JimK-NY wrote:
Nice video but everyone needs to find arrangements which work best for them. This would definitely not have worked well for us. My wife and I traveled fulltime with two cats, one was well over 20#. I would definitely not want the cat pan behind the front seat of the truck. When our big boy let go, the smell would gag an ox. We put the cat pan in the shower stall area and used a screen on the drain to prevent clogging with litter. Both cats tended to throw litter everywhere and the shower worked best. Also as fulltimers, replacing litter every day or two was out of the question. We used clumpable litter and scooped out the clumps almost with every use. Having the cat pan in the back had several more advantages. There is an exhaust fan near the shower. Even more important on days where we were in and out of the truck frequently, we would lock the cats in the camper so we did not need to worry about escapes or crushing a cat with a truck door.
The video mentions stuffing foam to seal the connection between the back window of the truck and the camper. For about $50 you can buy a vinyl clad foam "donut" that is designed to do this job and can be easily removed and reused.
For us, before installing the pass through window between the truck and camper, the litter box was on the TC floor in front of the stove and moved throughout the day as needs required. Putting it in the shower was dismissed because our shower is very tight. Behind the drivers seat works well as it is out of the way and kitty can access it anytime, plus it is easily accessed to clean when needed. We do use clumping litter but we change that out when soiled grains build up over time becoming less sanitary in an unsanitary place. When we're driving, the cab vent fan is always on and we have rarely caught a whiff of cat business since the air is constantly exchanged and in my Ford, the air goes out through vents in the bottom of each door. Smells are always directed away from us. Believe me, if it were hot, muggy, and we're in the truck when he does his business, if smell were a problem, it would be fixed fast. When parked, we close the tunnel curtain and that seals the camper from smells. He goes back and forth through the curtain easily. The air in the cab seems to exchange on it's own within about 15 minutes just parked so smell doesn't last or creep into the TC. The clumping litter is the way to go. Does anyone still use clay?
Over the years, there have been several threads on the tunnel between the truck and camper but no source for where to get a seal for the tunnel ever panned out so I gave up and made my own tunnel seal which has worked great for 6 years with many to go and has never left a mark. This is what I made, we're not just stuffing foam in there.
I slip a plastic over the top and that prevents the foam from getting wet. The seal has worked great for years and admits virtually no road noise.
Charlie is a well behaved cat. Best I've ever had. He does follow command albeit as he sees fit. Cats and dogs are always going for the door. They know when your getting out. You have to be aware of where your pet is when you are getting out and do what it takes to control the situation as needed. Charlie knows when he's told to stay and does. Others will do what they want. It's your job to take care of your pet and keep it safe and traveling with your pet will at least double that duty to keep your pet safe.
Charlie is harness and leash trained. There is a current video of him walking posted in the pets/cats section you can view. Charlie is chipped. When he's outside, even at home, he's got his harness and leash on. He likes it because it means he gets to go outside which is a strong persuader. In camp, he's roped up and you have to keep a close eye out because so many people don't follow leash laws with their dogs.
I like the converted compartment with outside access idea but it is functionally the same as how I have the litter box behind my seat. I just open the rear door, lift the lid and clean it out. I like simplicity plus we still have valuable TC storage available.
Hope I've answered a few more questions and filled in the informational gaps of the video. Can't think of everything.
J&K
