RVing Full-Time with a Cat

Touring in an RV presents a singular freedom, and bringing your cat alongside could make the journey much more particular. Whereas RVing with a cat requires some additional planning, it’s totally attainable to make sure their security, consolation, and happiness on the street. Listed below are just a few concepts on learn how to make the expertise pleasurable for each you and your feline companion. 

Getting ready for the Full-Time RVing with a Cat

• Veterinary Checkup: Earlier than hitting the street, guarantee your cat is updated on vaccinations and talk about your journey plans along with your vet. This helps affirm they’re wholesome and ready for the journey. Many campgrounds require vaccination data for pets, so remember to get a replica to maintain available whereas touring. Moreover, contemplate microchipping your cat as an added security measure in case they escape—this will simply be finished at your vet’s workplace.

• Monitoring Collar: Whereas microchipping is all the time a sensible thought, a monitoring collar supplies a extra fast solution to find your pet. Choices embody: GPS trackers that supply real-time location monitoring and exercise monitoring by way of an app (although these usually require pricey subscriptions) Bluetooth trackers like Apple AirTag and Tile Mate that are extra reasonably priced and work nicely for short-range monitoring, and Radio Frequency (RF) trackers which don’t require subscriptions and are perfect for areas with out mobile protection. We personally use an Apple AirTag with a collar attachment for our cat, Louie, who loves sitting outdoors. It’s an economical resolution that helps us rapidly find him if he wanders off. Every possibility has its professionals and cons, so contemplate your pet’s habits, your finances, and the specified monitoring vary when selecting the perfect tracker.
• Ticks/ Illnesses: When RVing along with your cat, it’s necessary to make sure they’re protected against ticks and different potential ailments. Be sure that your cat is updated on preventative remedies for ticks, fleas, and parasites, particularly in the event you’ll be in wooded or grassy areas. Seek the advice of along with your vet about appropriate remedies, resembling tick collars or topical drugs, to maintain your cat secure throughout outside adventures. Frequently test your cat for ticks after outside excursions to catch any points early and forestall sickness.

Setting Up a Cat-Pleasant RV

• Protected Areas: Create devoted areas in your cat to calm down and conceal. Cats really feel safer once they have a spot to retreat to. Particularly in the event you’re in such a small house with little ones round or different pets, it’s necessary that they’ve their very own space to run to. 
• Safe Setting: Examine your RV for hazards like open home windows, unfastened wires, or areas the place a curious cat might get caught. Louie is a pretty big senior cat who’s extra into sleeping than exploring so this was one factor we didn’t actually have to fret about, however it’s nonetheless all the time a good suggestion to maintain a watch out for potential hazards. 
• Litter Field: Discovering a spot in your cat’s litter field could be tough in such a small dwelling house. It’s necessary to decide on someplace steady and accessible, ideally in a ventilated space. That is very depending on private choice and your RV’s format. We preserve ours within the bathe tub since we frequently boondock and don’t use the bathe day by day, so it’s not a lot of an inconvenience. To make Louie’s litter field extra accessible, we put in a cat cutout within the toilet door, permitting him to get out and in of the lavatory even when the door is closed. We love our top-entry litter field as a result of it’s straightforward to maneuver out and in of our bathe and helps reduce litter monitoring all through the camper.

• Different necessities: One other necessary consideration is the place to put your cat’s meals, water dishes, and scratching pad. We use a small scratching pad that matches neatly beneath our dinette desk, which helps stop Louie from scratching the camper’s furnishings. For his meals and water, we use a mixed dish with built-in storage for his cat meals—excellent for small areas! Test it out right here, It retains all the pieces organized and contained in a compact field, making it extremely handy for RV life. 

On the Highway

• Driving Safely: Hold your cat safe throughout journey to make sure their security and reduce distractions. A provider is usually the most secure possibility for a lot of cats, however preferences fluctuate. For instance, our 12-year-old cat, Louie, prefers touring in his mattress beneath one of many boys’ seats as an alternative of being in a provider, so we adjusted to his consolation.
• Important Gear: Pack objects like a travel-friendly litter field (if essential), meals, toys, and a comfy mattress to make your cat’s journey comfy. In case your cat will get anxious throughout journey, think about using calming sprays or pheromone diffusers to assist them calm down.
• Routine Stops: Plan common breaks to test in your cat, guarantee their litter field is clear, and supply meals or water as wanted. As an alternative of utilizing a transportable litter field whereas driving, we cease periodically for fuel, meals, and sights and can let Louie into the camper for his toilet breaks and meals. He even meows to tell us when he wants a cease if it’s pressing. Each cat is exclusive, so take time to determine what setup works finest in your furry journey companion.

