Camping with Cats: Tips for a Smooth Trip

We just took a five day camping trip in January. We leave our two cats home when we do a short 2-day trip, but this time they had to come.

Skittle and Fontana are older cats – around 15. They do not like riding in the truck. They don’t like to change their daily routine. They had to come with us, and it all worked out. I also learned some new ways to improve the experience.

Transporting the Cats

We pull our 28 foot RV with a Ford F250. The backseat has plenty of space for a cat carrier. The one I have is Life Stages Small Dog Crate (Amazon paid link). I actually have two of these and will take both next time. I’ll tell you why further down the page.

Our travel time to the campground was about two hours. Fontana meowed most of the way. Skittle was quiet as always. After our first cat camping trip in March 2024, we figured out that Skittle prefers the small carrier while riding. She tends to get carsick too. For that reason we put her up high to see out the windows and get fresh air. Fontana is in the open cage on the seat, and Skittle is in the carrier and hooked in on top.

The cage is a bit heavy and awkward for me, but it has two carry handles on the top. I can move it from the truck to the picnic table by myself (empty of cats!). I am an older (over 60) woman. By the way, it folds down flat for storage.

For safety, we attached the cage with a seatbelt through the bars. On top, Skittle is hooked to the cage with a bungee cord. They did really well. They don’t need food, water and litter box for such a short trip.

Dealing With Cats at the Campground

We stayed at Rodman Campground for two nights and then went west to Mike Roess Gold Head Branch. It was the first time we went directly from one campground to the next. I already had one trip planned, and then I heard from my niece who wanted to camp over the weekend. So the reservations were back to back.

We had some cold weather, but during the day it was sunny and nice. Last time we had the cats with us, I set up the screen house. The idea was to give the cats someplace to be outside, yet contained. The cats did not love it. As soon as they went into the screen house, they were looking for a way out. Now I have a better idea.

This time, we didn’t bother setting up the screen house. Instead, I put the cat cage on top of the picnic table. I carried the cat out from the trailer to put her inside the cage.

At first they were nervous but eventually Skittle came to enjoy her outdoor time. She goes out in my garden all the time at home. Fontana preferred being inside. She is older and does a lot of sleeping. I saw no reason to stress her out by making her stay outdoors. She took short trips into the sunshine.

This is why I will be bringing both cat cages on our next cat camping trip. They can both go outside at the same time. (They can’t share one cage because they don’t get along well.) All campgrounds seem to have picnic tables. Most of the time, the tables are next to where we park the RV. I can carry the cats, one at a time, out to the cages on the table.

I am always nearby and don’t leave them alone outside for more than a few minutes. They like it if I sit at the table, or in a chair, near them.

Using the Harness and Leash

First and most importantly I want to warn you NOT TO TRUST a harness on a cat! Do not trust “escape proof” and other such claims. Don’t think that you can walk your cat safely and keep him / her under control.

Everyone seems to camp with dogs these days. Do not assume that a dog won’t escape and come after your cat. Cats can wiggle out of a harness no matter how secure it seems. I know quite a few people who have lost cats while camping!

My harness failure story: When I moved to my current house, I was walking Skittle in the yard. I wanted her to get used to her new surroundings. She wore a nice handmade, cloth harness which I bought at Etsy. It looked perfectly escape proof. It was secured with velcro around her body and neck. Suddenly someone started up a Harley motorcycle, and she came out of that harness so fast I didn’t see what happened! Fortunately she went up to the house and did not run away. But if this happened at a campground, she could take off into the woods and easily get lost and confused. Do not trust any harness to contain your cat!!!

I put a H-style harness on each cat. They wear it the entire time we camp and don’t mind it at all. With a harness on, I can more easily hold onto them. I attach the leash before we go out to the cage, and leave it on while they are in the cage.

This is my leash and two harnesses. I like the H-style, which you can buy here at Lupine Pet, or at Amazon (paid link) and other places. The older, blue harness is my favorite because the straps are fixed at one end so the strap doesn’t slide. Also the buckle / snaps are easier to use. It is a Tuff brand, which I can’t seem to find now.

The black one, with the stars and moons design, seems cheaper made, but it has a little bell. I thought it might be annoying, but it helped me keep track of Skittle’s movements in the RV. The black harness came with a matching leash. I bought it at Amazon as a last minute purchase before the trip. I wouldn’t recommend it for quality.

It was very easy for me to get the harnesses on the cats. I did it while they were comfortable at home, either sitting or lying down. I keep the straps loose enough that they can barely feel it. They wear it so I can grab them if need be.

Scratching the RV Furniture

I’ve had readers ask how I keep the cats from scratching up the RV couch and dinette seats. I was very worried about this. So far, I’ve had no problems.

The dinette is made into a bed so we don’t use it for eating while we camp. For this reason, I don’t have to worry about it getting scratched. It’s always covered with bedding. The sofa did need a cover.

Our RV sofa has a fold down drink holder in the center, with recliners on the ends. I found a cover that works and use it whenever we have cats in the RV. See the gray fabric in the photo below. The backing clings to the sofa and stays put! It doesn’t cover everything, but I’ve had no scratching problems. I found this sofa cover at Temu.

I was worried about the cats wanting to get out of the RV. At home they scratch on the screen and claw at the door. While camping, I have not had that trouble. One night Skittle did claw at the door, but I got up and blocked it with a backpack. For the most part, they are reluctant to go out.

I do let the cats sharpen their claws on the door mats and floor mats. I have some tough Waterhog mats from LL Bean at the doors and in the kitchen. Maybe with enough rugs to scratch the cats will remain happy.

The Litter Box

RV campers are made to conserve space and they don’t have a lot of extra floor space. At least mine does not. We have one slide, but it doesn’t leave enough room for a litter box to sit on the floor. And who wants that anyway?

We take the litter box from the house and put it into the RV shower floor just before we leave home. I have an old towel under it, and the scooper next to it. When we shower we have to move it temporarily. It works out.

Cats and Camping

It is not ideal to have to camp with our cats. I can relax better, sleep better and worry less when they are not camping with us. When they do have to come camping, they seem to adjust. My cats are older and prefer to sleep a lot, which is lucky. Skittle can be a problem when she gets bored.

My cats barely ate or drank last time they camped with us. This time they did much better.

Everyone knows their own cat. Be ready to supply what they need to be comfortable in the RV. Bring a favorite bed, treats, food, cat brush, etc. to make them feel more at home. I feel like my cats were much more comfortable being in the RV this time around. Trip #3 is coming up!

More kitties in cages enjoying the winter sunshine!

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