5 Tips For RVing & Camping With Cats
In my last post reader Stephanie asked me about camping with kitties which, as it so happens, was one of the posts on my “list”. I originally wrote about this several years ago (when we first started RVing), but I’ve never written a follow-up and it’s time I did.
We’ve had our kitties (both rescues) since they were little, fluffy mischievous balls of fur and they are now getting on in years and approaching the 13-year mark. In that time they’ve lived in many different houses, flown to Asia and back (quite a major event) and adapted to RV living. They are part our family and we simply couldn’t imagine life without them. One of our biggest concerns going fulltime RVing was making sure the cats adapted to their environment and continued to live a full and rewarding life, especially since one of our cats (Rand) is prone to anxiety & food sensitivities. Here’s some of our tips:
Adapting to RV Life (Cats At Home)
Most cats don’t like change and when we decided to move into the RV we intentionally took a very slow, deliberate approach. Before we moved into the RV we made sure the kitties had several cubby holes & hiding places, scratching poles, litter and rags/blankets with familiar smells. Then we chose to live stationary in the rig for almost 2 months in San Diego before we started driving anywhere. This gave the kitties a chance to find their spots and make the rig their home before moving. I honestly feel this was a critical part of the adaptation process. Some basic items which we put in the RV:
- LitterBox -> We chose to place our litterbox in the shower for easy access (we cover the drain). It’s not the snazziest of places and means we have to remove the litterbox & sweep everytime we shower (a bit of a pain), but we’ve been too lazy to create another spot. I know RVers who create/open a specific space for the litterbox either under the bed or in a bathroom cupboard. I also know RVers who use litter-box cabinets (really nifty if you have the space) or even teach their cats to use the toilet (yes, there are cats who can do this!).
- Kitty Beds -> We have 2 “official” kitty beds, one in the front of the RV and one in our bedroom cupboard plus at least 3 other “cubby hole” areas where the cats can hide & relax. One of these is a make-shift bed/play area in the closed cabinet above our bed. Kitties love to get HIGH and I feel it’s important to their well-being to give them that outlet. Kitties also love to be WARM so a few years ago I got some nifty thermal kitty blankets (awesome for boondocking) which both cats LOVE. I’ve put these in 2 of our cat beds and they use them all the time.
- Scratching Poles -> We have one basic, standing sisal-style scratching pole as well as a few cardboard-type floor versions that we “refresh” with catnip on a regular basis to keep them interesting. Hanging versions can also work, depending on your RV layout.
- Food and Water Bowls -> The cat food bowls we place up on the window ledge by the bedroom (i.e. above the reach of the dog). The waterbowl is shared (by all pets) and just sits on the floor by our fridge. It helps to have something non-slip under bowls to prevent them gliding around while the pets are eating/drinking out of them.
Driving Around (Cats On The Go)
Once our cats had adapted to the RV as their home, we started with short (less than 50 mile) trips to adapt them to moving. Initially we enclosed the cats in their collapsable cat carriers while moving, but Taggart (especially) meowed and howled the entire time. Eventually I gave in and let them out. They both ran back to the bedroom and under a box that we keep under the duvet cover. That was enough to calm the meowing and that’s where they’ve been ever since. Most folks I know that travel with cats end up doing something similar. The cats “find their spot” for travel and then they’re usually OK. These days the kitties will actually run under the duvet as soon as they see me putting stuff away. They know the routine now.
There’s a few other things we always do before/during moving:
- Secure the Cats Before Moving Slides -> This is probably the #1 item I would impress on anyone with cats & RV slides. Always, always, always know where your cats are before moving the slides in or out. Secure them and watch them. I’ve heard horror stories of cats getting crushed/killed in slides & it’s something I’m extra careful about. Check, check again and only after slides are completely moved (in or out) let the cats roam.
- Relaxers For Anxious Cats -> Our stress cystitis cat (Rand) is especially prone to anxiety and we have several options for her, all non-pharmaceutical. Cats are very individual in how they react to these remedies, so if one doesn’t work for you try the other.
Feliway can be very effective if your cat is reactive to it - Bach’s Rescue Remedy is a flower remedy which I’ve used for years. A few drops rubbed into the inside of the ear will almost instantly calm Rand. Bach’s also makes many other, specific flower remedies if the “general” formula doesn’t work for you. Australian Bush Flower Essences is another good brand. I’m a huge fan.
- Feliway is a synthetic feline phermone with fabulous calming properties if your kitty is reactive to it. It comes as a diffuser and a spray. I use the spray version for area they sleep/travel in & also in their kitty carriers (for trips to the vet).
- L-Theanine is an amino acid with calming properties. I have not had terrible success with it, but know others who have especially for travel anxiety. There’s many brands that sell products containing L-Theanine (e.g. this one) so just google around for sources. Human versions, cut down to size, will work too.
Taking Your Cats Outdoors (Cats Out And About)
What???? You walk your cats??? Yes, believe it or not just about any cat out there can be leash-trained (at any age) and this provides your cat a safe way to explore the outdoors, as well as hang out with you while you’re having your afternoon beverage in camp. I believe this kind of mental & physical stimulation is key to our kitties health. Our cats were leash-trained at the age of 5 and have enjoyed outdoor activity ever since. These days they’re so well-adapted to staying close to us that they’ll even just hang quietly (without a harness) and sunbathe right next to us if we’re in camp or walk right next to us out in the boonies. A couple of pointers:
- Buy a Cat-Specific Harness -> A cat-specific harness is different from a small-dog harness & not all brands are equal. A good kitty harness is a body-size piece that wraps completely around your kitties stomach & neck and is secure enough to prevent her/him from squirming out of it. We’ve used the HDW Cat Harness for past 8 years and have been very happy with it. Kitty Holster is another good brand.
Blog Update: check out these colorful & cute harnesses from blog reader Deci. - Take Time To Train Kitty -> Kitty harness training takes TIME and a just a wee bucket of patience. The first time you put that harness on your cat he/she will likely meow like he/she is dying and flop around like you just attached a 1/2 ton torture device. The key is to associate the harness with something GOOD (= treats & the outdoors). I started by putting the harness on for only a few minutes and immediately took kitty outdoors & treated/praised them. Then, I slowly increased the harness time. It took a month to get fully converted, but now my cats will come running if I take out the harness and will patiently wait for me to put it on at the door before we go out.
- Stay Vigilant -> We never leave our cats outdoors unattended, especially since they have zero “street smarts” (seriously, no kitty sensibility whatsoever). I know some folks who leave their cats on a harness outdoors and, depending on the cat, this is fine as long as they stay close and have a way to come indoors. I would not recommend letting your cat roam, unharnessed & unwatched at a campsite. Too many potential ways for kitty to get lost or hurt.
