Cats on the Road - RV-Dreams Community Forum

WendysPhotos · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cats on the Road

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Do your cats normally go outside at home? We traveled across country a couple of times with our cat in a motorhome and he never tried to get out. It was a Class C and we kept his travel cage open on the overhead cab bed during the day and when traveling. He was never an adventurous cat though and never tried to get outside at home. Also, from the time you get your RV, will there be time to acclimate your cats to the RV? And, I'm betting that more than one person has overcame what appears to be an obstacle here. We saw a lot of people traveling with cats and saw cats basking in the sun on the dashboard of Class A motorhomes and they looked like they didn't have a care in the world.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

As far as a double door system......I removed the keeper latch that keeps the main door and screen door together , so now when I open the outside door the screen door is locked in place.....its only a pain when its time to exit the rv.....I have to push open the main door away from the catch before opening the screen door.....it works for me ,I havnt lost the dog yet!!.......but sometimes its a PIA if Im hurrying..

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our kitty only goes outside on a leash. We have a pet carrier that we use to transport her between the truck and 5th wheel which she doesn't appreciate, but we feel that's safest for her and our skin.

jrzygrl64 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hello and welcome to the site!

We have 2 kitties - and I am always concerned about them getting out! They are both are inside all the time here at home, except we do let them out on our fully screened in deck while we are out there. Neither has ever tried to get out. We have taken them both camping, and while we are traveling, we put them both in their "beds". We always bang on the door before opening it to make sure they are not near the door, esp. b/c one of them likes to sit on the steps. I like Mike's idea about having it so they don't open together automatically.

I would bring them on short trips or at least let them spend time in the rv before going out. Also, get them used to a "bed" if they aren't already. I have heard some people let their cats stay in the RV while driving, we don't like that idea. We also do not like them being loose while driving (we have a class C right now and we are planning to upgrade to a 5th wheel next year).

I am sure they will be fine, might take them a bit of time to get used to it, but they will prefer to be with you vs not with you (if they are anything like my kitties!).

Good luck!

Kelly

2riker2go · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have two cats, and they have acclimated very well to life on the road. :) One of the cats always tried to get out at home, but has not tried any escapes since we moved into the fiver. We were concerned about what would happen if he did get out though, so we did have both of them microchipped.

We put a piece of plexiglass on the lower part of the door over the screen, but other than that we haven't made any changes to the door. We moved the furniture around so we would have a place for their cat tree. They love it and seem very content to watch the birds and other wildlife out all of the various windows.

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have our 4 chipped, as far as escaping ours want no part of it...use the same type of care and precaution you do at your regular home...it's really no different. Cats are resourceful and adaptable, they will adjust to life on the road...use care and common sense...

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our cat, Kiki, adopted us when she was 7 weeks old.. and has grown up on the road. She just turned 5. We got her used to a harness and leash right away - and if the campsite feels safe from predators, she loves to spend time outside chasing things and convincing folks passing by to come worship her. And in the evenings, she loves strolling the campground with us.

You can follow her blog posts at: www.technomadia.com/category/life-on-the-road/from-a-cats-perspective/ :)

Loretta · RV-Dreams Family Member

We travel with three cats. They have a cat tree in the living room and we have a cage for them that attaches to a side window and a little kitty door, in the window, so they can go in and out. http://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Homes-Pets-inches-Playpen/dp/B000I1M76Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381807893&sr=8-1&keywords=cat+cage. They are good travelers but every once in awhile they get testy. Then I use one of the cat diffusers, Comfort Zone, and they are ok. I use it less and less now, they are getting the hang of traveling. They love to watch the birds and the dogs going for walks. They never have tried to go out when we have the door open. Like Gene said they are very adaptable.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Loretta - I have the pic saved that you posted to my Facebook page, let me know if you want me to post that!!

Our Tazzy Kat has adapted well to life on the road, when driving she lets us know if we're not paying enough attention to her, usually by either head butting one of our elbows or putting a cold nose on our arm!! She escaped once, when we were part timers with a new trailer, ended up with a broken pelvic, since then she has become a very spoiled, very protected kitty.

