Moving is hard OR to NM edition

We are here in New Mexico now. Finally! Seems like I have been working towards this move for months. Oh wait I have been working towards this move for that long!

In some ways I feel this move was easier and in others is was way more difficult. Isn't that always the case? I had the time to plan and work towards this one and we were only in the house for a few years rather than the decade + for the old one. We had less time to accumulate stuff but that meant we wanted to keep most of the stuff we had. And this time we have two curious and active kitties, that had never taken to using halters and leashes. One of whom is quite skittish. So I had to think about how long could we be on the road a day and how would we handle her in hotel rooms? Litter boxes, scoopers, litter, beds, food, water, dishes, uncramped carriers so many things to think of. Honestly it was a bit overwhelming.

Enter the solution to Mellie in a hotel room. We call it the Burt Yurt (trademark) but it is for Miss Mellie. There is a zip on lid so it keeps her fully contained. Room for litter box, food and water and some comfy bedding. Solution to one problem acquired.  

It worked great! I am so glad we got it. Even though she got lonely in the night and I spent a portion of every night on the floor zipping my upper torso in the door. Bonus to that solution was that I was right there to witness she was peeing and pooping which can be a concern. Honestly I have never been so excited to scoop litter boxes before.

I got new tall wide carriers for them to stretch out in. I set them up as soon as we received them so they could get used to them and decide they were a good safe place to retreat. The mesh was great so they had plenty of air flow even in the back seat. I started out with them covered to cut down on noise but that seemed to be too hot for them. 

The problem with these is that they are not really carriers as much as back seat traveling carriages. There is no good convenient way to pick them up and carry them. But we did it and I would choose them again. Bonus they fold flat so they are easy to store. We had them set up in the closet while they were packing the house and again in a different closet here when our stuff arrived. I have not seen the kids in them since our stuff arrived though. Turns out a week in them makes you less fond of them, if you're a kitten.

Our surprise of the trip was that Burt was the one we had a bit of difficulty with. That story will be told later. Mellie turned into our grin and bear it girl. You know other than demanding Momma come sleep in the yurt with her. Our last day in a hotel was a bit more relaxed so we slept in some only to awaken to cat yowls and growls. Mellie had pushed just right on the zipper and got it open enough to escape the yurt. Luckily she let me catch her and put her back in before causing any fits of the vapors. 

One tip I am really thankful to know is to travel with water from home for the kitties. It helps prevent upset stomach due to different minerals in the water in different places. It did feel funny to have human water and kitty water. The kitty water was much more valuable and protected than the human water!

We seem to be settling in fine so far. It did get much better when we could sleep in our own beds. And not have to get up and drive 400 + miles the next day. D commented on that specifically several times. Burt totally agreed each time too.

Well that is the first move report. I'm sure there will be more as I think of it. But we are all safe and sound for a little bit.