Become a Petful InsiderCamping With Cats Is Totally a Thing — Here’s How to Do It Safely
Camping with cats is more than just a trend — it’s a rewarding way to bond with your feline outdoors. With the right training, gear, and safety prep, your kitty can enjoy nature just like you. Learn how to make the experience stress-free and fun for both of you!
Camping with cats?! Believe it or not, it is a “thing.” It may sound crazy, but hear me out…
Taking cats out on a harness and leash only continues to grow in popularity. And as more and more people are embracing van and RV life and tent camping, it makes sense that they’d want to bring their cats along for the fun too. Being able to bring your cat eliminates the need for a pet sitter. Plus, you get the bonus of bonding and enjoying fun trips together!
Before you start planning your next cat camping trip, though, it’s important to understand the prep and training involved. It’s not as simple as packing your gear and hitting the road.
This article will cover the preparation, training, gear needed, safety tips, and what to avoid when taking your kitty camping!
Don’t Guess When It Comes To Your Pet’s Care
Don’t Guess When It Comes To Your Pet’s Care
Can Cats Really Camp?
You’ve probably seen videos or photos on social media of cats out hiking, visiting pet-friendly businesses, and maybe even camping. As mentioned, adventure cats are becoming more and more common every day.
Though I am a self-proclaimed cat adventure enthusiast, I’ll also be the first to tell you that not every cat is meant for adventure life.
Just like people, cats have different personalities and preferences. Some will like going outside, and some will not. Some will be easier to train, and some will be more difficult. I have two cats who enjoy hiking and camping, one who is happy to stick with backyard adventures, and one who is not interested in going outside at all.
Before taking your cat camping, the first step is to assess their personality and even test the waters with smaller adventures. If your cat is sociable, easily handled, food-motivated, curious, engaged, and not easily spooked, chances are higher that they will take to adventure training more quickly and naturally.
So, can cats really camp? Yes! But only after assessment, preparation, and training.
How to Prepare Your Cat for a Camping Trip
If you think your cat would like to try an adventure, you need to start small and slowly work up to bigger adventures. Think of it as how a person prepares to run a marathon. They don’t start out running 26.2 miles. They have to train and gradually increase their distance until they can make it the full distance.
To prepare for a cat camping trip, I recommend starting with slow and thorough harness and leash training indoors first. Then, you can eventually progress to exploring the backyard and, depending on how that goes, working up to hikes or camping trips. Take your time and follow your cat’s lead throughout the process.
It is also important to incorporate your cat’s car and backpack carriers into the training. Both are invaluable tools for making your cat’s adventure experience as safe and stress-free as possible.
Once your cat is ready to try camping, you’ll want to practice in your backyard or even your living room first. Set up your tent and give it a test run. If you’ll be camping in an RV or van, let your cat explore the inside, and do a practice overnight stay in it from the safety of your driveway or backyard.
Taking your cat for a practice camping run is important because it allows them to get used to the tent, van, or RV in a safe and controlled way. You can easily return to the house if they get too stressed or overwhelmed.
Must-Have Camping Gear for Cats
In addition to the training preparation for a camping trip, you’ll also want to ensure you have all the necessary gear and cat accessories. Being in a new environment can be stressful for many cats, so the more you can do to make them comfortable and safe, the better!
Their bed, a cozy blanket, a favorite toy, a familiar scratcher, and even some pheromone calming spray can go a long way towards helping your kitty feel at home. You’ll, of course, need the essentials like a portable or travel litter box, plenty of food, collapsible food, and water bowls.
I highly recommend an enclosed pop-up or mesh tent to keep your cat safe and secure when hanging outside at your campsite. Cat tents for outdoors like this allow your cat to be a part of the fun at your campsite while keeping them secured and giving them a comfortable spot to hang out.
Other essentials for camping with cats include:
- Cat harness and leash (plus an extra of each)
- Pet first aid kit
- LED collar light for nighttime visibility
- Cat-safe wipes
- Towels
- Cat-safe bug repellent
- Handheld broom and dustpan to clean up any litter messes
- Secure carrier
Safety Tips for Camping With Cats
Though camping with cats can be fun, it has several potential hazards. To keep your cat safe on your trip, be sure to:
- Never leave your cat unattended, outside the campsite, or in a tent. Even if you’re just making a quick bathroom visit, take them with you in their carrier or backpack.
- Ensure your cat’s vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, ID tags, and microchip information are up to date.
- Check the weather before you go to ensure that you won’t be camping in extreme weather.
- Avoid areas known for having bears, coyotes, and other predatory wildlife.
- Keep your cat in your tent overnight rather than in a separate tent or enclosure.
- Secure your tent zippers from the inside so your cat can’t escape. (Bread bag ties are great for this!)
- Add an extra tag to your cat’s collar with your campsite number on it in case they get away from you. (Key-ring labels are great for this!)
- Always keep fresh water accessible and watch for signs of overheating.
What to Avoid When Camping With Cats
When cat tenting, you want to do your best to avoid situations that will cause your cat stress or discomfort. Camping includes many common stressors for cats: new environments, strangers, dogs, and open spaces. Our job as responsible cat guardians is to make our cats as comfortable as possible, follow their lead, and know their limits.
When your cat lets you know they are uncomfortable or stressed, either do something to calm them down or remove them from the situation causing the stress. This can sometimes mean you might have to cut your trip short if things aren’t going well. There’s no shame in that!
You can prevent stress by doing the following:
- Select a campsite that is more secluded and has tree coverage.
- Avoid areas with loose dogs.
- Avoid areas with heavy foot traffic, such as campsites near the bathrooms.
- Always camp with a tent, van, or RV – never out in the open without an enclosure.
To make your cat feel as comfortable as possible, surround them with familiar smells – like bedding, toys, and scratchers from home. And of course, be sure to provide them with lots of pets, praise, and treats! Positive reinforcement goes a long way!
As you can see, camping with cats involves a lot. But if you know your cat would enjoy spending time outdoors and you’ve gone through the proper training process, it is doable and can be a fantastic bonding experience.
The keys to success are preparation, patience, and practice. Cover all your bases, and you and your kitty will be well on your way to enjoying the great outdoors together in no time!
Feature photo: Image by Susann Mielke from Pixabay
Other photo: Daga_Roszkowska from Pixabay
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