We got rid of much of our original furniture, made the living area more functional to include a kitty pedastal and she has been very happy with life on the road. She's good at walking on a leash when she feels safe and very good at letting us know when she has had enough outdoor time and thinks it's time to watch the world go by from one of the many windows we've made available and kitty friendly.

Loretta · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ruth, I have still not figured out a way to post pictures. So, if anyone is interested in seeing the setup we have feel free to share.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill and Loretta's kitty cage, accessible through a window on their MH using a pet door.

Clay L · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our first cat Niki, spent nine years with us on the road. She was about six weeks old when we rescued her from a woodpile. At first we let her sit outside on a leash but found that she would then try to run outside when we went outside. After a few weeks of not going outside she lost the desire to try to get outside.

She passed away two years ago and now we have Katie who has been with us almost two years and she behaves as Niki did, so we don't her spend any time out.

We also have Kelli who has been with us about two months and it appears that she may behave the same as the other two regarding wanting out after being out a few times.
Because we started snow birding this summer instead of full timing she has not been on a trip the motor home yet.

I have taken her and Katie out to the motor home while I was doing some work inside and other than being extremely curious about everything didn't seem to have a problem with it. After she got bored with checking everything out she settled down for a nap. It will be interesting to see how she behaves when her house moves.

When we first start moving Katie complains bitterly about it for a few minutes and then is okay. Hopefully Kelli won't have a problem with it.

LibertyLinda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wendysphotos,

We have 3 strictly indoor cats, all around the age 13. evileye I am still trying to figure out how to bring them with us. Traveling will be stressful in crates in my jeep, then inside the 5th wheel another topic. Perhaps my anxiety about that is worse than what it will really be. I am worried about how they will adjust. BTW, we also have our dog too- she will travel with DH in the pick up. So we are bringing two vehicles for the Zoo. We just decided we are better together than apart, no matter the outcome. That is what love is about. aww

WendysPhotos · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thank You all for the responses

I am still working on placing the outdoor kitties and figuring out which of the indoor would be better at going RVing. Personally I want them all to go, but I think I have a couple of indoor/outdoor kids that would just not adjust. It is killing me. We are looking at a 39 ft'er right now that has a rear bunkhouse with a second door. We would take the bunks out and turn it into an office, but we could easily double door it. That would make me feel so much better to have a double door.

Leash training has begun. Gettting them used to wearing a harness is step 1. Never had to worry about that before.

Wendy

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wendy - not sure if this helps or not, but the kitty harness' did not work for our "princess kitty" aka Tazzy Kat, we did find the small Kong dog harness (shhhh, don't tell her it's dog harness) worked really well for a cat.

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our cat travels with us. She is an indoor cat, and with a motor home, she doesn't have to go outside. Prior to the MH we had a small TT. She rode in a carrier that was belted in when we were traveling. With the MH she also rides in the carrier, but there is no seatbelt to belt her in, so we just keep the carrier up front between us. One day, just to see what would happen, I started the engine before she was in the carrier. She acted nervous, but since the coach wasn't moving she didn't do anything unusual. As soon as I put the suspension in travel mode and the coach started moving, though, she ran for the carrier.

Our little TT had a small slide, and Jo Ann made a "snake" and some pillows that blocked her access to the slide area (her first camping trip was when she was still a very little kitten) because it was possible for her to get into that area. Our MH doesn't have slides, so that isn't an issue. Her food and water are in the bathroom, and the litter box is in the shower area, although we are talking about relocating that to the navigator's footwell area (our coach has a mid-entry, so that area is not a traffic area as it would be with a front entry).

Future Fulltimers · RV-Dreams Family Member

We do not have our RV yet but are planning on it for next year and have similar concerns with our cats. One is 1.5 yrs old (wife's cat) and strictly indoors with no desire for being outside. The other is about 8-9 yrs old (my cat), we inherited him when daughter moved to NYC and she rescued him from the streets. Definitely a multiple personality, ranging from psycho monster at the vet's (you should see their notes on him) to a cuddly sweetheart in my arms. He does try to get out and has some in our yard and has "usually" listened to me to stay close and come back it, but I really cannot trust that to always work. Tried harness without much success, he is just too smart and set in his ways. Putting him in a cage brings out psycho cat.

