I can’t imagine my RVing life without my cats.

Nine years ago this week I brought home my beautiful Tabitha and two and a half years ago, I adopted my handsome Neelix.  One of the big pros for RVing was that this lifestyle supported cat parenthood. I was worried about how they would take to the life, but since they are indoor only cats I imagined the transition wouldn’t be too hard for them. I was right.

The right cat can be a wonderful companion for a solo full-timer who can’t fit a dog into their schedule or lifestyle. They provide companionship, a warm body to cuddle up with, and a measure of security. If I’m sitting in a strange place and hear a weird noise, I only worry about it if the cats do, and they have alerted me many times to the fact that someone was roaming around outside the rig.

One of the challenges of RVing with cats is finding a place to put the litter box. There is no easy answer to that since every RV is different. I think that if you can get the box into an exterior compartment, that’s the way to go. I haven’t given up on that option for Miranda. I don’t recommend putting the box in the tub or shower, especially if you use clumping litter, because of potential clogging issues. I’ve seen some people who put the box in the cab, between the two seats and others who devote whole cabinets, turning them into ‘cat condos.’ I’m convinced that there is a place, even if it’s imperfect, in every RV for a litter box.

Another issue is what to do with the cats when driving. I started off by securing Tabitha and Neelix in their carriers and then belting them into the dinette seat. They were incredibly miserable. Now, I leave them loose. Tabitha spends most of the underway time sleeping up in the loft bed or looking out the windows up there while Neelix prefers to sit on the passenger side and keep me company. I believe that this is a safer option if we were to get into an accident. Rather than being battered about in a hard cage, they can dig their claws into soft material and be cushioned. They have never done anything dangerous like explore the pedals or pounce on me while I was driving. I doubt that all cats would be such great travelers, but my two were destined to be RVers.

I worried about finding their cat food on the road, so before leaving I switched them to a popular, readily available brand. It’s not nearly as good quality as the fancy food they ate back east, but at least their diet is consistent, which is very important to Tabitha. I am also careful as to the water they drink. If I can handle the tap water in a location, that’s what they get, too. If I feel that bottled water is my only option, then they get bottled water. They occasionally let me know that the water I’m providing them is no good and I respect that. It might sound like such a small thing, varying the water, but it’s as difficult on a cat’s system as is changing food.

Finally, my routine is incredibly variable depending on where I am and the sort of job I’m doing, so I make sure that the cats get a lot of attention and affection when I am home. It can be very bewildering to them to have me all to themselves for three weeks and then to have me away for ten hours at a time, five days a week. I do try to keep some routines, such as that for bedtime, even if the time at which it occurs is different.

My cats seem to enjoy this lifestyle where the view outside their windows change regularly but their favourite perches remain the same. If you’re considering RVing and not sure your cat will take it, there is only one way to find out. Take the leap; it might end up being very rewarding.