Almost 25 million Americans took their recreational vehicles onto the roads last spring/summer season. Over half of those people (68%) bring along their pets, including cats. If you plan to take your cat along in your RV, you’ll need to plan ahead of time.
To travel with your cat in an RV, you’ll need to outfit it with the same necessities of a home. A place to sleep, eat, and use the litter box is just the minimum. Although optional, outfitting the RV with a cat patio and cat condo can provide extra comfort and utility.
It may seem like you can throw a bed and litter box in your RV and call it a day, but you’ll be sorely mistaken if you do. By taking the time and effort to outfit the RV properly, both you and your cat will have a much better travel experience. Let’s go over the steps on how to do just that!
Confirm that it’s Safe to Leave Your Cat in the RV
The first question that comes to mind is if it’s safe to leave a cat in an RV. After all, you and the family will undoubtedly leave the RV to experience the sights and activities that come with road trips.
While it is completely safe to leave your cat in the RV, the biggest concerns will be the inside temperature and the possibility of power outages.
Common sense goes a long way here. If it’s too hot for you inside, it’s too hot for your cat. Using the air conditioner or a combination of window shades and fans will help regulate the inside temperature and keep your cat from overheating.
If you’re willing to take the extra step, a Temp Stick is a great tool to have. It connects to your WiFi and allows you to monitor and receive alerts about your RVs inside temperature and humidity in real-time from any wireless device. Since there are no cables involved, you can place it anywhere in your RV and even have multiples if need be.
If you’d prefer to keep a closer eye on things while you’re away, the Petcube Play 2 is a pretty handy piece of tech. It connects to WiFi and allows you to keep tabs on your cats on your iPhone or Android device through their app. It doubles as a general security camera and what’s even cooler is the built-in laser you can either control yourself or set to autoplay. It provides peace of mind and the ability to play with your cat even while you’re out and about.
To be safe, give your contact info to the RV park/campground managers so they can contact you in the event of a power outage. Let them know you have a family pet onboard and appreciate it if they alerted you; that way, you can head back to your RV as soon as possible. Technology can fail, so having this sorted will give you that extra peace of mind.
Take Preventative Measures Against Escape
The best way to ensure your cat doesn’t bolt out the door is to train them ahead of time. By preparing them before the trip, you’ll significantly reduce the chances of escape while out on the road.
Train Your Cat in Recall
If you train your cat in anything, make sure it’s recall. It’s one of the most important foundations you can instill in your cat and is helpful at home as much as it is while out traveling.
The process involves using a sound to call your cat and reinforcing with a reward when they respond to it. It’s very similar to how you would train a dog to respond to commands such as ‘come’ or even their name.
Training in recall involves the following:
- Choosing and sticking to a sound that your cat will respond to.
- Rewarding them with a treat when they respond appropriately.
- Reinforce the habit through repetition.
A fantastic resource on recall training for cats can be found here.
If you want to reinforce their recall further, you can mix up the training by providing additional challenges. By leaving the room and performing the recall sound, you are pushing the benchmark further for your cat and strengthening the habitual urge to find you.
Take Your Cat Out for a Test Drive
This will be easier for indoor cats as opposed to outdoor ones. The goal here is to familiarize your cat with the sights, sounds, and smells of the RV.
Once you’ve somewhat outfitted your RV with basic pet amenities, spend some time (30 minutes or so) taking short drives around with your cat. During the drive, allow them to explore, find spots where they feel safe, and generally immerse themselves in the experience. Some cats will take to it right away, while others will need a few more short trips before they start feeling comfortable.
If you’re up for it, consider spending a night or two inside the RV with your cat while it’s parked outside of your home. You’ll provide the closest experience of camping out in the RV to your cat while being close to your home, just in case. It’s the perfect opportunity to practice and reinforce any training before you set out on the road for real.
Properly Set Up a Litter Box
There are 4 main rules you want to follow when deciding how to situate the litter box.
- Out of sight, out of mind: Pick a spot where your cats can have some privacy. This way, you don’t have to watch them do their business, and they don’t have to see you either. Whether this means you go with something custom-built or pre-made cat furniture, you’ll be happier not having a litter box out in the open for all to see.
- Accessibility: Make sure that wherever you decide to put the litter box that it’s easy to access for both you and your cat. Preferably you’ll be scooping daily, so easy access will make that easier. If your cat can’t be bothered to access their box, they’ll find somewhere else to do their business.
- Odor Control: Since an RV only has so much space, controlling the level of odor coming from the litter box is a top priority. The box location will preferably be an out of the way spot that has good ventilation. Choosing low dust and efficient clumping litter helps to contain unwanted smells. I’ve written a post here that goes over what you can do to keep the litter box smelling fresh.
- Litter Tracking: The last thing you want is litter to be anywhere but inside the box. Having a good litter mat for your cats to step on will prevent litter from hitchhiking its way around your RV.
Remember, if you have more than one cat, you may want to consider having more than one litter box. Otherwise, you’ll be scooping pretty often.
If you’re looking for specific recommendations on litter boxes, I’ve written detailed overviews on several different options on my Recommended Litter Boxes page.
Determine RV Modifications for Your Cat
You can get away with only providing the necessities for your cat in the RV. But those who go the extra mile to provide some extra comfort for their cats will find that they acclimate to the RV life that much easier.