Buying Food & Litter
Acquiring food & litter on the road is not so different from doing it at home except you do (generally) have a to do a bit more planning. We use a generic litter that we can buy anywhere (even Walmart) and our cats eat limited-ingredient canned food which I can pick-up at any Petco or Petsmart. I’ll typically buy food for 2 months at a time and just plan for the next big(er) town to stock-up. It’s possible to get food delivery on the road, if you’re staying at a campground that allows mail/packages, but since we’re often out in the boonies this doesn’t really work for us so, stock-up is the way we roll.
Note/ Our dog is 100% raw-fed but that is a WHOLE other post topic
Veterinary Care
Another huge concern on the road is veterinary care for your pets. This can be complicated when you’re travelling around and don’t have access to a regular vet. Thankfully there are a few tips to handle this:
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Keep a file of your pet records Take Charge & Keep Records -> Much like our person health care I’m a big supporter of taking charge of your pets care. This means keeping records for every vet visit, learning to read blood & urine-test reports and keeping ontop of any required health checks. I have a folder at home which has all our pets records, and I ask for a complete record set (incl. all blood-tests) at every vet we go to. That way I have the records handy and can give them to new vets as needed down the road. As a back-up I keep a scanned copy of these records online on Dropbox so I can access them anywhere if we lose them or are not in the rig.
- Have a “Home Town” Vet -> For those travelers who come back to same town every year it’s easy to keep a hometown vet for annual check-ups. I still recommend keeping a copy of all your pet records for those times you’re away from home.
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We’ve been using Banfield for a year 
Two peas in a pod -> a little love from the furry bunch Use Nationwide Vets/Plans -> Thanks to Technomadia, we learned about Banfield Pet Hospitals last year. For a standard yearly fee you get access to a comprehensive healthcare plan and network of nationwide vets. The vet offices tend to be in bigger towns only, but their footprint is pretty good & includes ~800 locations. For our cats we have the Active Wellness plan which costs $29.95/mo (each) and gives them 2 complete check-ups/year (blood, urine, fecal) as well as vaccinations & teeth cleaning (which can be very pricey!). As an added bonus Banfield keeps a central, electronic record of all your pets’ visits which automatically transfer to any office you visit. They even have a mobile app. So far we’ve done 2 vet visits and been very happy with the care.
Extra TIP/ I’ve noticed that monthly plan fees vary somewhat depending on where you initially sign up (no matter where you travel afterwards), so when you’re first signing up check around a few offices to get the best price. The care is the same regardless & all plans are nationwide. - Emergency Care -> At some point in your travel life you’ll likely need emergency care for your pets. At that point I’ll go to the nearest best-rated (on Google) vet office or hospital. This is where having a record of your pets’ history comes in handy yet again. We don’t carry pet insurance, although I know folks that do.
PHEW!!! Didn’t know I had that much to say, but there you go. Any questions I didn’t cover? Do ask away below!
Related Posts & Other Cool Cat RV Bloggers:
- WheelingIt Post -> A Tale of 2 Kitties…or how to travel the road with cats
- WheelingIt Post -> Guest Blog: Taggart Meows About Life On the Road
- Cool RV Kitty #1 -> Technomadia -> Kiki’s Corner
- Cool RV Kitty #2 -> Ivan & His Cat Hailey
- Cool RV Kitt(ies) #3 -> Gone With the Wynns, Singa & Cleo
Our Dogs are RAW fed as well, I would love to hear about how you handle it on the road. A lot of our feedings are from the market, ie, chicken backs, gizzards, neck and feet. Sometimes when we find marked down items of beef we will by for them also but we really do not make any grinds. We buy some grinds from our local holistic pet store and feed about 50% grinds to 50% fresh store bought. Anyhow be interesting to hear you method while on the road since we travel but not full time yet, but future is getting closer every day. Thanks
I would love to write about this, depending on interest. It can be a controversial subject (raw-feeding in general, I mean), but we’ve successfully raw-fed our dog since she was a pup and continue to do it one the road. If I’d know about raw-feeding when our cats were young I would have converted them too. Sadly, they’re now too old and set-in-their-ways to convert, but I’m a huge believer/supporter of the raw model and our experience has been that it’s completely do-able on the road.
Nina
I just found your website. Awesome info, especially for us new to the RVing lifestyle. Your cats are never to old to feed raw, in fact being obligate carnivores a raw diet will greatly benefit any cat at any age. They may surprise you and transition easily. Mine was about 10-12 (he was a stray so guessing age) when I started him on homemade balanced (used a trusted recipe) raw. His coat & energy improved immensely and litter box smell is next to zero when fed 100% raw & his senior panel came back perfect. Just eliminate dry food completely and transition to canned. From there add small amounts of raw until you completely take the place of canned – if they resist go back a few steps. My cat transitioned within 2 weeks and probably would have transitioned sooner, but I didn’t want any stomach upsets from changing food too quickly. Protein variation is key, and you do need some freezer space if you stock up. I feed my cat chicken, rabbit, pork and emu. He loves the emu. If you don’t want to make your own there are so many resources coast to coast now, to name a few: If you are in the midwest, My Pet Carnivore is excellent. East coast; Hare Today Gone Tomorrow. West coast; Darwins, Rad Cat. Just thaw to room temp and serve. I would recommend getting educated on raw feeding, before actually doing it, especially the reasons to do so. I researched it for 2 years before finally taking the plunge and I hope to never feed commercial canned again. Good websites: http://www.catinfo.org, http://www.catnutrion.org, http://feline-nutrition.org/feline-nutrition-resource-center and there are many more. So many benefits!
Believe me I’ve tried the raw w/ the cats…Hare Today, Darwins, Raw Cat, home-made….you name it. They’re incredibly picky cats and simply won’t touch it. I tried progressively small amounts and in the end, after 1 year of trying I gave up. The best I could get them to eat was 100% canned (even that took a whole 6 months to transition) and so I stuck with that. The canned is not as good as raw, but it’s infinitely better than dry. I stick to high quality, meat-based canned with zero grains.
When we got our dog, however I started raw right away. She’s been raw-fed since she was a pup and we do it from home (I make the mix myself), so I have a good deal of experience with it. The dog gets half our freezer space and we’ve been able to sustain it as we travel.
