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Everybody informed us we have been loopy to attempt to journey with a cat in our tiny, 17′ Casita journey trailer. Canine? Canine are straightforward. However, cats are a unique animal altogether — actually. (There’s a cause I put collectively a complete guide to traveling with a cat in a car long-distance.)
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Of all of the issues we needed to study with our new RV, determining easy methods to safely journey with Lizzi the Journey Cat was probably the most worrying. After an eight-week, break-in street journey from Oklahoma to New England and again once more, we realized quite a bit. Right here’s the low-down on touring with cats in a journey trailer (most of the following tips apply to touring with cats in a fifth wheel or popup camper too!) …
Make Certain the Tow Automobile Is Comfy
As a result of we’re touring with a journey trailer (i.e., one which we tow, moderately than drive), Lizzi travels with us within the 4Runner on journey days. Most days, she’s confined to the SUV for between two and 4 hours. That’s a very long time for a cat to be caught in a automobile. So, we ensure that it’s as comfy for her as potential. As I discussed, I’ve written a complete submit on touring with a cat in a automotive as a result of that’s value a information unto itself.
In the event you’re RV’ing with a journey trailer (that means your cat will likely be with you in your tow automobile a minimum of a number of the time), I’d extremely suggest checking out that guide first, then coming again right here. In the event you’ve already obtained that a part of touring along with your cat sorted, keep it up beneath …
![](https://vagabondish.com/wp-content/uploads/interior-casita-freedom-deluxe-travel-trailer-rv-800x367.jpg)
![](https://vagabondish.com/wp-content/uploads/interior-casita-freedom-deluxe-travel-trailer-rv-800x367.jpg)
Take It Slooow …
Cats are, in fact, creatures of behavior. They love the established order: Identical litter field, identical mattress, identical meals, identical hoomans. So, introducing them into a very new atmosphere — like, say, a journey trailer — is worrying. It smells bizarre (to them), the format is totally different than residence, and EVERYTHING IS WRONG. The bottom line is to take it gradual.
Earlier than heading out on a weeks- or months-long journey, discover someplace like a KOA or different straightforward, dependable campground close to residence for a fast in a single day journey. Use it as a break-in (or “shakedown”) journey on your new journey trailer or RV. Don’t purchase something new simply but. Deliver your entire cat’s normal, secure, comfy necessities — the identical litter field, their favourite toys, the standard meals, and so forth. Don’t change a factor. Hold as a lot of their new atmosphere as acquainted as potential.
Introduce them to your new journey trailer, and sit with them. Pet them, converse softly to them, placed on some soothing Yanni music. Reassure them that this new house is totally secure. And that all the things goes to be simply wonderful.
Fortunately, Lizzi takes to new areas fairly shortly. So, introducing her to the Casita was surprisingly straightforward. Most cats, nonetheless, will in all probability want time to regulate. As soon as you are feeling like yours is a bit more comfy of their new digs, then it’s time to contemplate what new merchandise chances are you’ll want to purchase to make touring with cats in your journey trailer give you the results you want.
Discover the Proper RV Cat Litter Field
Discovering the appropriate litter field for Lizzi one way or the other turned probably the most difficult activity about touring in our new-to-us Casita. Cat house owners with tiny journey trailers shortly notice the issue is two-fold.
First, you want a field that’s sufficiently small to neatly tuck away someplace in your tiny journey trailer. In our 17-foot Casita, the house is extraordinarily restricted. As a result of we’re preserving the rear dinette/mattress combo down as a full-time mattress, the full flooring house might be 30 sq. toes. So, our choices have been restricted to:
- In our solely storage closet: This proved unrealistic as we would have liked each cubic foot of that cupboard space. Plus, it could’ve meant Lizzi needed to soar over a big (12-inch-ish), excessive lip to get to her field each time. The closet would even have been a lure for litter which I might’ve needed to vacuum a minimum of each day.
- Within the lavatory: Additionally unrealistic as we didn’t need to danger cat litter stepping into and clogging the RV’s bathe and delicate plumbing. Plus, frankly, there simply isn’t sufficient room.
