Keeping a Traveling Cat Happy in an RV

Exercising and Caring for Cats Traveling in a Motorhome

Oct 24, 2009

RVing cats can become bored or fat in their enclosed world. Follow these tips to keep a traveling cat happy, entertained and healthy.

An RV is a small space and cats are natural-born roamers. If a cat has been brought up in an RV it will be happier than if it is introduced to one after living in a house; however, cats do adapt. A covered litter box should be kept in the same place at all times, and cleaned daily – odors are very much heightened in a motorhome.

Leave a variety of toys around for the cat to find, and spend some time each day engaging the RV pet with ticklers. A laser pointer can cause a cat to gallop from one end of the RV to the other.

One must-have for a cat in an RV is a simple scratching post – an inexpensive piece of corrugated cardboard infused with catnip is ideal. Bored cats scratch, and giving them a place to scratch can save a great deal of damage.

Brave Traveling Cats Can Go for a Walk

Many RV parks and state parks forbid loose and unattended animals, with good reason. Cats used to a town may well become "coyote candy." However, with patience and kindness, and a well-developed sense of humor, cats can be trained to walk on a leash. This may deeply offend them, but will at least give them exercise and stimulation.

Consider opening the door, latching the screen closed and letting the cat peer out of the door at passers-by and birds. This is akin to giving the travel cat its own television, and watching the cat watch the outdoors is entertainment all by itself. However, be sure that the cat is not surreptitiously clawing its way through the screen.

Cats can become fat in their much smaller space. It can help to not leave food out at all times, but to simply drop small amounts of food in the cats' bowl at intervals. Consider a lower-calorie brand of food (kibble is easier to clean up than canned food).

Cat Health While Traveling in an RV

Full-time RVers do not have the luxury of a familiar vet. When staying in a campground they should be able to get recommendations for a local vet, just in case, and learn where the nearest emergency vet is found. When on the move, the easiest way is simply to find a phone booth and look in the Yellow Pages. Keeping a folder with vet records is also a good idea.

Some big box pet stores run walk-in clinics. Keep the cat up to date with its shots and consider having it micro-chipped. If the cat ever does go outside, keep flea medicine on hand.

Cats have delicate stomachs and are known to have accidents. A bottle of Nature's Miracle is good for cleaning up stains. Some cats genuinely do get travel sick; medications for this are available. Keeping the cat groomed helps reduce hairballs, doubly helpful in a small RV space, and gives the RV pet much-needed attention.

The copyright of the article Keeping a Traveling Cat Happy in an RV in RV Culture is owned by Linda Gentile. Permission to republish Keeping a Traveling Cat Happy in an RV in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.