I had to write about this, as I'm fairly certain my experience is unusual.

We drove to Scotland last week, and took Meep with us.  This in itself
is not unusual, we used to take her on trips all the time, but have done
this less the last couple of years - I couldn't quite decide which was
worse for her - a week in a luxurious cattery but without her preferred
humans (the one we use has a nice run, but it's still a cage), or a week
with her humans, but with lots of scary strangers and not-home hotel
rooms.  We'd been deciding on the cattery more often lately.

She's trained to harness and leash, which is what makes travel with her
possible, IMHO.

In the past, she'd tolerate travel, and there'd be moments where she'd
seem to enjoy herself.  She'd still show stress though, not eat properly
and hide a lot in the room.

Not this trip!  I own a Dodge Dakota club cab, and had her set up like
this:  Her smaller travel box sits on my wheelie suitcase, tied to the
seat and to the suitcase so it won't slide if I stop suddenly.  Setting
it on the suitcase makes it high enough so she can see out of the
windows.  Her flexi-leash is hooked to a small carabiner which is hooked
to the center "child seat" restrainer.  We give her varying amounts of
slack, but always enough so she can get into her box and turn around.
Usually, there's enough slack so that she can go sit on the passenger's
lap.  She knows the driver's lap is off limits in the truck.

She was *so* incredibly relaxed while we were driving, I was amazed!
She'd sit up and look around with interest sometimes, but mostly would
just doze - sometimes she likes to sit facing the back on the armrest
between seats (it's cushioned) or sit facing front, or sit on the back
seat, or whatever - but she'd move around confidently and carefully.

She was willing and happy to come out of the truck and check out new
areas, as long as they were quiet.  First couple of exits, she'd do her
usual - she heads out in some direction, like she thought home was just
around the corner - but after that, she'd just explore, and get back
into the truck under her own power when asked.  She must have been a dog
in a past life (though I'd never insult her by mentioning that in her
presence <g>)

We always have a routine when we get to the room - be it a hotel or, as
was more usual on this trip, a B&B.  First, we look for dangerous spots,
and block them (none found this trip though).  We set the litterbox in
the tub/shower, find a safe, out of the way place for food and water,
THEN let her out.  In the past, she'd shoot under the bed if that space
was available, else she'd find some other place to hide.  She might
nibble a bit at her food after a few hours.  She'd use the litterbox,
but only in the deeps of the night, once she figured it was safe (or she
just had to go bad enough)

Not this time!  First B&B, she came out of the box, went straight to the
litterbox, used it, then went right to her food and water and started
chowing down.  And behaved exactly as she would at home, after exploring
the new room.  Food and scritches and window.

I was just completely flabbergasted by her nonchalant behavior on this
trip.  She didn't even get testy toward the end, as she always did
before.  It was just cool beyond words, that we could share our travel
adventures with our cat, and she actually *enjoyed* it!

For those who are curious, we visited Isle of Sky, and some of the west
coast north of there.  Beautiful country!  Meep may post a webpage about
her adventure, once I finish going through the photos.

jmc