Camping with cats? Yes, it is feasible. It’s also an excellent chance for your cat companion to get some exercise while you bond in the great outdoors. However, you cannot just connect a leash to your cat’s collar, pack an extra can of tuna, and take off into the woods with your small cat. If you want to make sure you and kitten have a good time, you’ll need to do some planning and preparation.
If you’re new to exploring with a cat, we recommend that you begin by assessing whether your cat is suitable for this sort of lifestyle, because if your cat doesn’t love camping, you won’t enjoy camping with it. Also, before you take your cat outside, even for a stroll around the backyard, make sure you’ve gotten the appropriate harness and have properly leash trained him. Your cat’s first experience with nature should not be when his paws touch the earth at the campground. While throwing your cat into camping may work, most cats will not react well to being pushed into a new place, and your beloved companion is likely to be hurt or even lost. So, do your camping correctly and brush up on all of the fundamentals before you hit the trail.
How to Prepare for a Cat-Friendly Camping Trip
Before going camping with a cat, take a few steps to ensure that both you and your furry friend have a good time.
- Find out if your campsite is pet-friendly.
Before you take your cat somewhere, make sure he is welcome. Call the campsite to find out whether they allow pets and if there is a price for bringing them along. It goes without saying that if they do not accept pets, you should either leave your cat at home or find another campsite.
- Check the weather.
Another thing you should verify ahead of time is the weather. Extreme temperatures are not ideal for cats. Though they may live in hotter or colder weather, the best temperature range for taking your fur baby camping is 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It also depends on the sort of cat you own.
- Acclimate your cat.
If your cat has spent her entire life indoors, an unexpected camping vacation might be terrifying. To get her acclimated to sleeping outside, try walking her around your yard a few times. Another thing that can startle cats is being in a tent. Set up the tent in your yard or at home and allow your cat to explore it.
- Pack right.
Make sure to pack adequate food and water for the duration of your camping excursion. You never know if clean water will be accessible, and you want to make sure your cat is comfortable and not freaked out throughout the trip.
On that topic, because your cat will be exposed to so many new stimuli while camping, pack the food she is used to eating. If you can’t carry enough water, bring a water filter or water treatment drops to sterilize the water at the campground.
After ensuring sure you have adequate food and drink, the next most crucial consideration is safety. Prepare to keep your cat safe by carrying a leash and a cat backpack carrier. If you want to be extra cautious, it’s never a bad idea to outfit your cat’s leash and/or harness with LED lights so you can readily locate him if he gets away.
At the campsite
Keep your cat on a leash.
Do not let your cat roam the campsite alone. Keep him leashed or in a carrier. This is the most effective strategy to keep your cat from wandering off and encountering wildlife, eating something he shouldn’t, or getting into another risky scenario.
Don’t tie your cat up and leave him.
Never tie your cat’s leash to anything and leave him alone. This allows her to walk freely and explore while you do your task. Keep a watch on her, though, to ensure she doesn’t become tangled if her leash comes free.
Keep a close eye on your cat.
From insects and plants to new scents and noises, there will be a lot for your cat to explore at the campground. Allow him to pursue his interests, but do so under your continual supervision.
Do not allow your cat to eat potentially poisonous plants, and keep a watch out for other campsite pets and wildlife. Your feline may be tough, but perils might lie both under rocks and in the skies. Eagles, hawks, and even huge owls may be extremely dangerous to an unsupervised cat.
Watch that campfire.
Your cat may be intrigued by the fire and want to investigate, so keep track of where he is in regard to it. While your cat is probably clever enough not to come too near and singe his whiskers, he may not be aware of the location of his leash, so you must make sure the end doesn’t reach too close to where you’re preparing s’mores.
Maintain your usual schedule.
Cats are independent animals, but like people, they find comfort in ritual, so don’t disrupt your cat’s routine just because you’re outside. Feed your cat at the same time every day, clean the litter box once a day if that’s what he’s used to, and crawl into the sleeping bag at your regular bedtime.
Provide a safe place for your cat.
Whether it’s a carrier or an open vehicle door, your feline companion should have a place to go if he breaks loose or becomes frightened.
Let’s emphasize this again: Never leave your cat alone.
Do not leave your cat alone at the campground, even if you have zipped him into the tent or carefully contained him in his carrier. If you wish to do cat-free activities on your camping trip, leave your cat safely at home.
Now that we’ve covered all of the crucial safety and readiness information, let me simply say that you’re going to have a fantastic time. After all, you are camping with your cat!
