11 Tips For Camping With Cats
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You and your feline friend have been planning this camping trip for months, and it’s finally time to go! You’ve packed the tent, the sleeping bags, the fishing poles, and everything else you need to rough it in the great outdoors…except your cat.
What do you do? If you’re the kind of person who can’t get enough of nature or being outdoors, you probably love camping with your cat.
Don’t let your feline friend hold you back from roughing it in the great outdoors! With these 11 tips, you’ll be well on your way to making this an unforgettable experience for both of you (if he or she can even remember what happened while they were out there).
Never fear—with these 11 tips for camping with your cat, you’ll have an amazing time in the wilderness and still come home with all your digits intact!
1.Training your cat for camping
Before you set out on your first camping trip with your cat, you’ll want to train him a little bit. Start by doing short trips in your car (with his carrier in tow) or in your backyard so he gets used to being close to you and carrying things in his carrier.
If he hasn’t had any experience with car rides, it might be useful to give him some treats for staying calm and getting into his carrier at home before setting off for longer drives. Once he’s good about those shorter trips, move on to hiking.
2.What about cats who don’t like cars?
A lot of people think that because their cat didn’t enjoy a car ride once that they will never like it again.
Well, cats are very smart animals and they learn from their experiences. So just as you have learned to not touch a hot stove twice, your cat will learn from his or her experiences.
If you have tried a couple of times with your cat and haven’t had any luck yet; try it one more time – but with some simple changes in attitude and preparation for both you and your pet.
Remember that introducing anything new to them is hard for them – remember how scared you were when you went to your first day at school?
Even if they have experienced something once before, if it is new again to them then it is scary all over again.
3. What about long hikes?
There’s a good chance your cat will want to tag along on your next camping trip.
After all, who wouldn’t want to spend an entire weekend out in nature, surrounded by trees and greenery?
Before you grab that tent and start packing for a nice long stay at Yosemite, you should know that taking your feline friend with you might not be all it’s cracked up to be. Here are some tips for taking your cat camping!
5 great places to camp with your cat.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just getting started, there are some great places to go with your cat in tow.
However, before you load up your car, make sure you’ve got everything on hand to keep Fluffy happy and healthy while you explore.
Here are seven of our favorite places to go with a cat in tow. Hiking is great exercise for both of you and beautiful scenery that will be a refreshing change from home. Bring plenty of toys to play with at night when it gets dark early.
4.Make Sure the Campsite is Pet-Friendly
Most campsites allow dogs, but not all allow cats. If you’re going to be camping with your cat, make sure you pick a campsite that welcomes both species.
By keeping things friendly and fun for your cat, he or she will adjust well to camping and become an outdoor enthusiast just like you! However, keep in mind that not all cats can tolerate life on a campsite—just as not all people can tolerate it.
If you think your kitty would get scared or lonely away from home and is better off at home with a sitter, don’t force him or her out of their comfort zone; some pets will even get hurt being out in nature if they aren’t used to it.
5.Consider Buying a Cat Backpack
Outdoor activities, including camping, can be stressful for many cats.
They won’t be happy if you put them in a box or carrier and try to force them out into nature.
So, don’t do that! Instead, give your cat a space indoors where it feels safe (maybe an empty closet or bathroom) so it has somewhere familiar to retreat to if it gets spooked by outdoors.
To ensure that you can keep an eye on your kitty at all times during your outdoor excursion, bring along a portable pet-camera device so you can watch what your cat is up to remotely from your smartphone or tablet.
Portable Pet Camera
Love using this to check up on my cat. Has great features for recording or communicating. Remote control works great.
Only problem I have is it can’t go up any type of level. I have a slightly lifted floor at a point and once it goes down it can’t go back up.
The wheels are too small. It also has issues finding its way home sometimes especially if it’s too far away or around a corner
6.Get a Cat leash:
It seems obvious, but some people think that a cat can just roam free.
Not so. Even if you have a roaming outdoor cat at home, chances are he won’t appreciate being outdoors for an extended period of time.
He may try to run away from you because he doesn’t understand why you won’t let him go back to his old house and hang out with his old human family.