We do want to take them both with us. In fact we were at an RV show recently trying to narrow down our choices and constantly trying to figure out where the catbox would go, etc. I mentioned we should get a Class C with the overcab bed so they would have a high place to get too and she laughed that I would pick out an RV that best pleased the cats!

Steve

jrzygrl64 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Steve,

I am laughing with you, b/c when we went to an RV show in Sept. in every RV we went into where there was a salesman, I asked them each where in this RV would they suggest keeping a cat box. None really had any original good ideas, but it was a bit amusing to watch reactions. I was not really asking to be amused, it is just a serious concern of ours, as we also have 2 cats we will be bringing with us on the road.

They actually do go with us now, and we have a Class C (we are planning to upgrade to a 5th Wheel in the spring to full-time in). Our younger kitty, a 4 year old long-haired tortie named Callie, LOVES the overhead area! There are windows up there with curtains on them, and I open them just a bit so she can put her head through and watch the world go by. We've watched kids walking by notice her and we've heard them say "Look Mom, a CAT!" or "Dad, is that a REAL cat up there?" very cute! I think the older cat, a 15 year old (very BIG) tuxedo cat named Raskal, is jealous b/c he cannot jump up there anymore and only gets up there if we put him up there and then get him back down.

Right now, we keep the box in the shower, as we don't use it anyways, but I want to use the shower in the new 5th wheel, so where the cat box goes is still an issue being worked on!

Bill and Jodee · RV-Dreams Family Member

We don't have cats but I'm always fasinated when I see pictures and videos on gonewiththewynns.com who have two indoor/outdoor cats they travel with. I think they are the only full timers I've seen whose cats go outside without a leash. They do also walk them with harness and leash away from their campsites.......

I'm not sure what steps they took to get the cats to stay nearby (perhaps there is invisible laser beam fencing!) but it seems to work for them.

I love Loretta's cat cage! What a perfect solution. Will have to see if something similar would work for the fluffy dog when we hit the road.

Best of luck, I know how important it is to know you can take the whole family.

Jodee

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

For those of you trying to figure out where to put the litter box, ours is in a corner of the main living area. We had it behind a end table, but as we've rearranged and changed our furniture, it's now in an empty corner. Here's a tip: look for a top entry litter box, less mess, no litter scattered outside the box and a lot less obvious to visitors that it's a cat box, ours looks like a Rubber Maid container. We have the Clevercat top entry box placed in a corner next to a side window. Tazzy loves the fact that it sits next to a window, one more perch she can use to look outside.

sologal · RV-Dreams Family Member

I travelled quite a bit with my 3 cats and dogs. My old cat [died last year at 21yrs old] hated the actual travelling part but the second I stopped she was out and waiting to see where we ended up. I created a safe place for them under the pull out couch for when I was moving and had an outdoor wrap around run for them when parked. They just go through the window to a narrow run attached to the motorhome itself [collapses against the side when travelling], it was something they loved and I did not have to worry about them getting lost or hurt. I no longer have a kitty but I still have my dogs to keep me company. Don't worry too much about your cats, they would much rather be with you at times uncomfortable [until they adjust] than be left behind. Good luck....Deb

nightsky · RV-Dreams Family Member

Here's what I did with the cat box in my small travel trailer. Easy to access from the outside for cleaning, and the litter doesn't get tracked into the cabin.

http://nightskyandprairiewind.blogspot.com/2013/06/cat-flaps.html

Mr. Kitty travels in the trailer most of the time, he is just a lot more comfortable there than crammed in the carrier in the truck. I did get a remote wireless thermometer, and put the "outside" sensor part inside the camper with the base part with the readout on the dash of the truck so I can see if it's getting too warm for him.

WendysPhotos · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hello Again,

Thanks for the updates and information. As fa as a cat box goes, too us that is the least of the worries. We have already planned on putting it in a cabinet, or sidetable. Although the person who built theres in the space below, might be an option. We already had one in a side table at one time. No one even knew it was there. Had a hinged door on the back with hole for kitties to go in and even had a cheap motion sensor battery powered light. It worked great for the old kitty who could not manage stairs to the basement anymore. Just an idea.

There was also a post on one that they had laid a false bottom in a closet with a hinged door too. That way Thier shoes went on top and kitty box in the little cubby.

Wendy