RV Living and Pets – Being Responsible & Proud!

Last Updated on January 29, 2024 by Jeremy

When it comes to RV living and pets, we often wonder how we can survive with them in such an enclosed space. If it wasn’t for the fact that they are technically part of the family, it would be rather difficult to know how to exactly care for them while living full time in your RV.

In today’s article, I will discuss what I’ve researched regarding certain tips, tricks and stories that have been shared by RVers like yourself, as well, what they are doing with their pets. I will also mention some interesting facts about pets, and what it is they require on such an interesting journey.

Types of Pets / Common Facts

We often only consider taking Dogs and Cats as our primary pets when we head out on our camping expeditions. But what about other animals, or for that matter, reptiles? Wouldn’t you want to give your pet Rabbit named Roger, the same love and companionship as you would your Dog Ralph?

Let’s consider All the pets that can be a part of your RV living, and see what their needs are for survival.

• -Turtles – Pending a turtles’ environment, a land-dwelling turtle will munch on beetles, fruit and grass, whereas sea dwellers will gobble everything from algae to squid and jellyfish. Should you be inclined to own a pet turtle and want to camp with it, you will need a glass fish tank that can provide roughly 10 to 15 gallons (38 to 57 L) of water for every 1 inch (2.5 cm) of turtle.
• -Hedgehogs – Live off of 80% insects and are lactose intolerant. They are also nocturnal, and sleep during the day. If you consider one of these pets, a simple hamster cage and wheel are a good idea to give the hedgehog the ability to get its daily exercise. They are also very snugly and affectionate, and apparently love empty toilet paper tubes.
• -Snakes – Usually like mice and rats to eat, and only eat once a week. A fish tank turned terrarium is the best concept for keeping this pet, equipped with a heat pad, light and water dish. The type of snake is also taken into consideration when determining its new home.
• -Lizards – Probably the most independent pet you can have. Learn more about these creatures here: Pet Lizards: 10 Intriguing Facts You Should Know About Them | The Furry Companion
• -Hamsters – Like hedgehogs, a good solid cage and wheel are its living source. A hamster will divide its cage into sections for eating, sleeping and playing. They usually eat vegetables and store it in their cheeks.
• -Birds – The most common pet friendly birds are cockatoos, macaws, canaries, parrots, cockatiels, and budgies. Surprisingly, they have a life span between 25-50 years! But, they are very sensitive to toxic fumes, so it might not be the best pet to have in an RV. Although they are smart, social, and love to dance, pet birds are rather noisy at times and can be harder to maintain than most pets.
• -Fish – Of course fish need tanks, pending quantity of the fish, the tank size should be at least 10 gallons. As for food, 2 times a day or the directions you follow on the bottle.
• -Spiders – These air-breathing arthropods need limited space to survive. They rely mostly on insects and can be kept in a jar with holes poked in the lid. Bigger spiders like tarantulas, need a little more room, so again, a terrarium might be an option.
• -Rabbits – These grass, herb eating creatures have a lifespan of about 6-12 years. They can survive in cages, similar to hamsters and hedgehogs, but they’d need to be a bit bigger.
• -Cats – Of course, cats need food, and sleep. They do need to get their exercise in, but the majority of the time for them will be lounging in a sun spot near your RV window. Ironically, you can train your cat to use the bathroom, utilizing time and patience, which would save on emptying a litter box out frequently.
• –Dogs – The most popular pet of choice for the outdoor lifestyle is that of a dog. I’m certain all of us have had, or know of someone who has dogs, so its pretty common to know what their needs are. As long as there is a squirrel to chase at times, your dog will be beside you the remaining 99% of the time.

Where do my Pets Live in an RV?

Now if we were to look at the above list of pets and some facts of what they need for survival, such as living arrangements and food, we should also consider the size of your RV and family to determine what is needed for your pets living arrangements.

Let’s take turtles’ for instance. Your main supplies for a turtle are going to be a cage or a tank, as mentioned above, and a heat source and water. The size of the turtle is critical so you’d probably want to consider a smaller one, so that you can put the tank in a reasonable location within your camping unit.

The same scenario would be improvised for spiders, geckos, lizards and snakes. In each of these instances, cage and or tank size, or the pets “home” needs to be located and placed particularly out of frequent disturbances. What I mean is to find a spot unused away from the door, not next to a window, to place your new pet home.