To keep your cat safe while camping, invest in a leash and collar so you can take your pet with you everywhere—even when you go to nature’s bathroom.
7.Select a Litter Spot
Nature is where you will be spending most of your time, so it’s important to pick a spot that won’t disrupt wildlife or other campers.
Choose a place away from trees and brush, as well as water sources like streams. And if you are camping in bear country, pick an area that’s at least 100 yards away from any body of water, because bears have been known to fish for salmon at night.
Remember to bring along several bags of cat litter just in case there isn’t a good spot for kitty to go do her business. Keep Litter Clean: While kitty is cleaning up after herself, stay on top of things by cleaning out her box once per day or use a self Cleaning Litter box.
PETKIT Pura X Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
We've tried a couple other kinds of litter boxes that clean themselves, and this one is by far our favourite of the bunch.
This little “washing machine” litter box is a win! I just got it setup and, compared to the Litter Robot, it’s better in every measurable way that I can see. It’s definitely a next-gen smart litter box that seems to be more advanced.
8.How to safely feed your cat while camping
Cats are typically very independent animals, which means that feeding your cat while you’re camping is usually a very simple task.
However, even an indoor cat is a creature of habit and if it isn’t eating properly when you’re at home, it might refuse to eat altogether while you’re away.
Many cats become especially picky about what they eat during times of stress or upheaval, so some extra effort on your part might be required if you plan to take your pet with you for a weekend in nature.
Feed your cat early and often: Cats prefer having several small meals throughout the day rather than one or two large ones. Feed them before you leave and at least once while you’re away to ensure they get enough food and water each day.
9.Prepare a Space for Your Cat
Outdoor-ready cats need a safe and secure space to call their own.
A small, cat-sized tent can give your kitty a place to call home. Make sure it’s placed well away from your campsite and any fire or other activity so that you don’t run into any safety hazards for your cat or for you.
The tent should be escape-proof as well; make sure there are no holes or gaps anywhere that could allow Kitty to slip out of her little den when you’re not looking.
If in doubt, let her try it out before heading out on an excursion together!
Q& A ( FAQs camping with cats related)
Even if the majority of the information concerning the subject of going camping with cats has been presented, you can still have a few queries about the matter.
Below, we have included answers to some of the questions that are asked the most often so that you may get the information you’re looking for more quickly.
Are Cats Capable of Living in a Camper?
The answer to your question about whether or not a cat can live in a camper is yes if you have given it any thought. Having said that, there are a few qualifications to make regarding that remark.
There is a wide variety of sizing and form options available for campers. That indicates there will be certain campers that are better suited for cats than others.
There is a straightforward method to determine whether or not the camper you now own is enough. If you can keep your cat warm, feed it, provide it water, give it a place to sleep, and give it somewhere to relieve itself, then your cat shouldn’t have any trouble surviving in your camper.
Is Bringing a Cat Camping a Good Idea?
It is not impossible to take a cat camping with you. However, before you go, there are a few important things you need to take into mind first.
Camping exposes a cat to risks that it ordinarily would not have to deal with.
When you wish to go camping with your cat, it is very important for you to make sure that you follow the advice that is provided in this article. If you do so, your cat will be able to maintain a state of peace and safety.
Do Cats Like Tents?
If you are curious about whether or not cats enjoy staying in tents, the answer to that question will differ from cat to cat.
A cat that has had little to no exposure to the outdoors may have a difficult time adjusting to sleeping in a tent, as is to be expected given this lack of experience.
However, if you take the time to carefully expose your cat to the environment of a tent, it just could grow to appreciate spending time inside.
Always make sure that you are catering to the specific requirements of your pet in order to ensure that they are content and able to unwind inside their resting environment.
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About the Author: Div Acharya
Div is an entrepreneur, influencer, blogger, marketer, & fashionista.
Div loves Blogging about Lifestyle, Fashion, Style, Travel, Gift Ideas, Home decor Finds and house-buying tips and hacks from her own experience. Hence, Div wants to share her joy and interests with as many people as she can.