5 Tips for RV Traveling with Dogs and Cats
August 20th, 2021One of the biggest perks of traveling in an RV is the ability to bring along the comforts of home. For many people, that includes their beloved pets. Exploring beautiful parts of the country and creating memories with your animals makes the RV experience even more enjoyable. But no matter how cozy your RV setup is, the lack of space and inconsistent schedule can be a bit overwhelming for pets and their owners. Here are some hacks for staying safe and happy when traveling with dogs and cats.
Have a travel plan
Some animals love going for car rides, while others are more anxious in a moving vehicle. If your pet isn’t accustomed to driving places other than the vet, you’ll want to prep them for the journey. If you’re able, take your animals on shorter overnight trips before heading out on a multi-week adventure.
For fifth wheel or travel trailer drivers, pets will need to ride in the car with you. Cats should sit inside a carrier, while dogs should either be crated or secured with a pet seat belt harness. Although it may be tempting to allow animals to roam free while inside a motorhome, they should remain contained while the vehicle is in motion.
Keep in mind that both cats and dogs will benefit from exercise before a long travel day. If you tire them out prior to hitting the road, they’re more likely to comfortably nap while you’re en route to your destination.
Choose pet friendly camping areas
While many campgrounds welcome animals, there are places where the number of pets is restricted. You’ll also want to choose a camping area where neighbors are spread out, just in case your animal is loud or rowdy. Always abide by leash rules, pick up after your pet, and generally practice good pet etiquette.
Dogfriendly.com features lists of pet-friendly campgrounds, beaches, parks, attractions, and more.
Have the right supplies
Bringing along your pet’s bed, favorite toys, blankets, and of course, plenty of treats will help ease them into the RV lifestyle.
If your best bud wants to hang out in the front of the vehicle, a rubber-backed ShurGrip Dash Cover will help protect your dashboard from scratches and pet hair. The cover’s material is easy to clean, making pet hair removal a breeze.
When taking your pets out exploring, a few accessories can make the experience more pleasant for everyone. A travel water bottle and collapsible food dishes are convenient for stops at rest areas or on the trail.
It may come as a surprise, but cats enjoy going for walks just as much as dogs. A sturdy harness will help your feline roam safely. If your kitty would rather take in the scenery without wearing out their legs, a travel cat backpack is a great idea.
After returning from outdoor adventures, you may have to deal with muddy paws. The RV Step Covers are excellent at grabbing dirt and will prevent tracking debris into the vehicle.
Maximize space
A big drawback to bringing your kitty on the road is dealing with their litter box. If you plan to travel with your cat long term, it may be worth it to install a compartment inside a dinette booth, closet, or cabinet to hide their bathroom facilities. Don’t have the extra space to spare? Set up the litter box in your shower stall and simply move the box before showering.
All of the essentials that come along with having pets can take up a lot of room, and space is at a minimum inside an RV. Storing treats, toys, leashes, food, and more in cabinet bins, baskets, or drawers will keep items safely tucked out of the way.
Stay safe
Animals can get easily overheated in the sun. An RV Awning will help protect pets when they’re relaxing outside with you, while a Windshield Cover will keep them cool when they’re napping inside the vehicle.
Make sure your pets are up-to-date on vaccinations and are microchipped, in case you encounter any worst case scenarios while traveling. A pet ID tag with their name and emergency contact info is always a good idea, but especially important when you’re far from home. Additionally, tick checks should become a nightly norm for both humans and animals.
Traveling with dogs and cats can be tricky, but having your furry family close by is well worth it. Next time you hit the road in your RV, don’t forget to bring your pets!
Sandra Davis says: Our big furry friends have had one initial trip to get ready for road trips. It was an exercise for us to know what space adjustments would be needed. They do not get on furniture at home so using the bed while riding is out.
We travel with 2 cats. We use a Relaxo Pro trainer for felines when traveling in the truck, as well as spraying their bedding with feline calm. Both cats ride relaxed and no longer get sick, which is a huge blessing. We have a large mesh tent with 2 zipper openings on either side that we put padding on the bottom and anchor under our 8×8 tent to keep the sun off them, but they can still enjoy the outdoors with us. Our tuxedo can’t wait for my husband to get their tent set up when we arrive. Cries until we let him in his tent. A true camper. The blue Russian prefers to sit and look out the screen door. But with coaxing, will walk down the stairs to his tent eventually. Tried putting different collars on to see if we could take them for a walk/no way! We got a pet buggy to attach to your bike. We put them in it and take them for rides around the park. My husband takes them (they are 27+ lbs combined). I follow behind so they see me and relax. Litter box goes in the 1/2 bath . We have a cat door on the BR door so they can go in & out . Also use an ionizer to help with odor and keep exhaust fan open in BR.
We started with a pop-up and then a class C, then a class A, and now a 5th wheel. We had our cats with us through all the different types of RV’s. The 1/2 bath has worked the best for us.
Fordownr says: Everything you state is basically common sense. We have always brought our furkids (2 40lb dogs and 2 medium sized cats) with us camping. We usually go for a week or two at a time. Please do not leave pets in the vehicle by themselves! Too many things can go wrong…
We are moving from the West coast to NC. Have four cats. I’m concerned about traveling. They will have wire cages any more suggestions on travel with cats sand box and feeding.Thank you
Lori Hamilton says: Using a temporary tag on your animals is a must. Put your campground and site number on the tag in case found wandering.
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When in a campground for more than a few days, put a temporary tag on their collar with your site number on it.