Nina
Thanks for this post Nina. Some great tips. I would love to travel and take the cats but I think it stresses me more than them. Maybe not with the pair we currently have, they are pretty senior now, but would love to train some young ones when that time comes around again.
I do believe all cats can adapt to travel, although it can certainly be more difficult for older cats and/or cats that have been used to an outdoor life. The earlier they get on the road, the easier it is. That said, our cats were 8 when we moved into the RV & adapted just fine.
Nina
It appears you did forgot mention that it is VERY important to have your animals chipped. Cats can sneak out and possibly get lost so it is so important to have the Vet put in a chip. We use an wonderful harness from http://www.petharnessesbyines.com/. Our cat has never been able to “Houdini” out of it like she could with others. Thanks for your tips.
Good point Linda. I did indeed forget to mention this. All three of our pets are chipped, just in case. This was done when they were little & since they’re all rescue animals it was standard procedure at the time. I forget that not everyone does this as a standard rule.
Nina
What’s the point of chipping? If my cat ever got out no one would be able to catch him, and if they did, the person that caught him would never give him back anyway. He is a bi-eyed, pure white, long haired munchkin.
Why WOULDN”T you do it? As a fellow pet lover I would would always try to find the rightful owner of any pet, and if animal control traps the animal they would do the same. So, unless the pet has a tag with a phone number, the right thing to do is take them to a vet and get them scanned. Plus if someone DID steal the animal they would get scanned at the first vet they go to, even if it’s years down the road. That scan would show you as the rightful owners & the vet would be required to contact you. Plus microchipping is cheap and painless for the cat. Honestly zero downsides to it, and potentially a lot of upside, even if chances are small that it’ll ever get used.
Nina
Thanks so much for that post. I would like to at some point adopt another kitty so your post was purrrrrrrfect. Great to know all the steps you went through to get them acclimated. I never would of thought of most of it, nor would I have done it so slowly but it makes so much sense and just seems the right way to do it to ensure a smooth transition.
We did our transition especially slow because of Rand, our stress/anxiety cat. She’s suffered many years of quite serious anxiety-related cystitis and we wanted to make sure we avoided any flare-ups during the transition. Many cats will adapt much faster/easier so it just depends on individual personality. Still, I think taking it slow helps, even with more outgoing kitties.
Glad you liked the post!
Nina
Regarding litter-box:
There is a wonderful, practical, easy to deal with litter-box; it’s so easy to clean & does NOT smell because the poops NEVER mix with the urine. it’s called:
‘breeze for cats ‘ & it is a BREEZE to clean.
check the this site, http://www.breezeforcats.com or if it doesn’t work just GOOGLE.
Hope it’s of help.
My regards & happy trails. Lucy.
Interesting set-up. Not sure I like the idea of using pads & buying special pellets, but it certainly does seem easy to use. Cheers for sharing.
Nina
NINA, my moto is: ‘ I try everything once…maybe twice ‘ The most U can lose trying this system is US$ 35.00, I tried once & I never went back to the OLD, DUSTY & STINKY systems. It’s a pleasure to use & my house doesn’t smell pissy any longer.
My regards, Lucy.
When I come back in my next life, I want to come back as your pet. Ok.. wait, that sounds weird.
Really though, your pets are very blessed to have you looking out for them… and I’m so glad Kiki doesn’t read blogs to learn she can rule our lives even more if she wanted to 😀
For the benefit of those reading, Kiki adopted us when she was 7 weeks old.. and knows nothing but travel and wearing a harness. But, she can slip that harness anytime she wants, and knows it. She just wears it to humor the humans.
And a tip we discovered during a Kiki-emergency (cats and rattlesnakes.. not a pretty combo) – if there’s a vet college/hospital around, they’re awesome. Lots of skilled folks looking after your precious one and very affordable rates. If you need continuing care or have the time, it may be worth moving closer to one for major stuff.
The vet college/hospital tip is an excellent one so thanks for including that. Very affordable for specialized care and very supportive. If we ever had anything serious we needed done for any of the 3 pets, we’d try to get close to a vet college for sure.
And Kiki leads a pretty darn awesome life. I don’t want our cats reading her blogs either 🙂
Nina
Indeed Cats are all individuals and react in different ways.. Our 16-year-old Pumpkin had never ‘traveled’ before but (a) grudgingly got used to having a harness on (though he never did ‘heel’ or walk nicely, so it’s only a way of keeping him physically attached while outdoors); (b) he got used to traveling, in the truck (starting with short trips): he hated being inside a carrier box, but soon got used to either lying down on the back seat, or sitting up or lying down ‘up front’ between us on the center console. He’d even use a litter box behind the driver’s seat while moving. But eventually he couldn’t get settled so now prefers to stay on the bed in the 5th wheel RV while we’re on the move – once he got used to the idea that we WILL eventually stop and come for him! And we have made some LONG travel legs, but he’s been fine! It’s good to get one of those water bowls with an ‘anti-spill edge’ to it so the water doesn’t slosh out while moving.
We installed fine ‘chicken wire’ mesh on the lower half of the screen for the RV door, so he wouldn’t try to claw through it, and he loves to sit and look out.
One thing we found: if in a remote place where we ‘walk him’ on the leash, or even let him loose if it’s really ‘safe’ and remote, after awhile he’ll roll on the ground/grass but then ‘Goes Native’ – hissing and getting aggressive when we go to take him back to the ‘home’. So sadly we can’t let him enjoy the outdoors for long. But that’s back to the ‘individual personality’ thing. I agree with Nina, I think nearly ALL cats can adapt eventually, it just might take some time/patience!
Wow…16 years old. That’s a FINE age for a kitty and I’m super impressed he adapted that well to RV travel. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Nina
I really enjoyed this post, great tips and clear information. I sadly lost a cat in a campground, and have since leash trained all of my feline companions.
My latest kitty is quite an escape artist, and I designed a safe and secure harness for him. Since then, I have begun selling my harnesses on Etsy and my customers find they work well. My shop is http://www.etsy.com/shop/ScotsPlace. If you like them, you can use coupon code FS101 for free shipping. Thank you for the great post!
SUPER cute harnesses!! So very sorry you lost a cat, but thank you so much for sharing your kitty harness designs & making them secure & safer. I’m sure lots of folks will like these fresh and attractive designs.
Nina
We are traveling(1st time) on our RV with our 16 yr old cat, Tiger. He was not initially happy during the drive, being in his kennel. However he sleeps all day on the couch; and still sleeps at night. Our only real problem (which is down to only once a night) is that he wakes up & yowls until we firmly say his name; then he jumps up on his bed and goes to sleep. May try your herbal (ear) medicine. He is too frightened to go outside this trip(only a week), but I know when we go longer we will have to get a harness. I also put towels under the litter box and just shake them outside; no litter on the shower floor. Thanks for the tips!
