A week ago my two 16-year-old sister kitties and I moved into my '63 Tradewind for the summer. In this forum I've read that what most folks do is put the kitty litter box in the shower, but my trailer is set up so that if I do, it's less than 5 feet from my head when I'm asleep. Yuck. I started out with a regular litter box and a covered waste basket for the scoopings, then I got a covered box, but even the small amount of odor and the tracked litter was pretty gross in a confined space.
But I've figured out a solution that works for my trailer, and probably would for some other trailers: on the curb side there's a "trunk" door to an enclosed space that extends under the bed. From inside the camper, I made a secret kitty passageway to it by removing one of the under-the-bed drawers, then cutting a door in the plywood divider between the trunk and the drawer space. Then, for the trunk door, I made a screen door that can be fastenend shut. The coverless litter box I started out with fit right in. Now they have a nice well-ventilated room, and I can clean the litter from outside trailer! I'm going to put a little matting down in their passageway to wipe their feet on the way out.
Blanche and Spot actually like hanging out on their own "porch" and they probably wonder why I went and put a litter box there!
I made a secret kitty passageway to it by removing one of the under-the-bed drawers, then cutting a door in the plywood divider between the trunk and the drawer space.
You know they've got to be smug that they have a "secret kitty passageway". I love it!
Here's a shot of Spot and Blanche on their kitty porch. I hope to replace the sliding screen with custom-fitted screen, once I figure out how to make/get one....
We have a similiar place for our catbox. The original owner had ordered a generator which was to go in the storage area under one of the dinette seats. It was too loud and he had it removed. That is where we stick the catbox. Never thought about putting a screen in. How clever!!!
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That's an awesome setup. I traveled extensively with my pets in the airstream, two of whom were cats (one is still with me, at 17 years old). Instead of going for an indoor box, when we're parked somewhere we intend to be a day or more, I mounted adhesive hooks to the bottom edge of the trailer. chickenwire then hooks on, and is staked down to the ground all around the edge of the camper perimeter. Since there's an access door on the side of the camper at floor level, I open that and run the "fencing" over it, so the cat has a chute where he can leave the camper entire and hang out under it. Aside from the litter aspect, he really enjoys having an "outdoor" area that's safe, dry, and private.
We moved from Georgia to Alabama this past Summer. While our new home was being brought up to living standards, we lived at a campground in our Airstream with 3 boys, 2 dogs and 2 cats for 8 weeks. (Saint's preserve us!)
And lived to tell about it! The litter box thing was difficult at best.
I emptied as soon as they soiled and cleaned up litter 24/7. Of course,
they "moved" into our new home before we did. We would visit with them
while we were there working, then return to our A/s home at night
without that nasty litter problem.
I LOVE the kitty "porch" idea.It's pure genius! I wish I had thought of that!
"I find that it is not the circumstances in which we are placed, but the spirit in which we face them, that constitutes our comfort." -Elizabeth T. King
Last edited by Pahaska; 01-09-2006 at 03:49 PM.
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Here's a shot of Spot and Blanche on their kitty porch. I hope to replace the sliding screen with custom-fitted screen, once I figure out how to make/get one....
Now that's neat! Where did you find that screen? Did you ever fix a permanent one?
Home Depot, Lowes or almost any hardware store. It is just an exspanable wooden window screen. Just print out a picture and take it with you. Most hardware stores will make you custom sized screens out of an alum frame as well.
We have a new 28 ft. International, and the shower thing just wont work, because it has a glass door, and it is not practiable to prop it open.
Under the bed seems like the beat idea, since there are cutouts already inplace. Of course the box would have to be cleaned after every use. I have spent hours showing them (there are two) how to use a scoop, but they look at me like "give me a break", and stroll away.
By the way compared to our 7 pounders your cats look huge.
Any ideas on how to prevent litter from being tracked all over the place.
The brand of kitty litter REALLY makes a difference in both tracking and odor!!! I really can't stand the smell of bad litter but don't have a problem at all with the one we use now! Also use an auto floor mat (the small carpet ones for the back seat...) in front of the covered box. Love the ideas y'all have come up with! Since Ki walks on her leash and we have the stroller, we hadn't even thought of other methods of "freedom"
Keep the solutions coming! This is really interesting!
Edee
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Still Working on a Litter Box Solution
I really can't stand the smell of bad litter but don't have a problem at all with the one we use now!
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