There are many different options available to those looking to deck out their RVs with cat-friendly modifications. The most popular ones tend to be Catios and Cat Condos.
Consider Installing a Catio (Cat Patio)
Catios are detachable pet crates that normally hang off a window or the rail where the awning would normally be. They are also known as outdoor enclosures.
This is a great alternative to letting your cats wander around outside at the RV park/campground. They can lounge in the catio while taking in the sights of the outdoors. That way, they don’t suffer from cabin fever and can still spend time with you even while you are outside the RV.
Unfortunately, there is no one size fits all method for putting together a catio. You’ll need to get creative and make adjustments that are specific to your RV and needs. Thankfully there are videos available to guide you through the basics of doing just that.
For those with less time here is a quick summary:
- Choose an appropriate sized pet crate for your cat(s) and RV.
- Wedge a barrier between the crate and RV, such as a foam board, to protect it from scratches and prevent the cats from squeezing in between and escaping.
- Don’t forget to cut an opening in the foam board so your cat can get in and out without issue.
- Use a combination of fence tension rods and Bungie cords to affix the crate against the RV’s side window.
- To Dissasemble, go through the steps in reverse order. Start by removing the cords and lifting the crate to detach from the RV, remove the rods, and finally collapse the crate for storage.
Don’t be afraid to get creative with your catio! Hang toys off the top of it, cover the foam board with a combination of different colored tape, etc. Make it yours!
Buy or Build a Cat Condo/Tree
A catio is only viable when the RV isn’t in motion. An indoor cat condo/tree is a great alternative or addition to the catio and provides your cat with additional entertainment and comfort.
From my research, it seems that there isn’t much of a difference between a cat condo or cat tree, and the terms can be used interchangeably.
Buying one would be quick and easy, although they tend to be quite expensive depending on how elaborate you want it to be. There are many options available from places like Amazon or Chewy.
Building one is a great way to have a cat condo that is custom-built for the size and shape of your RV, as well as customizing it in whatever way pleases you and your cat. Not to mention you can save a significant amount of money if you’re handy. There are a million and one ways to go about this with tons of content for inspiration from sites like Pinterest and Instagram.
That being said, we ended up building ours out of spare lumber from a tree our neighbor decided to get rid of. Talk about recycling!
Don’t Leave Your Cat Alone in a Fifth Wheel When Driving
Your cat should always be with you while the RV is on the road. This means not leaving them alone in a fifth-wheel/travel-trailer if that’s what you’re sporting. It’s difficult to guarantee your cat’s safety or the temperature when they’re alone in a moving vehicle, so it’s best to keep them nearby until you stop for the day.
This will change the way you do most of your on-road traveling with your cat, as they’ll preferably be in their carrier most of the time rather than free-roaming around the car.
If you have a passenger with you, ask if they’d be comfortable holding the carrier on their lap, with the cat facing you. This should reduce some of their anxiety since your cat will be able to see its owner.
If that’s not possible, secure them in the backseat with a blanket over the carrier. This will muffle some of the car noise and limit their vision as not to stress them out.
Gather Vet Info and Bring Medical Records
Just in case, gather information on any local veterinarian hospitals near where you’ll be staying or passing through. If your cat does get hurt, it’ll be a godsend to have all the contact info ready to go.
Bringing your cat’s medical records will speed up the process in the vet’s office so your cat can be seen quicker. As you’ll likely be a first time visitor, the records will accurately answer any questions they might have for you.
While on the vet’s subject, ask yours about getting your cat microchipped if they haven’t already.
Note: If you have your cat covered by pet insurance, review your policy with them before you depart on your trip. Depending on what insurance you’re going with, the coverage can vary greatly. It’ll help to know whether or not your cat’s vet fees will be accounted for or if you should have a cash cushion set aside for an emergency.
Have a First-Aid Kit on Hand
Whether there is a pet hospital nearby or not, it’s smart to have a pet first-aid kit on hand.
There are pre-made kits available at most pet retail stores and Amazon. They can range from simple kits to doomsday prepper-level stuff. You don’t need to go overboard here. Look for the necessities such as gloves, hydrogen peroxide, band-aids, gauze, antibiotic cream, and wound seal.
You can also make your kit out of what you have available at home or your local drug store. If you decide to go this route, an extremely detailed guide on putting together a first-aid kit for your cat can be found here.
Having one of these kits can mean the difference between quickly disinfecting & wrapping a wound and an expensive vet office visit. It’s also indispensable in the event of your cat getting injured late at night when most vet hospitals are closed.
Bring Their Usual Food and Litter
Being hundreds of miles away from home in an RV is not the time to experiment with new food or litter.
Cats value familiarity and can be very picky. If you suddenly switch things up, you may find that they refuse to eat or, worse, find a new place in your RV to use the bathroom. Here’s a hint: It won’t be in their litter box.
By providing them with the same necessities they receive at home, you’ll avoid any additional issues or accidents. You’ll also help them acclimate to the new RV environment if they’re still getting used to it. Two birds with one stone!
Conclusion
Bringing your cat along on an RV road trip is a great way to bring a sense of companionship and a piece of home with you when out on the long road. Traveling can get lonely, even when in the presence of other people. There’s nothing quite like the company of your favorite cat(s).
Just remember, start things off slow and introduce new experiences to them in increments. Follow the steps, and you’ll have a travel buddy that can’t be beaten.
Illustration by @_cacheart
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