Thanks, auntiejan & flanative! Ruby's a pip! Her favorite treats are all the usual dog stuff plus sweet potatoe skin, left over butternut squash, and licking the residue from a Haas avacado skin and/or yogurt container. Her kitty pillow is currently headless (again). I've sewed that head back on three times; have decided not to get out that upholstery needle (yet). I'll probably cave in. She has plenty of toys, just loves kitty the best. Her worst garden escapade this year was knocking over 10 fresh hoya cuttings I had laid out in dappled sun. I was devastated when it happened, but am happy to report that the cuttings survided just fine. Here's my favorite picture of her (so far) And an earlier one with her doing the "dobie grin". That big stuffed animal was intended for my great niece, who was horrified by it, but loved splashing her hands in Ruby's water bowls!

As most of you know, I have animals. 13 of them to be exact. Now I know this is not about removing a urine smell, but I use a mix of baking soda, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. I have light carpets and have never noticed a change in colors, but it does remove cat pee. This might help for the vomit. My step mom spilled egg nog in the back of her little Vega one Christmas. This was back in the 70's and they did not have all the cool stuff for odor removal we have now. That car stunk to the day she sold it. I would get sick just riding in it- Trish

We're getting ready to leave for a late dinner out but wanted to add to what tinan said about NOT letting your cats loose in the car..........EVER! Definitely contain them in travel cages/carriers, with halters on. If you need to get into their cage/cages while you're on the road, make sure all your doors and windows are rolled up. Us with cats all know how fast they can be. As my husband is always saying, better safe than sorry. As far as your one dog, look into Thunder Shirts. They can be a little bit pricey but oh-so well worth the price. Pet Smart carries them. We have a friend who used one for his large dog and it was like night and day when he was moving from CA to Texas. His wife had their cats in their SUV (he was in their truck), all in large wire cages (with locks on the doors) and altho they stayed in pet friendly hotels, they never let the cats out in the rooms. They were large enough that they could put small litter boxes in the cages (when they stopped) and food and water bowls. If I remember correctly, they opened from the top and not an end or side. When we moved from Northern California to Arizona (with 2 cats and a very large German Shepherd) a little over a year and a half ago, we used one on one of our cats. He absolutely detests being both in his carrier and in a car and altho for the first hour of travel he vocally let us know/hear his displeasure. But other than being vocal, he was calm and safe. Our other cat slept most of the 12 hour trip. We also had their favorite toys in the carriers with them. And don't overfeed or over water them if you're traveling with them. Barfing dogs and cats aren't pleasant when you're traveling. And try to make sure that the area where they're going to be is cool. Another thought, and I don't know if this is possible in your case, is do you have any friends or family who would make the long drive with you in a separate vehicle? Maybe they could take either the dogs or cats? Is your new home already going to be set up when you arrive with the critters? If so, don't open the cat carriers until you're in the house with the doors shut. We had already been here and met the movers so our house was ready for the fur faces, as far as their needs were concerned. We already had a cat box set up when we let them out and food and water came immediately after. Our brat cat immediately went to his safe place, which is under our bed. I sure do wish you well with traveling with your critters. I'm sure there will be times that you'll think that it's a PITA but you all will survive. Just think of the stories you can tell your friends and family of the time you traveled across country with them. I'm also very glad to have read that you're taking them all with you. It just makes me sick to my stomach when I read ads in the paper or on Craig's List that say something like "Dog/cat free....am moving and can't/won't take them with me/us". Please let us know what you decide and how it turns out. Jenna

Here are a few of my Angel Sadie...she always LOVED presents And she always liked to rub up against the couch,bed, really any furniture just like a cat would. LOL, she would often move the living room chair half way across the room. And this is her special chair. She didn't settle into the new house last year until her chair arrived. We could not get her out of that thing for about 8 hours the day it arrived with the movers. And here is our Tasha poo..she is so stinkin cute loves her stuffies Doesn't she remind you of the children's book pig, Olivia? She endures our harassment like a pro