Also, tanks and such, should be security fastened before any sort of travel takes place, using whatever transport method available for that pet.

The bigger animals have less dependency (dogs and cats), which means you don’t need to worry as much about storage of their “homes”. Considering you have a dog that has a kennel, would be an alternative to this statement. But a dog bed, can easily be moved more often than not.

Another thing to consider about your pet storage options/living arrangements, is the season. Winter living for these critters can be tough, so adjust your climate indoors to suit the needs of the pet. It’s all a part of our responsibilities.

Maintenance and Other Considerations

Perhaps Birds, Rabbits, and Squirrels would need more attention than most from us humans. The main thing would be to remove their litter and clean the surrounding areas.

One example I’ve read about is how the utilization and modifications within the RV were performed to house and store litter boxes in order to prevent the smell.

Examples included:

• -Cutting a hole in the “under-the-bed” storage area, so the cat can go in and out of there, while cleaning it every other day.
• -Placing the litter box in an ottoman with an entrance to it.
• -Leaving it beside the master bed, cleaning it daily.
• -Implementing in with a small cat tree such as this

Birds are another example of needing maintenance daily, particularly, cage cleaning. Perhaps not the best option for some, I do recall a family that had a pet Macaw they took on their camping adventure, and apparently it went extremely well. It all depends on the responsibility of the pet owner, and how well they’ve been trained.

Maintenance can be a little trickier with that of a rescue dog for instance vs that of a lizard. You’ll more than likely spend more time with the dog, to get it accustomed to its surroundings a lot more than that of Larry the lizard 🙂 You’ll also probably spend more time cleaning up after your cat and dog in regard to fur.

Other considerations for your pets would include:

• -Daily Bathing/Cleaning/Grooming
• -Daily Exercise/Walking/Play Time
• -Daily Feeding Times

As pet owners, we know the responsibilities to take when we are at home, so its no different essentially when RV living with pets. Aside from the space, we still need to have maintenance routines in place to look after are pets. This includes pulling out the vacuum once in awhile for pet hair that collects throughout.

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Common FAQs

Some random tips I’ve learned for pets often go overlooked, so let’s look at the following questions and give some answers.

1) What Pet Should I get for RV living? – If its on the list, you already know as a responsible owner what you need to do with it regarding feeding times and exercises and activities. You get what is the most comfortable to you and your family, and you delegate the tasks per person. You’re pet can be just as proud as you when you communicate and work together.

2) Where can I store my pet Supplies? – Perhaps you’ve been at it for a while and have this cased. If so, Kudos! But for beginners, the biggest thing you’ll find is the constant changes in the first few months. You may have to move things around daily until it becomes a good fit. The 20lb bags of dog food, might be better stored in a garbage pail with a lid outdoors vs. in the pantry. Or even a smaller bag is an option. Totes are handy, plus less is more. You don’t need to have 100 cat toys when you’re full time living, its not necessary.

3) How do I store important documentation for pets, or What if something happens to them? – Crazy story; I read an article the other day about a family whose trailer caught fire while they were out. Sadly, their pet dog was left inside. It made me think how having not only trailer insurance is good, but having pet insurance would also not be a bad idea to have, as such, storing it in a fire-proof safe.

To learn about Who Offers Best RV Insurance – Everything RVs and More, read here.

4) Do campgrounds allow pets? – Most parks we’ve come across do allow dogs on leash, or have a 2 pet rule. For the benefit of knowing exactly, it would be wise to always communicate ahead with the campground you are going to.

5) Where can I get products and supplies for pets if I’m nowheres near a pet store? – Believe it or not, there are options. Consider ordering online from suppliers such as Canada Pet Care, Pet Super Market and Pet Meds.

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Conclusion

As we conclude about RV living and pets, we need to keep a conscientious mind that its an added task in our daily lives to take care of them. Having pets may be the most difficult thing you’ll endure, yet having a simple routine in play can easily be the difference between being a proud responsible pet owner, and a grumpy one.

Always be prepared for if the power goes out, or if you leave on a hike, as to what your pets needs are going to be, and take the necessary responsibilities into consideration.

Regardless of space, living with pets can be pretty awesome! Share some of your Pet stories below!

Cheers!