We have 3 indoor cats and a dog. The dog is not a problem (except that he thinks cat poop is a special delicacy). However, we are very concerned about the cats "escaping" in a campground when we open the RV door, where we can't just wait around indefinitely to see if the cat comes back. At my wife's direction, I installed an inward swinging screen door on our TT, which helps ensure they don't dash out when opening the door from the outside. But with the TT, they have to be crated in our SUV while we are on the road. Consequently, we are thinking about moving to a class C, where they wouldn't have to be crated while we travel. How can we be sure they won't bolt out the driver or passenger door of the class c when we open it from the outside? Can't install screen doors there! I'm thinking of maybe having a metal screen built in, placed immediately behind the driver/passenger seats, like in some work vans, to keep the cats out of the front cab, and putting in the screen door on the rear door like I did in the TT. Any other suggestions on keeping the cats inside the RV or on where to get the metal screen built/installed?

We travel with 2 cats and a dog. You're right ... dog... no problem ... cats ... always a concern.First, our cats absolutely love our camper. We have the camper parked at home and do a lot of driveway camping. We have a doggie door on the back of our house and the cats will come to the camper when we are doing a driveway camp and want in. Once in, they don't want to leave! It's bizzar!When on the road, they travel in a large cloth style pet carrier with the mash screen for sight and air. They travel well in there on the back seat of the truck. And it's safe transport from truck to trailer once at the campground, or if we need to stop somewhere. They cannot bolt out the truck door.Once inside the camper, we ALWAYS pay attention to the door. I put a heavier screen door catch on so they cannot push it open so easy. This works well, and give us confidence, that even if they do scratch at the door, it won't open now.Second, we always watch the door when coming in or out. And if the cats get courious about the door when we come in or out, we always give a "scat" or a "Swhoosh" sound to scare them back from the door. They've NEVER attempted to bolt at the campgrounds. At home they do, that's OK, but never at the campgrounds we've been to. I think they know they are NOT home and actually are too afraid to try to leave the camper. They know that camper is their safe place! Even at home, they know it's safe. That might be the secret to your success. Driveway camp at home and let the cats stay inside the camper. The more they are inside, the more comfortable they become with it, and it will be familiar to them when their outside surroundings change. They'll be terrified to go out, and won't even try.Good luck. Enjoy the kitties!

On this site... it has a collar with a sensor that can be used for up to 400 feet. they cost $100 each. But it would be cheaper than buying a vehicle for you concern(s).http://www.loc8tor.com/pets/loc8tor-pet.html

We trained ours to keep away from the RV door using a water pistol. We also put a hook latch on our screen door that we can hook and unhook from the outside using the slide just in case they do something crazy like jump on the door and pop it open.

...Consequently, we are thinking about moving to a class C, where they wouldn't have to be crated while we travel...ALL animals riding in my MH are crated while traveling down the road. For their safety and mine.I finally found this soft crate for the cat at Walmart. Folds up flat for storage and is big enough for a bed, food bowl and a litter box. The screening around the entire cage is what I needed for my cat to be happy in it while traveling. He ended up sleeping in it every night on his own.I built a table top in the back of the bedroom at the foot of the bed up against the wall for the crate. Faced the opening towards the wall so the dog can't get at the litter box but the cat could easily go in and out to eat and do his business. And more importantly out of my way and not using up any of 'my' MH space!SportPet crates can be found at walmart. They are very inexpensive compared to other soft sided crates. And they fold completely flat for storage. They are on the very top shelves folded flat in the store easy to miss.

Plan to travel with 3 cats and a dog | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

gbopp
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
Clicky
dhansen871
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
On this site... it has a collar with a sensor that can be used for up to 400 feet. they cost $100 each. But it would be cheaper than buying a vehicle for you concern(s).

http://www.loc8tor.com/pets/loc8tor-pet.html
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
We travel with 2 cats and a dog. You're right ... dog... no problem ... cats ... always a concern.

First, our cats absolutely love our camper. We have the camper parked at home and do a lot of driveway camping. We have a doggie door on the back of our house and the cats will come to the camper when we are doing a driveway camp and want in. Once in, they don't want to leave! It's bizzar!

When on the road, they travel in a large cloth style pet carrier with the mash screen for sight and air. They travel well in there on the back seat of the truck. And it's safe transport from truck to trailer once at the campground, or if we need to stop somewhere. They cannot bolt out the truck door.

Once inside the camper, we ALWAYS pay attention to the door. I put a heavier screen door catch on so they cannot push it open so easy. This works well, and give us confidence, that even if they do scratch at the door, it won't open now.

Second, we always watch the door when coming in or out. And if the cats get courious about the door when we come in or out, we always give a "scat" or a "Swhoosh" sound to scare them back from the door.

They've NEVER attempted to bolt at the campgrounds. At home they do, that's OK, but never at the campgrounds we've been to. I think they know they are NOT home and actually are too afraid to try to leave the camper. They know that camper is their safe place! Even at home, they know it's safe.

That might be the secret to your success. Driveway camp at home and let the cats stay inside the camper. The more they are inside, the more comfortable they become with it, and it will be familiar to them when their outside surroundings change. They'll be terrified to go out, and won't even try.

Good luck. Enjoy the kitties!

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Plan to travel with 3 cats and a dog

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