- Behind the forward-most captain’s chair: Due to the angle of the chair again, this wound up working nice. There’s sufficient room behind the chair to place Lizzi’s litter field. At evening, we are able to even slide the field out from behind the chair to provide her extra room to do her enterprise.
This results in the second and extra vital concern: The litter field needs to be compact, but nonetheless giant sufficient to accommodate your kitty. If the house is just too confined, it’ll stress the cat. They’ll find yourself not utilizing the field in any respect or utilizing it however “lacking” half the time.
I ought to say that for journey trailer house owners with average-sized cats, this will not be a problem. Most traditional cats and particularly kittens could have no drawback utilizing a regular litter field. Lizzi, nonetheless, is something however “commonplace.” She’s a taller-than-average calico who, for no matter cause, sometimes stands within the litter field however hangs her butt over the aspect to do her enterprise. Generally this ends in pee winding up the place it doesn’t belong.
Getting cat urine into the cracks and crevices and on the carpeted partitions of our treasured Casita actually stored me up nights. I needed to discover a technique that labored.
For us, we went by way of three totally different litter containers earlier than discovering one which labored. I can suggest all three as they’re all really fairly good and can in all probability work for many cats. Sadly, just one labored for Lizzi.
The Finest Cat Litter Field for RVs and Journey Trailers
I used to be this-year years previous after I came upon vertical-entry cat containers have been a factor. My preliminary response was, “There’s no means a cat would use that.” However, after studying critiques from tons of glad (and equally shocked) cat house owners who had tried one and cherished it, I made a decision to provide it a shot.
The High-Entry or Vertical-Entry Cat Litter Field
The IRIS USA Medium Top Entry Cat Litter Box was the primary one I purchased. To my delight, it match completely. It’s additionally made properly and appears nice — properly, it seems nice for a cat litter field — which made Kelsey completely happy. The smooth, curvy, white design blends fairly seamlessly into our journey trailer with out the standard “cat field look.”
IRIS Medium Top Entry Cat Litter Box, White/Beige
- High entry kitty litter field is the right approach to stop litter scatter and include spraying
- Massive high entryway on the deep cat litter pan for simple entry and exit
- Grooved lid on the big cat litter field helps to take away litter particles from the cat’s paws
Final up to date: 2022-05-04 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Pictures from Amazon Product Promoting API
Sadly, Lizzi wasn’t having any of it. For a vertical-entry litter field to work correctly, the cat wants to have the ability to soar on high of the lid, then down into the field. However, with the lid on, the within of the field was means too small for her. She couldn’t even arise in it. Which meant we needed to take the lid off, which then meant she was skittish about leaping into it in any respect. Complete fail.
That stated, I’d nonetheless suggest this resolution you probably have an average-sized cat who is ok with utilizing a lidded litter field. With the lid on, the smooth design hardly seems like a litter field. Plus, it’s incredible at preserving litter in the field — which, in the event you personal a small journey trailer (like a Casita or Scamp), you’re very conversant in having to continuously sweep or vacuum to maintain your flooring clear (extra on that in a minute).
The Excessive-Sided Litter Field
Attempt #2: For the reason that first IRIS litter field virtually labored, however not fairly, I made a decision to attempt an alternative choice from the corporate. This time, I went with the IRIS Shielded Litter Pan For Cats.
IRIS USA Pne-500H Large Shielded Litter Pan, White
- Oval kitty litter pan with defend is designed to supply cats loads of room and fast accessibility
- Scooped rim on litter field for simple entry with three-wall litter pan defend to stop litter scatter
- Cat litter pan’s oval form means no robust corners
Final up to date: 2022-05-04 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Pictures from Amazon Product Promoting API
The white, curvy design just isn’t fairly as elegant as the primary possibility, however it nonetheless seems higher than a typical litter field. It’s additionally not enclosed (which Lizzi clearly hates) and the again has a better aspect that, in principle, ought to assist preserve extra pee within the field. Once more, it additionally match completely in the identical house behind the captain’s chair.
