Managing your cat's odor:
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Litterbox
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14-gallon garbage bags
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pee pee training pads
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pine pellets
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cedar chips
A Catio for the litterbox:
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Whitmor Storage Cubes
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4-Inch Cable Wire Nylon Zip Ties Wraps
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2"/5cm Caribeaner Clip, Aluminum D Ring Shape
Yes, you can take your pet cat RV or van camping. We took our beloved pet, Bandit, camping with us for six weeks, and these are the cat camping accessories and techniques we use.
The RV or van is a small space, so managing your pet's business is the most important part of camping with your cat.
Here is our best litterbox preparation for cat convenience, owner convenience, and odor control.
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A cat litterbox with a top-entry or whatever your pet is comfortable with.
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Purchase XL Pet Pee Pads. Pee Pee Pads can hold 8 cups of liquids.
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Place one layer as the first layer in the cat litter box for added protection to keep the litterbox clean use-after-use. No soap and water needed.
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Purchase 13-gallon garbage bags. Place the cat litterbox inside a garbage bag and press the top layer into the litterbox so you can add more filling on top. (See littlerbox image on bottom right of photo.)
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Take an XL Pet Pee Pad liner and place it on top of the garbage bag now lining the litter box's bottom.
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Add pine pellets to cover the pee pad. Pine pellets can take more than 500% of their own weight.
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If you're staying at one location for a day or two - just refresh with a new layer of pellets when needed so fluffy won't get picky.
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If you're staying for more than a few days, you can scoop the poop and urine clumps as usual. Refresh with another layer of pellets and cedar chips.
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Add cedar chips to cover the pine pellets. Our pet, Bandit, preferred to move the cedar chips around over the pine pellets. Cedar chips help repel fleas, insects and snakes as well as manage odor.
BREAKING CAMP: When breaking camp, gather the garbage bag the litterbox is setting on and flip over the litterbox to catch all contents, tie and throw away. The litterbox is now clean and ready for the next use.
LESS COST AND MAINTENANCE: I found this litterbox cocktail was more cost-effective than clay because it lasts longer, requiring less maintenance, and still provides better odor control.
SUPPLIES: For your convenience, I have listed the different items below. For more details on each product, click on the accompanying links.
Can You Take Your Cat Camping?
This post contains affiliate links for products we value and believe you will find helpful. See full disclosure here.
Petmate Litter Pan
Comes with Prime free two-day shipping with Amazon: https://amzn.to/3leQB5i
Managing your pet's business is the most important aspect of camping with your cat in cozy comfort.
Start with the litterbox, its contents, and its location to prepare for cat convenience, owner convenience, and odor control.
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Purchase a cat litter box with a top-entry or whatever your pet is comfortable with.
More styles and sizes available
on Amazon: l https://amzn.to/3lHjJT2
Bulldoglogy Premium Carbon Black
Pee Pads with Adhesive Sticky Tape Boots
Comes with Prime free two-day shipping with Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JdheL8
Managing your pet's business is the most important aspect of camping with your cat in cozy comfort.
Start with the litterbox, its contents, and its location to prepare for cat convenience, owner convenience, and odor control.
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Activated by Carbon Technology that's 3X THICKER!
- Made with more than 7g SAP with our NEW Bullsorbent Polymer Tech and 6 Layers of ULTRA-ABSORBENT PROOF.
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Blocks, Neutralize, and Control Odors
More styles and sizes available
on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JdheL8
Compostable Trash Bags , 13-15 Gallon Biodegradable Trash Bags
Comes with Prime free two-day shipping with Amazon: https://amzn.to/37ecM6I
Managing your pet's business is the most important aspect of camping with your cat in cozy comfort.
Start with the litterbox, its contents, and its location to prepare for cat convenience, owner convenience, and odor control.
- These biodegradable trash bags can decompose naturally under natural conditions, and the decomposition speed is more than 100 times that of plastic garbage bags. Whether it's in soil or water, they can work well.
Get your supply of biodegrable trash bags at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3otr3n3
Small Pet Select All Natural
Pellet Bedding, 25 lb. Bags
Comes with Prime free two-day shipping with Amazon: https://amzn.to/39vq6pU
Managing your pet's business is the most important aspect of camping with your cat in cozy comfort.
