Maybe you’ve had a cat for years and are now considering renting or buying an RV. Or maybe you’re a long-time RV enthusiast and have decided to adopt your first feline. Either way, congratulations! These tips for introducing your cat to RV travel will help you with the next steps.
When we retired, we knew we wanted to travel. But we kept hitting a roadblock – what about our adorable cat Rosie? We didn’t want to leave her behind while we jet off to exotic destinations! So we opted for a camper van lifestyle. Luckily, introducing our cat to RV travel was easier than we imagined!
The advantages of traveling by motorhome
We spent a few years researching and planning how we wanted to live after retirement. Travel was always part of the plan. But we couldn’t imagine leaving our adorable kitty Rosie behind. The campervan was the perfect solution for all of us!
We could travel the continent from the comfort of our homes. We would have the freedom to change location whenever the desire took us. Preparing healthy home-cooked meals would be a breeze. And, best of all, Rosie could come with us.
Of course, there are many types of RVs to consider. And downsizing all your belongings to fit into an RV is not an easy thing to do. But it was the path of adventure that seemed to suit us best! So we started introducing our cat to RV travel.
Cats love the outdoors too!
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Our Rosie has always been adventurous. When we lived in a house, she loved to explore outside when we could watch her. But encouraging this type of behavior when we first started traveling had to be balanced with the need to keep one safe. I imagined too many scenarios where she could get lost or encounter creatures that could hurt her, like rattlesnakes.
We tried several harnesses but they had thin straps and she squirmed. Then we discovered a Cat walking jacket. It’s sturdy enough that she’ll have a lot of trouble getting out of it once it’s snug on her body.
READ MORE ⇒ Choosing the best cat harness
We also wanted a leash with a little forgiveness. When she was using a normal six-foot leash, if she got scared and ran away, she would suddenly hit the end of the leash, which would scare her even more. So we found a bungee style leash this allows for a smoother stop.
Cats can be easily leash trained as kittens, but adult cats tend to be much more cautious. Rosie started by staying near protective objects such as vehicles or bushes, as opposed to wide open spaces. But over time, Rosie’s confidence grew in the harness and leash.
Walking her still requires a lot of patience, as she frequently stops to look at things for a while. I came to see this as a meditative experience, moving slowly and inspecting everything closely!
And it took us eight months to learn that we don’t walk Rosie… she walks us. Sometimes humans learn slowly.
Motorhome travel with a cat
Our RV is a fifth wheel that we pull with our truck. On travel days, I take Rosie for a walk outside before we leave. This uses up some of its energy and makes the cat calmer during the ride.
Rosie rides in the truck with us and usually meows a little at the start of the ride. She wears her harness while we drive. And we keep the leash handy so we can put it on before we open the doors and give him a chance to get out.
Her cat carrier is also in the truck with us, just in case of emergency. I ride with a cat bed on my lap and she stays there most of the time.
READ MORE ⇒ Crash-tested crates and carriers to keep pets safe
Make the RV Cat Friendly
One of the biggest challenges of RVing with a cat is knowing where to place the litter box! Some campers put it in the shower; some designate a cabinet for the box and cut a hole in the door. It could also go in a corner of the bedroom or in the closet.
We were lucky that our camper had enough space between the two recliners for a litter box. Versatile functionality wins every time when living in a small space!
We also had a hard time keeping Rosie from shredding the RV furniture. Everyone knows that cats love to scratch, but double-sided anti-scratch tape stopped Rosie from digging in inappropriate places. You can see it glowing on the corners of the chairs in the photo above.
Give him a scratching mat and create a cat scratching wall by gluing a small mat to the end of a kitchen cabinet with heavy duty double sided mounting tape gives Rosie plenty of room to work on her claws.
Succeed in traveling with a cat
Living and traveling in an RV with a cat took a bit of planning and ingenuity. But every effort paid off! We all enjoy this lifestyle from the comfort of our own home on wheels. Living the life of our dreams and sharing it with our best friend, Rosie – what’s better than that?!
About the Author: Lisa McGuire travels full-time in an RV with her husband, Hans, and cat, Rosie.
LEARN MORE ⇒ Tips for Traveling Cross-Country with Pets
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