she does at home, of course. Otherwise she seems fine. We'll be here in Salt Lake a few days; we're all going snowshoeing tomorrow. Leesha made herself right at home in Salt Lake after a day. She figured out that the traffic was just noise and that it was safe to look out the window.
April 7: So now we're in California after a long day's drive across Nevada. Leesha will get out of the car when we stop and sniff the air and look around, as long as there aren't big trucks roaring by! She's happy to be at Brian's in Nevada City CA with a comfortable bed and a good closet to hide in.
April 8: We're on our way from Nevada City south to Big Sur on CA HWY 49 through Gold Country. Leesha loves stops on these smaller roads where she can explore the ditch and sniff the flowers.
She loves the Big Sur cabin -- a wonderful place up a dirt road with a huge hot tub and a separate cabin for Denise. Thank you, Vacation Rental by Owner! Leesha had mouse droppings to smell (much to the chagrin of the cabin's owner), a high loft in which to play cougar-in-a-tree, and a big deck to explore. We just can't believe how adaptable she is!
Flowers in the Ditch at Lodi
April 9: We woke up to this! What a fierce girl she is! No more mouse droppings in the kitchen!
We spent the rest of the day exploring the California coast with Leesha in tow.
Leesha Puts an End to a Marauding Mouse
April 10: Further exploration of the gorgeous California coast.
April 11: We went to Carmel where Denise and I planned to hike the spectacular Point Lobos Trail. A word to pet owners -- the park won't let pets past the front gate under any circumstances, even in the car. The gate guard agreed to let Brian drop us off, and he agreed to watch Leesha while we hiked. Poor Leesha, who really had just met Brian, watched sadly from the car window as they drove away, leaving Denise and me to hike.
When Brian picked us up after our hike, he told us he took Leesha to Carmel City beach, and she didn't like it one bit! She didn't like the noise of the surf, and she didn't like the sand in her feet. She hid in a bush, and he had to get her out. So they cruised around Carmel looking for a kitty spot and found a Lutheran Church with lovely windows and gardens. Leesha has spent a lot of time with Lutherans (the wonderful Minnesota family of my late husband, Mark), and she was right at home here.
Point Lobos State Park CA
Furry Purry Scratches a Tree at the Lutheran's After Failing to Catch a Lizard
April 12: Denise had to go back to work in Rapid City so we took her to the San Jose airport for her flight home. We drove on to Santa Cruz to visit friends. Along the way, Leesha took a little hike in the redwoods, and we discovered cat hiking. She finds a trail and heads out -- but not too far from the car.
In Santa Cruz, we discovered Leesha doesn't like other cats. Our friends' cat was peacefully sleeping, minding his own business. Leesha started growling and hissing and had to be removed from the scene. Oh well, she has been the queen of her house for 17 years!
Leesha Hikes the Redwoods
April 15: Brian and I arrived back in Nevada City on April 15, and Leesha and I are headed home alone with another stop in Salt Lake City. What an amazing very first car trip for an old cat!!!
Louise with photos by Brian
text and photos copyright GoinMobyle, LLC 2009