This will be the first of my posts that cover the subject of camping with cats. We have two older cats and they will be going camping with us some of the time. Right now I am in the planning stages and waiting for our travel trailer to arrive.
Any cat owner knows that cats have minds all their own. They are quirky, individualists and most of all non-conformists! I believe that all cats are much smarter than we give them credit for, but they don’t really care what we think!
My Cats Dislike Riding
Both of my cats dislike car rides. A short ride to the vet causes my Fontana to emit noises I never otherwise hear. Her meowing is deep and loud as if she is yelling at me to stop the car! Skittle on the other hand is completely silent. But, she tends to get car sick on longer rides. So, riding for a few hours with cats won’t be a picnic.
When I moved from New Hampshire back to Florida a few years ago, I had to drive my Subaru with both cats in the back of my car! It took three long days, but the cats did pretty well. I wrote about the experience on this page.
We still have the two cages which will be used on the back seat of our truck while traveling. The cages can be carried into the camper for rest stops and to let the cats move around, eat and use the litter box. Or, at least that is the hope.
Skittle’s cage has an upper level (made from wood) to be sure she can see out the window. She can only lie down but it was great for her. This apparently helps with her car sickness, as she was not sick any of the three travel days during the move.
So Tip #1 is to find a good way to transport the cats. The cages I used are called Small Dog Crates and were purchased on Amazon – this is an Affiliate link. They give the cats some space to move around while having a view outside.
Even though they both had food, water and a small litter box, they didn’t use any of that much while we were riding for hours at a time.
(*Update: It turns out that these cages are also great for getting the cats outside at a campsite. I set up the crates on the picnic table. Skittle enjoys her time outside, but Fontana is less happy about it.)
Cats Outside at Campsites
The fact that both my cats go outside in my yard leads me to believe that they may appreciate being outside while we camp. However, I’m not sure I like that idea at all. If I decide to let them out, they will need a fenced area, just like dogs have. (*Update: I toyed with the idea of a fence, but decided it wasn’t escape proof enough for a cat. The crates I have work fine.)
Here are the pros and cons (mostly cons) of putting cats outside at a campsite. First of all, will it be worth it? My cats like to room the yard at home, and they do stay in the yard. Will they be happy inside a fence in a strange place, or will they just be scared?
Lots of people camp with dogs. What if a dog is loose, or gets loose. (During our stay at one campground a couple actually walked around while their big dog ran loose through all the campsites!) Beware of people who don’t follow the rules.
What About a Screen House?
Then again, what about a pop-up screen enclosure? This is something that may come in very useful, not only for bringing the cats outside, but for keeping our food and ourselves bug-free. (*Update: I bought the Gazelle screen house.- paid link). I love the screen house, but the cats don’t.
Read about our first camping trip with the cats here.
Cat Freedom, Is It Necessary?
Whenever I think about taking my cats camping, I realize it may be a bit stressful for all of us. But if I kennel the cats, they will be stuck inside a small cage for whole the time I am gone – not to mention how expensive this will be! So having a big camping trailer to themselves, day and night, is not at all bad. This is why I think I want them to stay inside the trailer where it’s safe. (*Update: both cats are very content inside the camper.)
Every now and then I toy with the idea of trying a harness so they could take a walk outside. (*Update: I do put a harness – paid link -on both cats for the whole time we camp. This makes it easier to grab the cat – if she tries to head out the door, or jumps from my arms. Whenever they are outdoors I have a leash attached, just in case they wiggle free.)
Cat harnesses don’t work because cats can escape them. If you need proof of that, just go read reviews at Amazon. In fact, if you need a good laugh, read the reviews and watch the videos! Sometimes it’s not funny though when people believe that their cat’s harness is truly escape-proof. Cats are escape artists. Cats get lost this way. But, a harness makes it easier to grab kitty if the need arises.
When we first moved into our new house, I tried to take Skittle for a walk in the yard while wearing a harness. A motorcycle went by and she was out of that harness in an instant! It was like a crazy magic trick. Fortunately, she stayed in the yard and didn’t go far. If she had gotten out at an unfamiliar campsite, who knows where she would have gone.
The Dreaded Litter Box
The worst thing about having cats it the need for a litter box. We don’t have our camper yet, but I’m trying to find information about how cat campers deal with it. Some people cut a little “door” in the cabinet under the table bench and hide the box inside. Some people leave it in the shower area. I’m not at all sure where we will put ours.
I’ll be writing more as we actually do travel and live with the cats in the camper. For now, I am simply planning ahead.
(*Update: Not all campgrounds allow animals. Most of them do, but there are rules. Animals must be up to date with their rabies vaccines, they must always be on a leash – sometimes of a certain length. Some campgrounds have dog parks, or special areas for the dogs. Dogs must be quiet – a disruptive animal can get you kicked out. Be sure to check with the campground before making a reservation.)
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