I want to take my cat on motorcycle rides with me. Is this wrong?

I have a big, gorgeous Maine Coon cat. She's got a wonderful personality, and quite different for a cat. She likes to be outdoors during the daytime and follows me everywhere, no matter what I'm doing.

I also have a Ducati motorcycle which I love to ride. My cat LOVES the sound of it, even though it's loud. She jumps up on the gas tank when I'm getting ready to go for a ride and I nearly have to pry her off. When I put her in the house she seems really upset, and she'll be howling when I leave.

As an experiment I put a nice piece of carpet on the gas tank and she jumped on and rode with me around the block and loved it. I found a company who made a helmet for her and paid big $ for it. I also made a little safety harness for her.

The point is that my cat LOVES riding with me and jumps on the bike the second I start it up, but I'm getting some rather annoying remarks from more than just a few people about taking the cat on my rides.

Suggestions?

To sgallus: I forgot to mention that I found a pair of swimming goggles which were MADE FOR A DOLL. With just a minor modifiication they turned out to be a purrrrfect fit :) Also fitted her with earplugs. The Ducati's fairing shields her almost entirely from the wind... BTW I'm a very conservative rider.... no knee-dragging around curves.

If the cat likes it
go for it
forget the haters

if your cat likes to ride motorcycles, let her ride with you on the motorcycle! people are so freakin brady bunch its rediculous, how awesome is it going to be when you can tell your grandkids how your cat rode on your motorcycle with you all the time! i say screw what other people think and do it! if you worried about people remarks on everything life would be boring!
Good Luck! id love to see a picture of your cat with its helmet on! Send me a pic!

Absolutely nothing worng with it, go for it! if the cat is liking it! them by all means.
Don't listen to the idiots out there they're jealous because they don't have that bond of trust with their animals! believe me listen to your heart! the H E !! with what they think and say just try and ignore them! I know it's easier said than done but you know the cat loves it! that's all that should matter!

I have a Maine Coon and the thought of my prissy baby on a motorcycle is HILARIOUS... you absolutely have to email me a picture of that!

I don't think there's anything wrong with it... but I'd not drive fast. If she were to freak out or something, she could kill herself trying to break free. Tool around the block a little bit... around your neighborhood... but not on serious rides.

PICTURES!! :)

I agree, go for it! If she loves it then what other people think doesn't really matter. I would just hold her close and not go on really fast rides to be safe. I bet alot of people would get a kick out of seeing a cat with a little helmet riding around.

That is one cool cat! Can you get a tummy pack, like people carry their babies in, and hold onto her that way. Gosh, most cats are afraid of the vacuum machine noise! Let me guess, is her name Harley. Just please keep her safe. I know how much you love her.

Yes, it's a very bad idea and you should stop doing it. For the sake of the cat if nothing else. All it'll take is one good freakout and no more putty tat.

that is so cool u have got to video and put on utube, there is a man near where i live that takes his cat everywhere she sits on his shoulder, wish my cats would do that.

All it takes is one accident. Your cat could be maimed, disfigured, or die....and all in the blink of an eye - you did not get the Ducati for cruising.
FAR safer at home. Your choice.

Sounds like a cool cat. Take her riding as long as she likes it. You should post some pictures of you and your cat on the Ducati.

it would be too risky suppose she escaped
I have taken a cat to the vets in an emergency by M/cycle bou would not recomend it for pleasure

fine on a Ducati, it's a nice sound. I bet she wouldn't like a Japanese 4-cylinder bike.

I don't see a problem with this, unless she's the designated driver. LOL ;)

Naw as long as shes not scared go for it.

well as long as she loves it and isn't scared....and as long as you don't drive fast i don't see a problem.

as long as she's save thats all that matters!! Id loveee to see a pic of ur cat with the helmet!! It sounds so cute!!

Hi. I just want you to know, that is too cool! And no - it is not wrong. What's important is that you two are both enjoying it. Don't let others who don't know crap spoil your fun. I wish my two boy kitties would wanna go shopping with me! Haha just kidding. But really that's good! Don't worry about those comments. If anything, they're just worried about your kitty or just plain jealous! JUST PLEASE MAKE SURE HE'S ALWAYS SAFE. Would you post some pictures up? I'd love to see your kitty riding the motorcycle! :) Have fun!!!

Sounds fine to me (so long as she can't fall off).

Not sure if the "annoyed" people are people you mention your cat to, or people passing by. If they just hate the idea, well, everyone's entitled to their opinion. If it's people who see kitty and don't like it, perhaps you could make that piece of carpet on the gas tank more substantial, like with rolled up sides, so it looks more like a box that kitty won't fall out of.

One thing you should be careful of are your cat's eyes. Cats (and dogs) aren't made to go highway speeds, and just the wind can dry their eyes badly. Or dust and dirt can get into their eyes and cause damage. You probably have a visor or at least goggles, but I'm guessing your cat has no eye protection.

I guess my only problem with it is what happens when you have to brake suddenly. And how much of a distraction is she while you ride. As a motorist, I'd be so worried she would fall off in front of me and then I'd have to live with hitting her with my vehicle or worse, that you would get distracted by the cat and I'd have to live with hitting you both.

We all have things we love to do that we shouldn't. I love to eat a whole box of chocolates, but I'll be sick as a dog if I do. Take her for a ride around the yard, but leave her at home when you're on the road. You have enough to pay attention to with traffic, pedestrians and kids that run into the street.

Hi,
My Siamese loved to ride in the car. Although most cats don't like that much movement, some do. As long as she is very well restrained, I don't see a problem. I do think that a safer place would be in a well-made pillion carrier. My husband (who died from a motorcycle crash) had a beagle that always wanted to ride with him. Just be aware that should you lay your bike down, having the cat on the front, even/especially restrained, will probably kill it. caje