🚐 Van Life Pet Essentials: Must-Haves for RV Living (traveling with Dogs & Cats)
This is our Van Life Pet Essentials Checklist: Must-Haves for RVing With Dogs and Cats! It’s a comprehensive checklist of all our Van Life Must-Have Pet Travel Essentials, Supplies, Accessories, plus the optional upgrades we’ve made to make RV life with cats and dogs more comfortable—for both them and us!
If you didn’t already know, we travel full-time with pets in two different RVs. One is our RV van, a 2012-2013 Pleasure Way Excel TS (built on a Ford Chassis), which we use for traveling with all of our furbabies. The other is our stationary travel trailer, which never moves and is parked long-term in an RV park.
We live in our van with 5 dogs and 1 cat, and yes, it’s totally possible! But it didn’t happen overnight. It took over a year and many van life adventures to figure out exactly what we needed, how to organize it, and how to make space for everyone—including the humans.
Now, we’ve got all the essentials for RV living with dogs and cats, plus some handy upgrades. But keep in mind, we’re always testing out new ideas, trying different accessories, and switching things up to make our pet-friendly RV setup even better. This is actually our third RV van, so trust me when I say: every van and RV setup is different!
🐶 Van Life Pet Travel Essentials (for RV Living with Dogs & Cats)
Here’s a list of all the Van Life Pet Essentials that help us stay organized, comfortable, and sane while traveling with multiple animals on board:
Van Life Pet Travel Essentials:
- Double Decker Stroller
- Dog / Cat Bed – Memory Foam (Walmart) – we actually have two of these 😉
- Dog Bed House (Honeycomb Hut Dog Bed & House)
- Cat Bed (Dogs use too)
- Cat Scratcher (tried a few)
- Dog & Cat Cases
- Pet Slings
- Dog Food & Treats (Bones too)
- Dog & Cat Toys
- No Spill Water Bowl
- Cat (Portable Litter Box, Cat Litter Box Liners, Pretty Litter, Cat Litter Scoop)
Things we keep for the Cat (stored in the RV Van Bathroom) — Because Johnny has to use the bathroom too!
- Cat litter box (travel, portable, folding, zippered with handles
- Cat litter (pretty litter clumping
- Cat litter box liner (Jonny cat liners)
- Cat poop scoop
>> SHOP all our Van Life Essentials in our RV STORE
🛒 Double Decker Stroller
Perfect for walking multiple pets at once or giving our smaller, older, or tired dogs a break from long walks.
🐾 Dog & Cat Beds (Memory Foam from Walmart)
We actually have two of these beds! They’re great for providing supportive sleep and cozy naps while on the road.
🐶 Dog Bed House (Honeycomb Hut Dog Bed & House)
Our dogs love having a cozy nook to hide in. Bonus: it folds up easily for travel!
🐱 Cat Bed (Also Used by Dogs)
Our cat definitely has her own space—but as with everything in RV life, sharing is caring.
😸 Cat Scratcher
We’ve tried a few different ones. A small, vertical scratch post or pad is best for tight van spaces.
👜 Dog & Cat Travel Cases
These are a must-have for vet visits, trips to the groomer, or simply containing a pet while on the move.
🐕🦺 Pet Slings & Carriers
Perfect for smaller pets or those that need a little extra love and attention during hikes or errands.
🍖 Dog Food, Treats & Bones
We keep a stash of their favorites in resealable containers. Don’t forget treats for training and emergencies!
🎾 Dog & Cat Toys
To avoid pet boredom on rainy days or long drives, we bring chew toys, squeaky toys, and puzzle toys.
💦 No Spill Water Bowl
Spill-proof, non-slip, and easy to clean. One of our top RV pet essentials!
>> SHOP all our Van Life Essentials in our RV STORE
🐈 Cat Litter Essentials (Stored in Our RV Van Bathroom)
Since we also travel with a cat, here are our cat care essentials, most of which we store in the RV van bathroom—a setup that works well for both our kitty and our humans (especially Johnny!).
🧳 Portable, Folding Litter Box (Zippered with Handles)
Easy to pack up when we’re driving and just as easy to set back up when parked. >> Check out the Cat litter box (travel, portable, folding, zippered with handles we found!
🌸 Pretty Litter (Clumping)
Lightweight and odor-controlling—perfect for small RV spaces!
🛡 Jonny Cat Litter Box Liners
They help make cleanup way easier and keep the box cleaner longer. >> Buy the Cat litter box liner (Jonny cat liners) we use
💩 Cat Poop Scoop
Don’t hit the road without one. We use a compact scoop that stores easily in a bathroom cabinet.
🛍️ Shop Our RV Pet Essentials
- 🎥 >> TAKE A TOUR of My RV Van and see all the items mentioned above here ⬇️
- 💡 >> SHOP all our Van Life Essentials in our RV STORE
Final Thoughts: Living the RV Life with Pets
Van life with dogs and cats takes planning and patience—but it’s totally worth it. Whether you’re full-time RVing, part-time traveling, or just planning your first pet-friendly road trip, I hope this list of Van Life Essentials for Traveling with Dogs and Cats helps make your adventures easier, safer, and more enjoyable.
>> SHOP all our Van Life Essentials in our RV STORE
💬 Have a must-have item that makes RV living with pets easier? Leave a comment and let me know!
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>> DOWNLOAD: My RV Essentials Checklist for all of these Must-Haves and More!
Related:
- RVing With Dogs: Must Have Gear
- RVing With Cats: Must Have Essentials
- Tips for RVing with Cats vs Tips for RVing with Dogs
- RVing With Pets Guide: Tips + Must-Have Gear (Dogs & Cats)
>> Be sure to FOLLOW our Animals = The dogs @BirdiesDoghouse and Johnny our Cat via @CattitudeChaos as they each have their own pet blogs!