Nice to hear your cat has adapted well. Taggart actually does that howling thing on occasion too. It’s often a side-effect of aging (some sensory decline, possible early dementia), but if your cat is doing it alot it could have a medical cause too. Worth getting checked at the vet if it becomes a common occurance.
Nice tip on the towel under the litter.
Nina
Very interesting read, Nina. No cats here, but was interested to read your thoughts, and integrate a bit about Polly.
Yes, food can be a very touchy subject. We home cook and have a homeopathic vet. If we ever get purged, sold, and decide to hit the road part-time, those could be challenges, so your input is welcomed.
Oh, and you know better than to feel too sorry for ‘poor Kiki’! Give her a chipmunk to chase, and she’s a happy camper. 😉
Seems I might have some interest for another post here. Regarding homeopathic vets I have been able to connect with these occasionally on the road, and have even worked remotely with one. It’s a bit trickier, but can be done.
Nina
I shared this with my mom, I’d love to see my parents on the road with their cats! 🙂
Oh for sure! No reason for the cats to hold them back from getting on the road. I think the comments here have supported that.
Nina
Having started fulltiming with two older cats, we can attest that it is possible to get them used to travel and going outside on a leash. It was much easier with our two current cats since they were only 4 weeks old when they adopted us, and we started the leash training as soon as they could fit into a harness. Just takes some patience!
As for a litter box, we didn’t want to put it in the shower since that means leaving the door open, so we just keep it next to my side of the bed. We use the CleverCat top entry litter box, which keeps the litter in the box no matter how much the cat pushes it around, and also keeps odors in. Yes, anything is a compromise living in such a small space, but we think our kitties have it pretty good, as do yours!
Gayle
Those CleverCat top entry boxes have been on my radar for a while. I like the idea of not having litter all over the place. Not sure my kitties would take to it since one of them (Rand) actually likes to balance on the edge while going to the toilet which she wouldn’t be able to do in that box. Food for thought though!
Nina
Nice post, especially since we also travel with two cats. When you said one was diet sensitive my first thought was “it must be orange” as I’ve learned with our orange boy that they are prone to dermatitis and diet issues. He’s also our scaredy cat and the Bach oil sounds interesting. Like yours, ours are free in the RV and have found their own specific hiding spots in which they suffer the ride silently (thank goodness for that!). I tend to not like driving too many hours in a day, so usually the travel day is short for us due to me.
Our sensitive cat is actually the brown one (Rand) although Taggart has had her share of issues too. I definitely recommend either the Bachs or the Feliway. Try them both and see what your cat reacts best to. They’ve been life savers for us.
Nina
Nina,
It always makes me laugh when I realize how cats manipulate us into thinking we’re in charge of them. But..we’re the ones on a leash.
So very true. Our cats have us trained and at their beck and call. We are but slaves to their whims 🙂
Nina
Bosco is 18 now and has been RVing full-time over twelve of those years. I carved an opening in the step that leads into the basement and that’s where his cat box is.
WOW!! 18 years old. What a hardy cat you have. Love to see older kitties on the road leading full lives. I like to think we have many more years with ours. Sounds like you created a pretty nifty setup for the litterbox too.
Nina
Great article. We are traveling with three cats, which have adapted well to living in our motor home. Currently, we are stationary but when we do travel, two of the cats hide quickly under one of the chairs while our oldest comfortably climbs onto the chesterfield and lounges!! We also have, like you, spots for them where they can easy out and relax( it amazes me how adaptable they are if you just leave an empty box around…zip and they are in there as if to say…look what i can do )
One of our cats walks on a leash but we found on amazon a cat tent…its a pop-up type and stores well in our loading bays. Its mesh and has a zip up entry, so the cats can sit securely outside and we can leave them without worry if we need to go into the motor home for a bit. We tried a few locations for the litter box, and like yourselves, started with the shower but ended up putting it in front of our driverside seat under neath the steering wheel, convient because i have access with a driver side door so easy for scooping. When we travel we put the litter box under the kitchen table. So far this has worked. Your point about checking the whereabouts of the cats BEFORE you close your slides is excellent advice. I’m forever doing a head count due to fear of loosing them. For the realy anxious cat i would suggest purchasing fermone spray. We have tried this and it has worked quite well.
Again, a great article and I’m amazed at how many R.V’ers out there are traveling with not one but two and three pets or more, but of course, would you go away and travel on the road and leave your kids at home???….thanks again for the sound advice on animal care while traveling on the road.
Thanks for sharing your experiences and tips. I like the idea of that outdoor mesh tent. That’s something I can see being useful for lots of folks. Great ideas!
Nina
We’ve had cats. We’ve had dogs. No more cats. 🙂
Just Bogie, our Silkie.
So much good information, Nina, as always! One of the things that kept us from traveling full-time was our 18-year old kittie, Spot — who had never traveled anywhere except to the vet. But when we finally decided “now or never” and took to the road, we found that she adapted remarkably well. I was dreading living in close quarters with the litter box, but we’ve found that mixing half a box of baking soda with the litter completely eliminates any odors. (Of course, we scoop as needed and change the litter often, too.)
Of course! We talked about your lovely, old kitty when we met but for some reason it slipped my mind as I was writing this post. I know you guys have health challenges with her, but she’s still enjoying a full and rich life. I love hearing stories of all these older kitties on the road.
Good tip on the baking soda too!
Nina
Great info! I will have to try the Bach rescue remedy on our cat, Zoe. We already use the Feliway with some success. Since we have a TT she travels in the car with us and sometimes get car sick but she absolutely LOVES living in the trailer. It is her kingdom and she lets us visit 🙂
Hi Nina
We actually put a small harness on Tiger and took him outside (1st time). & found that he loved it! Walked fine towards the woods, not as happy to walk back:-) but he adjusted well resting under our chair. And low and behold (maybe because of the exercise?) last night he slept and did not yowl once! He now feels comfortable being on our bus and knows we do not abandon him at night! Yay there’s hope for future travels:-)
Btw the county campground on the Wenatchee River, WA is very nice and spaces are roomy (#16 next to the river is great for walking pets)
Great news! I was about to mention that another reason some cats howl is sheer boredom (or attention seeking). Seems like this might have been the case for your boy. Glad it worked out for you.
Nina
I like that last line “It is her kingdom and she lets us visit”….I can SO relate!