Lizzi’s take? Nope. She would stand “backwards” in it to pee — that means one paw on the excessive aspect along with her butt towards the entrance — and go outdoors the field virtually each time. Tremendous complete epic fail.
Really, whereas this second possibility didn’t work contained in the journey trailer, we determined to take away the high-backed piece and use the underside tray as a second litter field for our tow automobile. That means, we didn’t must preserve shifting Lizzi’s one litter field between the 4Runner and Casita each time we stopped. There’s now all the time a litter field in every house.
“Cat logic works precisely reverse human logic.” — Ben Franklin
I ought to take this apart to notice that cat logic works precisely reverse of human logic. Nonetheless you count on them to behave, they gained’t.
The Plain Ol’ Tray-Fashion Litter Field
Third and closing attempt …
Finally, after extra hours of learning cat lavatory habits than I’d care to confess to, I realized that almost all cats want the additional house behind their our bodies to not really feel too confined of their litter field. A high-sided litter field can “scrunch” (that’s a scientific time period) their tails whereas going to the toilet, inflicting them discomfort and stress. For some, their resolution is to show round, going through their butt away from the best aspect, and waste ending up outdoors the field.
So, in the long run, the answer we selected was a fairly commonplace, low-sided, tray-style mannequin with regular proportions. I picked it up at Petsmart for lower than $10. A very powerful part was simply measuring to ensure it could match behind the captain’s chair in our journey trailer. Lizzi’s taken to it simply wonderful with minimal “accidents.”
If I had simply carried out that within the very starting with out overthinking it, I in all probability would’ve saved myself $50 and a dozen hours of my life. However, once more: cat logic.
… And Discover the Proper Cat Litter Too
One other factor we realized about dwelling with our cat in a tiny journey trailer is that the RV inside can odor like cat litter in a short time. Kelsey and I aren’t down with the sturdy, “try-to-mask-that-odor-at-all-costs” odor of most scented kitty litters. So, we purchase unscented litter to remove that drawback.
Extra particularly, the small, 8.5-pound plastic jugs of Tidy Cats LightWeight Free & Clean. They’re light-weight (clearly), compact (vital for anybody with restricted storage in a tiny RV), and one jug incorporates sufficient litter to fill commonest cat litter containers with somewhat left over.
Final up to date: 2022-05-04 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Pictures from Amazon Product Promoting API
Get Pee-Pee Safety in Place for Your RV
![](https://vagabondish.com/wp-content/uploads/lizzi-cat-pee-pad-travel-trailer-rv-445x800.jpg)
![](https://vagabondish.com/wp-content/uploads/lizzi-cat-pee-pad-travel-trailer-rv-445x800.jpg)
One product that’s helped me preserve my sanity is pet pee pads. I stumbled throughout these on a go to to Petsmart, and so they’ve been a godsend. I pin one pad to the wall (the partitions are lined in carpet in our Casita) utilizing drapery hooks, then Gorilla Tape a second pad to the ground beneath her litter field.
She largely — largely — will get all the things within the field now that we discovered the appropriate one. However, on the uncommon events when she misses, the pee pads catch any extra. As soon as they get soiled, I merely toss and substitute.
Scoop the Cat Field in Your RV Typically
I’ve learn some individuals go per week (or extra?) with out scooping their cat’s litter field. Frankly, that sounds disgusting to me. However, I don’t need to choose …
I’ll simply say that, in the event you’re touring in an RV or journey trailer with a cat, you’re going to need — even want — to scoop the litter field on daily basis.
Smells accumulate quick in an RV. Notably in the event you’re touring in excessive warmth or chilly with out the chance to open the home windows, it will possibly get smelly in a short time. So, on your sake — and your kitty’s! — scoop their litter field usually.
Change Your Cat’s Water Typically
We alter Lizzi’s water usually at residence. However, within the Casita, we discovered that her water bowl collects bits of dust and mud a lot sooner than at residence. With the three of us continuously shifting round, and we people going out and in of the trailer usually, there are much more particulates within the air. So, we modify out her water and rinse the bowl a minimum of each day, typically extra if it requires it.
