It’s February 20th, which means it’s officially National Love Your Pet Day! At Campers Inn, we love pets, but we know that living the RV lifestyle with a pet can be difficult. Most dogs (especially big ones!) need to get off the road and run frequently, which can seriously interrupt your travel plans. And living with a cat can definitely have adverse effects on the quality of your furniture. But we can’t imagine living without our furry friends, so we’ve curated a list of five tips for RVing with pets!
Okay. We know you’ve probably heard this one before. But in case you haven’t been keeping up, there have been huge advancements in pee pad technology within the last few years. One of our favorites is the grass pee pad, which can be either real or artificial grass. An artificial grass pee pad simulates the feeling of grass on your dog’s paws and looks a whole lot better than a traditional pee pad while maintaining the same absorbency. And if allergies allow, a real grass pee pad will be easy to maintain and will bring a bit of life to your RV’s interior while ensuring that you can coast down the highway for long stretches to get where you need to go.
Is your cat irritating you while you try to drive? Does it keep getting into spaces where it’s not allowed? Some of that is probably just typical cat behavior. But your cat might also need some exercise! RVs are normally smaller than standing houses, and your cat might just want some space to run. If you’re busy driving or adventuring all day long and you can’t spend as much time as you’d like playing with it, you should consider getting your cat an exercise wheel to keep it active and tire it out!
A lot of campgrounds in state parks are not pet-friendly, which can be a hassle for fans of hiking. But there are multiple resources you can use to double-check if your pet is welcome at campsites in your desired area, including websites like BringFido.com and RVLifestyle.com, and nothing is keeping you from bringing your pet into the park for a day trip. Generally, any KOA campground should be pet-friendly, and many camping resorts are also pet-friendly if you’re willing to deal with the price tag.
Regardless of whether or not the campground you’re staying at is pet-friendly, if your pet is missing its most recent vaccination, you will not be allowed in. To avoid this, make sure you keep a record of your pet’s vaccinations and write down when they’re due for a re-up. Keeping your pet’s health in mind is especially important while traveling because you won’t have a regular veterinary office. Luckily, there are plenty of veterinary care brands that have offices across the United States, and you can sign them up for a healthcare plan with one of those national chains to keep all of their records in one place.
Just like you wouldn’t want to leave your pet in a hot car, you should keep an eye out for the temperature of your RV while you’re out and about. It’s a good idea to keep a camera in your RV, so you can check on your pet’s well-being if you plan on being away for a long time, and it’s also a good idea to consider your pet’s comfort when deciding where to travel. If you have a cold-weather breed like a husky or a malamute, try not to leave them alone for too long in extremely warm climates. Even if you’re just looking out for your own comfort while traveling, or if you’re looking to save a few dollars on air conditioning, try to head North in the summer and South in the winter to make sure you’ve got perfect weather all year round.
The RV lifestyle can be great for pets if it’s done right. They get the opportunity to swim in lakes and in oceans—to hike mountains with you, and chase geese through cornfields. Just like you enjoy traveling the nation and having new experiences, your pet probably loves to do the same! Just make sure to weigh the pros and cons for you and your pet carefully before setting out on the road with them in tow, and you’ll be sure to have a wonderful adventure with your furry friend!
Read more about traveling with pets here or here!