Nina
We taught our former kitten to ride in the car by driving to Dairy Queen and buying him a small ice cream cup. We were not RVers at that time but were preparing to move from Alabama to Minnesota so leash training and car riding were critical skills for him to learn.
Sneaky training LOL, but glad it worked.
Nina
Holy crapalolo!!!
And I thought having a cat in the house bordered on insanity.
Walk your cat? ON A LEASH?? REALLY?
Yup, call us insane but that’s what we do for our kitties. We are but here to serve…:)
Nina
We also travel with 2, 6 years old kittys – Buddy & Jazzy. We did a lot of camping before fulltiming so they have adapted easily to traveling. When we had a fifth we put a small cat door under one of the steps and partitioned an area of the basement. But now with our motorhome we use a small storage compartment, made it two levels, the upper for food & lower lower for litter box. With a vent in the door we have no problems w/odors in our home. It works perfectly for us. I couldn’t imagine living without at least 1 pet on board. Thanks for the wonderful blog topics. Becki
Sounds like a snazzy little set-up you created for the food and litter. Very nice.
Nina
Our 2 dogs couldn’t care less where or how you take them , they just want to be with us, but the cat? The cat hates the truck, so we agonised whether to bring him on the first trip, which was a short 1 month shakedown. Fortunately we elected to try him, as now 18 months on he luvs the lifestyle and travel, provided he stays in the 5’er while we travel.
When we start packing to move he hops in his basket, which is up off the floor and surveys his kingdom. On arrival, he is normally at the door to welcome us and dogs back into to his home.
We also use baking soda, which significantly reduces odours. With a home base we have an excellent and understanding vet, who is available to other vets by phone and faxes detailed records, as required. We also request any vet we visit to fax consult notes back to our home vet.
BTW – great post, lots of good info.
Cats are indeed so much pickier than dogs. Our doggie is happy to be anywhere, but our cats really needed their “special spots”. Nice to hear your kitty was able to adapt and find his spot. And what a great vet you have!!
Nina
We have been fulltiming for 10 years and have 2 13 year old cats and a 7 year old. We also have a 7 year old mini schnauzer. Oh and I cannot forget our 22 year old Cockatiel. The 2 older cats took to RVing pretty well but the female always got sick until we put a cat bed on the dash of our motorhome. Since then that is her travel spot and she only comes off of it to got to the litter box or get water. We use a covered litter box with Pine Pellet litter. It really takes care of the smell. Our dog is also on a raw diet. We have worked fulltime and lived in the motorhome for 10 years but still travel as much as possible. Next April I will retire and we will be REAL fulltimers and look forward to running into ya’ll on the road.
I’ve known a few cats who prefer a cat bed on the dash for travel. Once they find their “spots” most kitties do really well on the road. Sometimes it just takes time to figure out where that is.
Nina
Just a funny and interesting story to share. My husband and I own a plastic fabricating business and we custom make items. Years ago a gentleman asked us to make a perch for his cat. It was to mount on the outside of his RV window and needed to be easily removable. He wanted it to have mesh sides so the cat could get fresh air. When he parked, he positioned the perch, opened the window and his kitty could have a private sanctuary. I wish I had some photos to share.
Sweet little set-up! I’ve actually seen a few folks with a window-attached kitty area so that kitty can get some air and enjoy the outdoors from within. There was an RV I saw in San Diego a few years ago with it and they told me it was a custom job. I can absolutely see there being a market for this.
Nina
You know, there are more pictures of Rand in this post than in all your other posts combined. I like her expression on the thermal mat: “ahh, heat!” Added to my Amazon wish list!
Yeah, she’s a really shy cat…often hiding under the covers or in her own spot so she’s tough to get a good pic of. She’s a cutie though.
Nina
Friends of ours were walking their cat Buttons when a Great Horned Owl swept down and tried to take him off. Hank was able to save his cat (he was on leash) but Buttons took a long time to forgive him for what he thought was Hank’s fault. Buttons never realized that an owl had been involved. Their cat is as shy as yours.
We always watch for big birds of prey when we’re out with the cats. One of the many reasons we never leave them unattended. It’s a definite danger.
Nina
our kitty, Rose, rides in her bed with two pee pads under her. Once we start the engine…tinkle time. I then reach under her and snatch and fold the wet one, leaving the dry one as a reserve. This has been a 2 year routine with lots of travel days and she has yet to have a “dry launch”.
She’s content to stay there till our next stop. Other than that, all what you said, ‘cept she has no desire to go outdoors.
What an interesting habit!! This may be TMI, but both my cats have a post-travel poo….and a big one too. It never fails that as soon as we stop, they’re off to the litter for a release.
So, I guess all our kitties have their “special thing” LOL
Nina
Great for those who plan to take their entire family (including their pets) on a trip.
When my wife and I were first married 33 years ago we had a cat that we not only took camping with us but also took him fishing with us in our boat. He loved to do both and went nuts when we caught fish. The sad part was he was with us only a little over a year before he passed away with feline leukemia. It took us a while to get over him but in the past 30 some years we have had other cats that have lived full and happy lives
Awwww…I’m so sorry. Sometimes our pets pass well before they should. It’s one of the hardest things about having a furry family. Their lives burn so bright, but sadly so short. I’m glad you’ve bring the joy of more cats into your lives.
Nina
I have a ten year old kitty that I’m thinking we will take with us as soon as my husband retires in our fifth wheel so was really happy to read that people say their kittys prefer to ride in it …Misty rides well and is also leash trained and she also likes to ride in a pet stroller but I always keep her leash in hand thank you for this website and all the postings really puts me at ease about traveling with my girl
Hey Nina, I remember reading that you have a pet tent or enclosure that the kitties can hang out in when outside the RV, can you share which one that is? My kitties are leashed trained but it takes 3s for them to get entangled with the picnic table or something, and they are flopped onto the dirt meowing for help. Am looking for a sturdy enclosed pet area thing to bring on our Utah NPs trip so they can hang outside while we enjoy meals or night campfires, but easy to pack in the motor home!
Just found you on pintrest. Love the info very helpful. I will start my journey in June this year. My cat Mimi and I have been living in our new home for almost a year now. Still she doesn’t like the many harnesses I’ve tried so I will be ckecking out the links you gave. Again thank you for the info.
Paula
Glad you “found” me. Getting the right harness for kitty can take a while, as can training them to use it. It took us a good month for the kitties to become comfortable with their harnesses. I started slow…just putting it on a few minutes at a time…but every time the harness was on the kitties got to go outside in the grass, so they got to associate the harness with something positive. Both kitties very quickly figured out that harness meant outdoor time. From then on it was much easier!