Start with the litterbox, its contents, and its location to prepare for cat convenience, owner convenience, and odor control.
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Get more absorbency per pellet
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Made from safe clean Pine, with no additives or irritants
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Free of the toxins associated with Wood stove pellets
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Recyclable and compostable
More bag sizes of pine pellets available
at Amazon: https://amzn.to/33OkXFW
Cedarific Natural Cedar Chips
Cat Litter, 50 Liter Bag
Comes with Prime free two-day shipping with Amazon: https://amzn.to/36rCnK2
Managing your pet's business is the most important aspect of camping with your cat in cozy comfort.
Start with the litterbox, its contents, and its location to prepare for cat convenience, owner convenience, and odor control.
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Cedarific is made from reclaimed, renewable wood fiber
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contains no added chemicals.
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It is 100% biodegradable and can even be composted or incinerated
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Country Of Origin: United States
More bag sizes of cedar chips available
at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3owW0qz
PetSafe Plastic Pet Door
with Soft Tinted Flap
Comes with Prime free two-day shipping with Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Jh3S0p
Managing your pet's business is the most important aspect of camping with your cat in cozy comfort.
Start with the litterbox, its contents, and its location to prepare for cat convenience, owner convenience, and odor control.
How to build a DIY Camper-Catio pictured above starting with:
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Bandit's entry/exit is a standard cat door secured to wood panel and cut to fit our RV passenger window.
More sizes and styles are available at Amazon:https://amzn.to/2VWWM3X
Whitmor Storage Cubes Stackable Interlocking Wire Shelves
Comes with Prime free two-day shipping with Amazon: https://amzn.to/36oHmvc
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These handy Whitmor wire cubes are interlocking to provide multiple stacking options. Connectors are included.
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I used Whitmor cubes to create the DIY Camper-Catio (above) from the RV window to the ground where the litterbox is placed.
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For portability, build the cat-tower in two halves connected with four 4" zip-ties at each corner. To break camp, just snip the four zip ties and take apart. We had the two halves set on the floor inside the RV during road travels.
For more details on Whitmore storage cubes
at Amazon: https://amzn.to/36oHmvc
How to build your DIY Camper-Catio:
Our Bandit was always an indoor/outdoor pet with his own cat-door at home. While RVing, the Catio allowed him to be outside whenever he wanted and still be contained.
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Bandit's entry/exit is a standard cat door secured to wood panel and cut to fit our RV passenger window.
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The Catio window-to-the-ground platforms were easy to put together using the stackable Whitmore storage cubes and durable plastic connectors that's included with your order. I added 4" zip-ties on the corners for more stability.
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Each platform bottom was covered with a square indoor/outdoor carpet for his climbing and lounging comfort.
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For portability, build the cat-tower in two halves connected with four 4- zip ties at each corner. To break camp, just snip the four zip ties and take apart. We had the two halves set on the floor inside the RV during road travels.
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Bandit has the freedom to sit outside anytime he wishes, at any level or work his way down to the ground level where the litterbox is located.
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At the ground level, the cube on the far right has one panel secured only on the bottom so it can be used as an opening. Clip carabiners are used as fasteners to securely close the opening after the litterbox is inserted.
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OPTIONAL: On the far left side of the Catio, there is another opening for a Cat Tunnel that connects to a small habitat tent for cats or to a full size Clam Shell gazebo for the picnic table. We have the gazebo so Bandit can join us whenever he wishes. (See next panel for Cat Tunnel instructions.)
The other supplies mentioned above are:
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small White 100 Pack 4-Inch Cable Wire Nylon Zip Ties Wraps - 100pk (18 lb.) to help strengthen the tall structure.
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spring loaded clip carabiners to open and close the bottom of the cage. I inserted a litter box on one side and the cat tunnel on the other side.
More sizes of Pet Doors with flaps available
at Amazon: https://amzn.to/36oHmvc
How to build an RV Cat-Tunnel to your gazebo:
We zipped several Cat Tunnels together (see photo on left) to connect the Camper-Catio to a pop-up screen or a Cat-Habitat.