Dwelling Collectively within the RV

• Litter Administration: One in all my greatest considerations when shifting into our small camper was the potential scent of Louie’s litter field. I by no means actually observed the odor after we lived in a home, however I anxious that in such a small house, it might be insufferable. Thankfully, these fears have been unfounded. By utilizing a multi-cat clumping litter and scooping incessantly to manage odors, we’ve been in a position to preserve issues contemporary, and we actually haven’t observed any disagreeable smells within the confined house of the RV. Every day Enrichment: Hold your cat mentally stimulated with toys, climbing areas, and interactive play. If secure, allow them to discover the outside on a leash or a minimum of shut by with supervision in case your furry good friend received’t adapt to a leash. Even with all of the toys we have now for Louie his favourite is crinkled-up receipts. He additionally loves getting up on the boys’ bunks and searching the high-up window. 
• Adjusting to RV Life: Don’t get discouraged in case your cat takes time to regulate to life in an RV. Begin with quick journeys and step by step enhance the period of journey till they turn into seasoned vacationers. It might take time, however they are going to ultimately get used to the motion and new surroundings.
• Monitor Their Conduct: At all times preserve a watch out for indicators of stress, resembling hiding, lack of urge for food, or extreme grooming. If any points come up, there are veterinary clinics and hospitals nationwide the place you may take your cat for assist.

Cat Pleasant Adventures

• Harness Coaching: In case your cat enjoys the outside, spend money on a well-fitting harness and leash for supervised outside time. This will add pleasure to their day, however it’s simpler in case your cat is youthful. Our 12-year-old cat, Louie, by no means fairly received the grasp of sporting a harness—he would simply lie there, unwilling to maneuver. Whereas we might have ultimately labored on it, we now let him benefit from the outdoor by sitting close to the camper and go away him dwelling whereas we discover, somewhat than forcing him into harness coaching. We do have his harness all the time in our truck in case of emergencies. 
• Pet-Pleasant Campgrounds: Analysis RV parks and campgrounds that welcome pets and supply facilities like trails or open areas for leashed walks. In over two years of full-time journey, we’ve solely encountered one campground that didn’t enable pets! Insurance policies can fluctuate, with some campgrounds requiring proof of vaccination data and others working on the consideration system

Monitoring When Away

• Air flow & Local weather Management: Hold the RV well-ventilated and at a cushty temperature. Cats are delicate to warmth and chilly, so ensure they’ve entry to a shaded and comfy space particularly whereas boondocking. 
• Pet Displays: For those who go away the RV with out your cat, think about using a pet monitoring system to maintain observe of temperature and circumstances contained in the RV.  There are numerous choices on the market however we use the Waggle Pet Monitor as our journey important, guaranteeing our pet cat’s security and luxury whereas we exit exploring and are away from our RV. With its real-time monitoring options, we will calm down and luxuriate in our travels, realizing that our furry feline is secure from excessive warmth or chilly. Waggle retains us linked to our pet’s well-being, permitting us to profit from each journey with none worries!

Learn extra about the perfect RV pet screens.

Advantages of RVing with a Cat

• Security, Safety, and Companionship: Touring along with your cat ensures their security and well-being, as you may monitor them intently and keep away from the stress or dangers of boarding or leaving them with a sitter. Whether or not you’re touring short-term or full-time, bringing your pet alongside means that you can share your adventures collectively. Louie, for instance, hates being away from us and loves spending our days and nights cuddled up with the household, making him the right journey companion. Having your cat with you supplies fixed companionship, which provides consolation and delight to your travels, particularly throughout lengthy drives or distant stays.

RVing with a cat provides a brand new dimension to life on the street, making your travels extra fulfilling. With correct planning, persistence, and care, you may create a life-style the place each you and your feline thrive in your adventures. Protected travels!

Learn extra:

The Finest RVs for Pets

The Finest Pet-Pleasant RV Campgrounds