Good luck with everything!
Nina
Hey there! Thanks for the tips. We are about to embark on a huge road trip and I also can’t imagine not taking my kitty along. I am concerned about boondocking in places like Arizona and Utah and being unable to control temperatures within the RV while we are out hiking. Do you have any tips for dealing with extreme heat circumstances with cats when you may not be there to crank on the AC? 🙂
Honestly we never boondock with our pets if there’s a chance it’s going to be too hot. In the desert we only boondock in winter. In summertime we stick to cooler locations (high altitude or the coastal areas). In between (fall/spring) we follow the weather. If we find ourselves in a hot place we opt for hookups. It’s just safer for our pets.
There are ways to keep your RV cool in the boonies in hotter temps, but you’ll have to run the generator all day to run the air conditioner which (in my mind) kind of defeats the purpose of boondocking. In moderate temps and dry climates you can get away with a swamp cooler, but when it’s really hot and/or humid an air conditioner is the only way to go.
So, my advice for folks with pets is to follow the weather so you can stick to moderate temps, and when it’s hot go for hookups.
Nina
Hi, I appreciate your informative articles. We are going to be first-time RVers soon (and full-timing – just sold the house) and have 3 indoor cats. I’ve been wondering about how quickly a newer insulated motorhome can heat up on a sunny day with the shades drawn. Although we’ll have the AC set to mid-70’s and most often be connected to shore power in RV parks, I’m concerned about a power outage or tripped circuit while we’re out and about for the day. I was planning to experiment with this while in the motorhome to see how fast it would heat up under certain conditions before venturing out for the day. Maybe open the roof vent and crack a window (not too much in case the AC does run). We probably wouldn’t venture too far for too long if temps were above 80. Do you know if RV parks have power outages often? Also, any idea how quickly a typical newer Class A would heat up on a sunny 80 degree day with a window and roof vent cracked and shades drawn (except on north side)? Also, if you leave a roof vent open while gone and it rains, does very much leak in, and can it damage the fan?
Thanks
It takes a little while for a big Class A to heat up, especially if you pull the window awnings down and park with the big front windshield (I call it the “greenhouse” window) away from the afternoon sun. If temps stay in the 70’s the rig stays fine all day and AC isn’t even needed. If temps are mild, we’ll just crack a few windows and leave the roof fan open and on (we have a Fan-tastic vent cover which keeps it dry no matter what). If temps are hotter we’ll also set the AC to come on. Park power is generally pretty reliable, and we’ve only experienced a few outages in our 5 years on the road.
That said if temps are really warm (mid-80’s and above) and the power fails for a longer period, your Class A can get very toasty in the space of a day. So, one additional pet security thing we have is an Auto-Generator Start for our on-board generator. Basically if the air is on and power goes out, our generator will kick in and keep it going. I really like this feature, for peace of mind. Most Class A’s have this feature on their generator already, but if not you can typically add it on after market too. It’s a built in back-up power system!
Lastly if you’re really worried there are temp-alert devices you can install which will monitor your coach temps and alert you (e.g. By phone/text) if temps go too high or low.
Hope that helps!
Nina
Thanks for the reply! I saw the vent covers online but wasn’t sure if it would affect the roof warranty to put screws in the roof. I’ll try without first and see how much rain gets in. If it’s an issue I can check with Winnebago to see if it would the warranty. Yes, the auto-start generator would be nice too. We may have to look into that if we stay full-timing for awhile. I will check into the temp-alert devices some more. Do you know if they just connect to nearby wi-fi to communicate?
Thanks,
Sandy
Sandy,
There are pure “alarm type” sensors which will emit a aloud audible alarm. These don’t need any special connections. But the alert type sensors that signal your phone require connection to some kind of signal, either a cellphone carrier or WiFi (you’d need personal WiFi). You can even get 12V versions too. Just depends on the model.
Nina
Just started researching RV life. We are planning in buying an RV next year and hitting the road, we also have two cats, we are experience campers and backcountry hikers, but RVing is a new field, with a lot of arrangements. Insurance, weather, maintenance, techniques, rules, etc. Just read your write up about weather, and the cats. Hoping to find something on Insurance for RV, tricks of buying RV, reviews on Brands, etc. thanks
Nelia
I haven’t done many articles on RV choice, but I’ve written about insurance and warranty choice in the past. Here are the links:
https://www.wheelingit.us/2011/11/27/fulltime-rv-insurance-whats-the-difference/
https://www.wheelingit.us/2012/09/11/the-ins-outs-of-rv-extended-warranties/
The Wynns have a good series of blogs and YouTube videos on RV choice and buying which you may want to check out:
http://www.gonewiththewynns.com
Nina
We are just going to be starting to travel with our two cats and our dog. Wondering if anyone has any tips on how to keep the animals out of the front part of the RV (so they don’t get in the way of the person doing the driving)
Our pets have dedicated “travel spots” and stay put while we’re on the road. The cats like being in the back of the RV under the bed covers, while our doggie travels up front. If your cats are the type to roam around I’d recommend either placing them in cat bags/crates or placing them somewhere else secure (e.g. In the back bedroom). You definitely do not want them walking around your feet while driving! Additionally for doggie some folks use a doggie seatbelt, or place the dogs in a travel crate.
Nina
Awesome tips! I’ve been doing research on pets and full time rv-ing and there’s not a whole lot of super helpful resources out there, which surprises me! Thank you for making this post!
Find me at: RedheadedOwl.com
After reading all the comments, my issue wasn’t addressed. I have 2 sisters, 16 months old, that lived on acreage and came indoors at night. Sold the house for fulltiming, brought their things in, and it went fine except….they stare outside constantly and it hurts me. We were grounded at a friends home so they loved being free again…for 3 days. Then they wanted back in with me. In the morning they want out. Now I’m parked nearby and when I visit they hop fences to be near me. I have a puppy. It doesn’t seem fair that the puppy and I will be outside playing with the kittens stuck inside or leashed when we head out. Thoughts? I had curtains made and attached to the dash on the passenger side for the litter box and hiding place. I also brought in my dining room chair covers since I have freestanding RV table chairs–their favorite hiding spot at home. Both dash and buffet are carpeted. HELP!!
If you’re outside with puppy, you can be outside with the cats. Most RV campgrounds require ALL pets to be on leashes, so that applies to both doggie and kitty. You can easily have them all on a leash outside your RV at the same time. If kitties don’t roam, they can simply sit on a chair next to you (my cats are old, so they often do this since they just come outside to lie in the sun). But otherwise just use a leash. We even walk our doggie & cats together (I tie one end of the leash to Polly and the other to Taggart).