For more details on the Cat tunnel or Cat Habitat
at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3qllsAT or https://amzn.to/3mwoGPN
More sizes and styles of Quick Set Gazebos are available
at Amazon: https://amzn.to/36N95Gf
PetSafe Drinkwell 2 Gallon
Automatic Cat Water Fountain
Comes with Prime free two-day shipping with Amazon: https://amzn.to/37x714f
We leave Bandit home for long weekends knowing he is doing well. The 2 gallon automatic water fountain is easy to set up, easy to clean and filters the water.
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2-GALLON WATER CAPACITY: This BPA-free fountain is the perfect size for cats, dogs and multi-pet households
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ENCOURAGES HYDRATION: A free-falling stream of water entices pets to drink more and helps prevent urinary and kidney diseases in pets through increased hydration
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FILTERED WATER: Replaceable carbon filter removes bad tastes and odors while the foam filter catches pet hair and debris
More types and of pet fountains available
at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3qFVzfx
WESTLINK 6L Automatic Food Dispenser
and Timer Programmable
Comes with Prime free two-day shipping with Amazon: https://amzn.to/3olI1np
The Automatic Pet Feeder is incredible! It took a bit of figuring out the quantity of food Bandit would need 4-times a day. It is now set for 1-1/2 cups a day which works perfectly. When filled, it lasts approximately four weeks before refilling is needed.
The cat-food blend that Bandit eats up is made of an equal amount of Max Cat adult food, Crave adult cat food with 40% protein, and Temptations catnip fever snacks.
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One of the best ways to keep pets healthy is to feed them the right amount of food.
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Up to 4 meals a day
More types of pet feeders available
at Amazon: https://amzn.to/33OaPNA
AquaPurr eC -
The only Fountain You Never Clean
Comes with Prime free two-day shipping with Amazon: https://amzn.to/3lCNX9v
The AquaPurr eC is the only cat water fountain that never needs cleaning or refilling.
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Maintenance free – no cleaning, no refilling, no filters
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Your cat triggers the flow
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Fresh drinking water from your faucet anytime your cat wants it
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Easily connects to your faucet
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You keep full use of your sink
Black cat owners
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The proximity sensor may not work with your black cats.
More details of AquaPurr eC Fountain
at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3lCNX9v
SureFlap - Microchip Cat Flap,
Scans Pet's ID Microchip on Entry
Comes with Prime free two-day shipping with Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JFknDi
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SELECTIVE ENTRY CAT DOOR (Screens on Entry only): Uses RFID to read your cat’s implanted ID microchip, allowing your cat access without letting in stray animals—learns up to 32 identities; programmable collar tags are sold separately for cats without microchips.
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DOOR OPENING: The Microchip Cat Door Flap opening is 4 3/4” (H) by 5 5/8” (W) and can be installed in doors, windows or walls – accessories are available from SureFlap.
More details, colors and sizes available
at Amazon: https://amzn.to/36Nmy0z
SureFlap - Microchip Cat Flap,
Scans Pet's ID Microchip on Entry
Comes with Prime free two-day shipping with Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JFknDi
Installing a Microchip Cat Door was a no-brainer for us. After two years, Bandit, Dave, and I continue to be amazed at how well it works.
The SureFlap cat door has a double antenna, which reads your pet's microchip, allowing entry to just his microchip. The package comes with a chip that a veterinarian can insert easily and a microchip that hangs from a collar. We placed the cat collar on Bandit first, but he lost the dangling-chip pennant within a few months. Veterinarians do many chip-insertions. It takes only a second to have the microchip inserted in the back of Bandit's neck.
To teach Bandit how to use his new micro-chip cat door was easy - gentle prodding out the cat-door and calling him back through the cat-door. It didn't take long for Bandit to get the concept.
His food and water are kept indoors to keep him from not wandering too far. As a plus keeping his food and water indoors keeps the other critters away. We love Microchip Cat Door.
Before departing on an extended vacation, we place a new battery in the cat door for our own peace-of-mind. An emergency cat litter box is kept in the house in case the microchip doesn't work, and he gets locked indoors - this hasn't happened in two years, but just in case.
More color and sizes available
at Amazon: https://amzn.to/36Nmy0z