4 Tips for RVing with Cats
03-28-2018
Author: in Education
We can’t imagine full time RVing without our pets, three cats and a dog. After three years on the road, we can confidently say that they have adapted to the stop and go of this lifestyle. My husband and I have adapted to their nomadic needs as well, especially with our indoor cats. There are a few modifications we have made in our rig to help maintain a tolerable and livable space for both humans and felines.
Safeguard your furnishings.
Our cats have claws and they love to scratch! They love to scratch the upholstery, wallpaper, carpet, and even the particle board bathroom door. In an attempt to minimize further damage, we invested in seat covers, inexpensive rugs, and a variety of scratch posts that stand alone and hang from door handles or hooks. Double sided tape, purchased at a pet store and specific for the purpose of eliminating the act of scratching in a particular area, has been an upholstery saving tool, as well.
Consider paper over clay litter.
Although clumping clay litter has many benefits, once we moved into an RV, we started looking for other product alternatives. Clay litter was easily tracked throughout the rig and felt quite uncomfortable when stepped on. We are pretty diligent about sweeping everyday, but regardless of this chore, chunks or strays found their way under chairs or tables, on our dashboard,or laying on the bed. The cats were carrying it around on their feet or fur and dispersing it everywhere.
We learned about paper litter from a friend who was using it with her bunnies. We decided to try this with our cats. A small portion was initially included with their clumping clay litter and portions were gradually increased while the the clay litter portions decreased. Eventually the cats were using only paper litter. We’ve noticed little to no tracking now.
You have your space; give your cats some space, too.
Since we travel in a motorhome, we have been using our long dashboard as the main pet area. A long carpet covers the top. A few cat beds of various shapes and sizes, blankets, and a small cat post with platforms are randomly placed for the cats to enjoy a slumber or peer outside the massive front windshield.
Not every RVer travels in a motorhome, so front windshield dashboards may not be an option. Investing in some type of platform or level for a window or two may be a possibility. We have even seen some RVers with contraptions jutting outside windows or storage compartments for their cats to access the outdoors in a self contained unit. The possibilities are endless. The important thing is to allow expose to outside scenery. Being cooped up in a windowless metal box is not stimulating or healthy.
Keep feeding procedures consistent.
Since we have a dog that seems to prefer cat food over her own, feeding areas for the felines are atop a small built in desk in the bedroom. We don’t keep food out throughout the day and instead keep the pets on a twice a day feeding schedule, morning and evening. This also helps with diet concerns as one of our cats is overweight from past free feeding practices.
What are ways you have modified your rig for your feline family?
Related Read: RV Travel Cats: Vehicle Safety
Safeguard your furnishings.
Our cats have claws and they love to scratch! They love to scratch the upholstery, wallpaper, carpet, and even the particle board bathroom door. In an attempt to minimize further damage, we invested in seat covers, inexpensive rugs, and a variety of scratch posts that stand alone and hang from door handles or hooks. Double sided tape, purchased at a pet store and specific for the purpose of eliminating the act of scratching in a particular area, has been an upholstery saving tool, as well.
Consider paper over clay litter.
Although clumping clay litter has many benefits, once we moved into an RV, we started looking for other product alternatives. Clay litter was easily tracked throughout the rig and felt quite uncomfortable when stepped on. We are pretty diligent about sweeping everyday, but regardless of this chore, chunks or strays found their way under chairs or tables, on our dashboard,or laying on the bed. The cats were carrying it around on their feet or fur and dispersing it everywhere.
We learned about paper litter from a friend who was using it with her bunnies. We decided to try this with our cats. A small portion was initially included with their clumping clay litter and portions were gradually increased while the the clay litter portions decreased. Eventually the cats were using only paper litter. We’ve noticed little to no tracking now.
You have your space; give your cats some space, too.
Since we travel in a motorhome, we have been using our long dashboard as the main pet area. A long carpet covers the top. A few cat beds of various shapes and sizes, blankets, and a small cat post with platforms are randomly placed for the cats to enjoy a slumber or peer outside the massive front windshield.
Not every RVer travels in a motorhome, so front windshield dashboards may not be an option. Investing in some type of platform or level for a window or two may be a possibility. We have even seen some RVers with contraptions jutting outside windows or storage compartments for their cats to access the outdoors in a self contained unit. The possibilities are endless. The important thing is to allow expose to outside scenery. Being cooped up in a windowless metal box is not stimulating or healthy.
Related Read: RVing with Cats Can Be Fun!
Keep feeding procedures consistent.
Since we have a dog that seems to prefer cat food over her own, feeding areas for the felines are atop a small built in desk in the bedroom. We don’t keep food out throughout the day and instead keep the pets on a twice a day feeding schedule, morning and evening. This also helps with diet concerns as one of our cats is overweight from past free feeding practices.
What are ways you have modified your rig for your feline family?
Comment
No comments found! Be the first one to write a comment!
Author: Levi and Natalie Henley