As an apart, it’s value noting we solely give her water from the identical supply we drink from. In our case, we don’t drink water that’s handed by way of the Casita’s plumbing (not obligatory, however it’s our desire). We solely drink water that’s been filtered on the spigot utilizing a Culligan RV water filter.
Kaspiu 3 Pack Calming Collar for Cats Pheromone Calm Anxiety Collar for Cats and Kittens Stress Reliever Relaxing Comfortable Collar Breakaway Design Gray
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Final up to date: 2022-04-05 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Pictures from Amazon Product Promoting API
Sweep Your Journey Trailer Day by day
In an RV — particularly in a small journey trailer — cat litter will get in all places. Even with a vertical-entry or high-sided litter field, there’s simply no means round this truth.
I obtained within the behavior of sweeping the complete flooring of our journey trailer each morning. It’s so small that, even with a tiny hand broom and dustpan, it takes lower than two minutes.
… And Vacuum Too
You in all probability gained’t must vacuum each day. However, cat litter has a means of stepping into each nook and cranny, particularly in locations the place a brush and dustpan simply can’t attain. We discovered our family Shark Rocket Corded Bagless Stick Vacuum to be good for touring with. We’ve really owned this mannequin for a few years.
What’s nice about it’s that we take solely the primary physique of it with us and go away the entire equipment and different bits at residence. It’s inexpensive, light-weight, ultra-compact, and lots highly effective sufficient to scrub the Casita in simply a few minutes.
Final up to date: 2022-05-04 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Pictures from Amazon Product Promoting API
Hold a Shut Watch on Your Fur Child (or “Find out how to Hold Cats from Escaping RV”)
Touring and dwelling in such a small house means our cat is all the time inside just some toes of the entrance door. If she desires to flee, it’s a fast hop or two to freedom.
Fortunately, Lizzi is completely completely happy indoors. She’s an indoor cat at residence and doesn’t have a lot curiosity in straying too removed from her all the time full meals bowl and a gentle, heat mattress. Nonetheless, we spent the cash (I believe it was lower than $50) to get her microchipped. It’s a small value to pay to make sure that, if she does get out, now we have a great probability of discovering her.
![Lizzi the cat soaking up the sunshine at the screen door of our Casita travel trailer](https://vagabondish.com/wp-content/uploads/lizzi-screen-door-travel-trailer-rv-388x800.jpg)
![Lizzi the cat soaking up the sunshine at the screen door of our Casita travel trailer](https://vagabondish.com/wp-content/uploads/lizzi-screen-door-travel-trailer-rv-388x800.jpg)
After all, in case your kitty has a knack for attempting to flee, that’s a complete new fear. Once we have been on the street in our journey trailer, I all the time made certain to verify the place Lizzi was each time I used to be going out and in of the trailer. If she was resting or asleep in a chair or on our mattress (actually, it’s her mattress), I used to be assured I may safely go out and in of the trailer. However, I by no means simply assumed the place she was.
The identical goes for closing the entrance door — I by no means assumed it was shut after leaving the RV. I might all the time push it closed, hear for the press, and push it once more. Examine and double-check. While you’re on the street, going out and in of the trailer at camp dozens of occasions a day, it’s straightforward to get lax about assuming the door is shut. It solely takes just a few seconds on your curious kitty to study that it isn’t and make a break for it. Everytime you’re reentering your journey trailer, open the door slowly to ensure they’re not proper on the opposite aspect ready to bolt. After all, a display screen door is an enormous plus right here.
One closing tip: Hold a present picture of your cat in your cellphone. This shouldn’t be an issue for many cat house owners who are inclined to take extra pictures of their kitties than of their children. Within the occasion yours ever wanders off, you may present the picture to different campers, campground house owners, and so forth. that will help you discover them.
So, that’s about it. After a number of trial and error, it appears now we have a great system for touring with a cat in our journey trailer. Most likely … perhaps. I do know we’ll study extra as we go.
Are you an RV or journey trailer proprietor with a cat? What are your suggestions for touring along with your cat and preserving them completely happy, wholesome, and secure alongside the best way? Kelsey and I might love to listen to your ideas!
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