OMG, this cat situation is driving me insane!

My cat is used to going outside when we are at home. If it is raining he'll do his duty inside but right next to the box, not in it and it isn't because he's 15 years old, not enough room or any other excuse.

This summer I took him on a month-long trip and he never missed the box once, in the trailer or in the SUV.

Cats are vengeful creatures :)

What about using a metal dog crate, without a floor pan. He should be able to pee and sniff and see the world, but still be confined? They fold up rather easily and don't take up much space? We used one for my daughter's pet bunny, so he could go outdoors and graze grass, but still be safe from neighborhood dogs.

Or (and I'm not sure if they would be big enough) what about a ferret harness? The only creature rubberier than a cat, is a ferret.

Mr. Camper wrote:
Cat has probably found a significant other.

Heh, cat is neutered. He did have a bestie, who happened to be a pretty girl cat, but he lost interest in her and his best friend lately is a male cat. I think it's just platonic, although of course I support the right to marriage for gay cats, too.

I thought back to when cat was indoor-only, this summer. Despite the diabetes, he usually only peed once a day, sometimes twice. Huge quantities. So he should be ok for 12 hours or so. I think he has a big bladder.

I am trying out a strategy of letting him out at his usual pre-dawn time, but, not again later in the morning, on travel days. I've only done it once, though,as we have only had two travel days and the second one (today) it was raining so he didn't WANT to go out. And now we are in one place for a bit.

We'll see how it goes, but I welcome any other ideas!

Cat has probably found a significant other.

What about a collapsible crate of some kind, big enough to put the litter pan at one end and still give him some room? They fold nearly flat when not in use and take up a lot less space than a standard crate. You could set it up outside and give him time to hang out in it and (hopefully) do his business.

This cat is already box trained. He's been using a cat box all summer. This is the SAME cat box. He just doesn't want to use it in the van. Because why? I do not know.

I am not sure the 'keep him in until he does it' is safe for an animal with diabetes. I did try keeping him in, but after 43 hours I caved before he did because I did not want an expensive ER bill.

BTW, an easier and effective way to box train cats is to wait till they pee/poo on the floor, mop it up with some TP, and put that TP in the box. Then, very gently and sweetly, carry the cat over to the box and show them. 'See? This goes in HERE.' Don't scare the cat or act mad at them. Cats WANT to know where the designated place is, but they will not readily use a box that they associate with scary humans. Some cats you have to do this once with pee and once with poo because they don't know you mean both, but other than that it works great.

I tried this with a baby possum that kept sneaking back into my house, though, and it did not work. In the morning there were three fresh possum turds -- in a circle around the outside of the cat box. This is possum language for 'Nope,' I guess. I caught the possum in a live trap and put it out AGAIN.

OK, to SERIOUSLY help out the OP. If you can get a pet taxi, or a cat carrier large enough to fit a small litter pan, put the cat in the carrier with the litter pan. EVENTUALLY the cat will go.

Cats only need to use a litter pan one time and they will know what it's for and will use it consistently then. But it needs to be put in the same spot and not moved around.

Once the cat does his "job" he'll go back again and again. It's not easy doing this because the cat will make a fuss and want out of the carrier. But hang in there until he "goes". He'll get the idea and (should) be a well trained kitty after that.

This is how we teach our new cats to the family, as we always seem to acquire barn cats, that end up living in our house forever! Except in the house, we lock them in the smallest bathroom with the litter pan. In the camper, we locked them in the pet taxi. In the truck, we locked them in the pet taxie. Now we just put the litter pan on the back seat floor of the truck and the cat goes .... oh yea ... it smells "WONDERFUL" sometimes! (OH MY), but it's better in the cat litter than on the carpet!

As far as a harness goes, this may sound cruel, but use a harness that seems to be too tight. We've found this is the only way to keep them on the cat. Make them over-tight. The cat will not die.

Honestly, peeps, what can I do? Does there exist a catproof enclosure, easy to set up and would fit in my van? But I don't know that he would pee in that, either...

I don't think that carrier would facilitate bathroom usage!

That would be good for SNL! I'm a happy cat owner and that makes me laugh my head off!!!