If you don’t want to be using leashes all the time I know some folks who build “cat runs” outside their RV…basically big cages for the kitties to hang out in. You’ll just need to buy the materials to build it and carry it around, but it is another possibility. However I think leash-training is easier & provides more freedom for everyone.
Whatever you do, I don’t recommend letting your cats roam leash-less around a campground. Too many possibilities for them to get hurt (or hunted, especially out west). We are always close to our pets when they’re outside, even doggie and usually all 3 pets are outside with us at the same time. It takes a little adaptation, both for you and and pets, but it’s totally possible.
Nina
I was just wondering if you could possibly give me your thoughts on the following. We are full time RVers in a 32 foot long 5th wheel and recently found a very cute little kitty cat. She seems perfectly content in the fifth wheel, however very soon we will downsize into a Lance truck camper. We will be in this for a year or two as we drive down the pan-american highway and explore Central and South America.
My biggest struggle is I really like this cat and we have bonded a great deal in less than a week, however does anyone think should be better off in a real home rather than stuck in a small truck camper with us for so long? I have never owned a cat before and quite honestly she was a surprise albeit a good one.
Thanks
I honestly don’t see any reason why you can’t travel with kitty in the smaller vehicle. I’d really recommend leash-training. That way you can have kitty outside with you when you stop (plus kitty can walk around and enjoy the outdoors), but otherwise I see no issues at all.
Nina
Thank you so much for your reply!!!
Just found your blog! My husband and I live full-time in a teardrop trailer. It is 5′ x 10′ and we tow with a Toyota 4runner. And, we are hoping to get a cat this year. We are thinking of how we might train a cat to do her business outside versus using a litter box. Have you ever heard of this? We will leash train as well. The cat we are thinking about would be about 4 months old when we would get her from the breeder. Hope this question is not too absurd!! Great information on your blog. Thank you!
It’s a fun question! Honestly I think the main issue you’ll face in litter training is that cats like to “dig” their stuff into the ground and also like to go in the same places over and over. Cats are very routine-driven that way, which is why they prefer litter boxes. When you’re traveling around you won’t always have the same kind of ground/earth or be in the same kind of spots. It could make the training very challenging.
A potential way around this (just brainstorming here) is to give your cat a specific spot to go no matter where you are. I’ve read about cats trained to go on a toilet (without litter) so it’s possible. So, either train kitty to go on the toilet seat (if you have one in the trailer) or have some kind of moveable box/bucket that you set-up once you get to camp. It needs to be accessible of course, but if you can make it consistent it might work?
Good luck with all your plans!
Nina
Thank you for sharing your ideas! Much appreciated!
Hi,
I think I’ve read all the posts on this one, and I haven’t seen anyone ask about the cat’s claws? Do your cats carve up the upholstery? I have scratch pads in my stick and brick that they use. But mine also go after my Lay-z-boy and my computer chair. I wouldn’t want them to destroy the furniture in my future mh. Any thoughts on that? Thanks.
I think giving your cats good scratching outlets and making those outlets super attractive helps to mitigate the problem. We have 3 scratch pads in the RV (one short scratching pole and 2 cardboard thingies) that I regularly “dose” with catnip -> this keeps interest high and is key IMHO. We’ve also covered some of our valences with foil, to deter the cats from attacking them. It’s not perfect, but it works fairly well.
Nina
double sided tape on the furniture you want to protect works great I use it on my furniture in the house you can get tape that is invisible
I Nina I am just thinking about driving trailers but I have 3 cats how can I do this is it possible please help I am so lost I am so worried I can see my life without them please help
Definitely possible! Just put the cats in their carriers and keep them with you in the truck (or whatever other vehicle you’re towing with) when you drive between campsites. It’s a bit more work to move them back and forth to the trailer, but it’s totally do-able.
Nina
I just came across your blog today, hurray for “kamper kitties”! That’s what we call our two cats, Stella and Mr. T. They were both 2 years old last year when we bought our travel trailer. We had it parked for a couple of months in our driveway between Feb & April and took them out to the trailer for short periods of time every couple of days. At first they were like, “whaaaat is this?” Within a few trips, Stella had made it her home. Mr T is a bit more skittish and when the trailer would move he would get anxious. After a few more tries he was right at home.
They are both used to going in their carriers to the Vet for monthly nail grooming so getting them in their carrier to ride the in truck was not an issue. Mr T meowed for about 30 minutes, while Stella was fast asleep within a few minutes, after that both did well.
My husband bought a cat door and installed it so they can enter the space under our bed, we put a small LED light in there and the litter box and it was perfect! Out of site and convenient. Easy access to clean, just lift the bed (we have struts to hold it up).
Our little Stella always tries to escape into the outdoor world at home so we bought a trailer with an exterior door from the bathroom, we can enter and exit as needed without worry of her escaping. We have tried the harness and for Mr. T it’s fine, Stella is a diva. We are going to take the advice of one of the comments, though, and buy or build a portable “catio” that can be broken down for traveling and set up on site. That way they can enjoy the outdoors also.
We plan to move up to a fifth wheel in the next couple of years and if all goes well, we will be full time RV living by the summer of 2020 along with our two kamper kitties.
Great tips! Especially love the under-the-bed litter. Very nice. Thanks for sharing your kitty story.
Nina
Love this blog, and your whole site. We took our cat away camping with us this weekend. i was a bit worried at first, but she was a dream, so glad we did it. Some pics and a little blog about our adventure here 🙂 https://beautifullifeyoga.com/2016/05/31/the-good-life-camping-with-my-cat/
So happy to hear kitty had a first good outing. Kitties make great travel buddies!
Nina
Hello! Thanks for writing this informative article! My husband and I are in the planning stages of full time RVing with our cat. We haven’t purchased an RV yet, but we are planning on a Class C. This might be a strange question, but does anyone have any tips for keeping the driver and passenger windows secure so a kitty doesn’t try to escape? Obviously we intend on keeping them rolled up, but life happens. I was wondering if there’s some sort of interior mesh or something along those lines in case a “whoops!” happens and a window gets left open. Strange question, I know. But I’m neurotic about keeping my purrbaby safe! 😉 Thanks for your time! =D
Most RVs have mosquito screens on the inside so that you can open your windows and enjoy a breeze without letting the bugs in. We have screens on all our windows, plus our main door too. This keeps the cats in too.
If, for whatever reason you get a rig without screens I’d recommend making some out of mosquito mesh/netting.
