Dealing With Cat Hygiene and Cat Litter in RVs

Automatic Litter Boxes, Standard Litter Boxes and Cat Mess Control

Nov 13, 2009
Linda Gentile

Litter Boxes in an RV Should Come With a Cover - Vieux Bandit/Flickr

The messy side of cat ownership is heightened in an RV. With a little care, RV travelers can help prevent messes and annoyance by careful placement of cat litter boxes.

When on the road, a cat's (and traveler's) routines can easily be thrown off. Cats with dirty litter boxes tend to let their displeasure be known with a variety of feline editorial comments. This is annoying enough in a regular house; in an RV, it is quite unacceptable.

On top of this, litter box odor in the enclosed space of a trailer can quickly become obnoxious, especially in warm weather. Some suggestions on how to handle the litter box side of cat ownership follow.

An Automatic Litter Box May Help Some RV Owners

Some cat owners get round the hygiene problem by installing an automatic litter box. Owner experience of such devices is mixed, as can be seen at any consumer website with litter box reviews. (To date, this writer's experience with two separate automatic litter boxes has been negative – neither lasted longer than a year.)

Automatic litter boxes work best for those RVers who generally go to campgrounds with full hook-ups. So saying, some automatic litter boxes are battery-operated. Expect to pay $100-$450 for an automatic litter box, plus the cost of accessories like containers, batteries and filters. Common brands include Littermaid, Litter Robot and ScoopFree.

Manual Litter Boxes in an RV Can be Used Anywhere

Manual litter boxes take more effort, but can be used in any campground. It is best to scoop at least once, and preferably twice daily, and to vacuum up the litter straight away. A hard-clumping litter is necessary for simple reasons of containment; those with sensitive noses should use an unscented brand.

A litter box deodorant such as Arm & Hammer's baking soda product helps keep smells down. So does a lid with incorporated odor filter; these also help reduce dust and flying litter. Unfortunately, topping up litter boxes generally results in a sneeze-inducing cloud of dust; using a plastic cup or some other container to transfer the powder over can help with this side-effect of cat ownership.

Where to Place the Litter Box in an RV

Placement of the litter box is important. If possible, it should be kept away from eating areas. Many put the litter box in the bath tub; however, escaping litter clumps can end up in the septic system, with the kind of potentially disastrous results that usually require a specialist and a large check. For those fortunate enough to have a "mini" RV bathroom alongside a "real" one, the mini bathroom can be sealed off with plastic sheeting. The problem is solved for almost anybody (though perhaps not those with teenagers.)

Wherever the litter box ends up, if it can be kept away from high-traffic areas, everyone (cats included) will be much happier. Place a mat underneath the litter box; from time to time it can be taken outside to have the dust beaten out.

Handling Cat Accidents in an RV

It is a fact of cat ownership that sooner or later, there will be some kind of accident. When the inevitable occurs, a double layer of paper towels assists in the initial cleanup. The first one covers the mess and can be tucked in a little; the second goes over it and allows everything to be picked up and wiped at the same time – all without touching.

Any stains can be taken care of with Nature's Miracle. This enzyme-eating cleaner belongs in every cat owner's arsenal, though be sure to test it on a small part of the carpet first to ensure it does not react adversely to the product. Nature's Miracle has the additional benefit of deterring the cat from revisiting that spot; the scent tags the area as off-limits in much the same way as another cat's urine would in the wild.

With care and a little tolerance, the messier side of cat ownership can be handled in an RV, keeping both humans and animals happy.