Nina
Thanks for replying, Nina! Does that include the windows by the driver’s seat? I mean the one you would roll down to pay a toll, for example.
Thanks for your help! Glad to have found your blog, especially the cat articles! Puts me at ease! =D
In our case yes. We have screens on all the windows that open including the ones up front. All our screens are able to slide back and forth so that we can access the outside if we need to. But it can depend on the RV model you buy. Most modern RVs will have screens all around, all slideable. Some older or vintage will not.
Nina
Very good to know. Thank you very much for your help! =D
looking for thoughts on a harness for my ragdoll cat I have tried two different dog ones but he was able to get out of them, I live on Vancouver Island in Canada so it has to be one that is available in Canada and not too expensive
I don’t like the dig ones either. Too easy for kitty to wriggle out of. I’d look for a harness that wraps securely around the stomach and neck. I’m sure Amazon Canada has some? Try searching for Kitty Holster or Kitty Walking Jacket.
Nina
Have you looked into Lupine dog harnesses? They make cat products as well, but I use the a small dog harness for my cat since he’s big. Not sure if they are available in Canada, but I’ve purchased through Amazon here in the USA. They are a good brand. Lifetime guarantee, no matter how they get damaged.
I’d like to add an additional tip. Prepare ahead of time (and bring along on your trip) “LOST CAT” posters with a picture of your cat, your cell phone number, and other info that you feel may help with finding your cat. They can be made simply enough on your home printer ahead of time to save valuable time later. You can always handwrite additional info such as “area last seen”, etc. if your cat does become lost. Of course this can apply to a “LOST DOG” too! And don’t forget the hammer/nails/thumbtacks/tape to hang the posters.
(Also useful if you leave the pets at home and have a pet-sitter… just in case…)
Thanks for the excellent article and the great tips from your readers!
looking for ideas for scratching posts for our class c motor home we have two cats that we travel with and with floor space limited I was hoping maybe vertical ideas
What about those scratching pads that you hang on the doorknob? You can buy them anywhere and I’ve seen folks in RV’s attach them to doors or to their walls. There are fabric version and also corrugated cardboard options (HERE is an example).
Another idea are vertical slim/flat poles like THIS one. Easy to slip into almost any space.
Nina
We travel in a 20′ R-pod travel trailer with one cat, and attached a flat cardboard scratching board to a wall. Our cat uses it regularly.
how do you keep the kitty’s away from feet while driving? I thought about chicken wire to make it
Kitty- prroof………. 🙂
moving cross country later next year and haven’t figured out the kitty “part” yet.
Arlo’s his name, trying to escape at the door while my hands are full is his game………. 🙂 smiles
we live in a 33 foot set trailer now and haven’t decided to pull a smaller one and put him in that or leave him in the truck with me and make my seat “kitty proof”..
Our cats travel in the very back of the RV (underneath the bed covers in our bedroom) where we have a closeable door, so they cannot get to the front. In the beginning we traveled with them in cat bags, but they literally meowed & complained the whole time until I let them out to their hiding spot in the back. I think your cat will very quickly find his “spot” while traveling too. Most folks who I know that travel with cats say the same thing. If you DO find he can’t settle down, then I’d use a cat bag (at least in the beginning) or find some other way to secure him from the front. It’ll all work out!
Nina
I’m going to be traveling with my 16-year old little lady Minka. I’m wondering how you keep your RV cool while you are boondocking. My big fear is the RV will get too hot while I’m away. Thank you in advance for any tips you can provide!
Generally we only boondock when the weather is cool and chose not to boondock when the weather is hot. Our pets come first and if it’s hot it’s really not comfortable (or safe) for them to be alone in the RV, so we’ll either stay and turn on the generator to run the A/C or (our preference) go to an RV park with hookups. It’s simply the safer choice.
As long as temps are moderate however, it’s easy and that’s how we boondock 99% of the time. We leave roof fans on and windows cracked, and that’s usually enough to keep the RV where it needs to be. As an extra precaution we always leave the A/C turned on (set to start at a specific temperature) and our generator on auto-start (in case the A/C turns on). That way if it DOES get warm unexpectedly the A/C should run and keep the place cool. But bottom line is we boondock primarily when temps are cool. It’s all about the paws 🙂
Nina
Thank you for the information.
Kitty comes first in my world too!
Hey Nina,
Thank you for this good post and some great tips. I am in the planning stages of full time RVing with my cats.
-Thank You
We full-time with 3 cats and it works out well for us and them! They’re great in the car, and have adapted to the camping life! Two of the 3 love to be outside on tie-outs. We adopted them while traveling!
I like that you mention having relaxers on hand if your cat is anxious during the trip. my husband and I want to take a trip in our RV, but I’ve been a bit nervous to bring our cat along. We haven’t had her very long, but it’s important that she feels safe and that we can stay at RV parks that allow pets. It could be a really fun trip, so I’m hoping these tips help.
Having a stress-ball cat ourselves (Rand, the brown one) I totally understand that you’re nervous, but I truly believe that ANY cat can adapt to travel given time and the right tools. Just take it easy, and if you can go for a short drive the first time, before you go for longer drives. Also be prepared for the fact that your cat might throw up the first time (or few times) you do this. Ours did!! And in fact they still do if we’ve been sitting still for a while (say, a month). Usually it’s just one drive with pukes and we’re good for the following drives 🙂 Good luck with everything!
Nina
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Thank you for the great article! My husband and I are seriously thinking about becoming full-time “RVer’s” for about a year and one of the big concerns is how our 5 kitties will adapt (I know, 5, really?)…..you have helped give me some peace of mind and maybe gotten me a step or two closer to taking the plunge!!
Debbie, we full-time in a 20′ R-pod travel trailer with our 4 year old cat who travels beautifully and is leash-trained for walks. We are visiting NJ and just adopted 2 kittens! In a couple of weeks we will hit the road again and hope our new kitties travel well, too! We have put the kittens in the trailer for a little bit each day so they get used to it (we are staying in our mom’s home while in NJ and don’t want the kittens to get too spoiled by all of the space of the house!) Hope all works out for you!
We are full time RVers with two kitties & one small dog. The wife and I looked all over for a small Cat Tree / Cat Condo for our RV and all were way to big. So we decided to make one and came up with what we call “RV Kitty Catwalk” Our cats love it. It provided our kitties with a playground, a place to sleep, exercise and something to scratch besides our furniture.
RV Kitty Catwalk was inspired by Peaches & Skittles @ http://www.rvkittycatwalk.com