Of the over 11 million households that own an RV, approximately 3.7 million also own a cat. Potentially, that’s a lot of traveling cats! Here are some interesting cat facts to consider:
Cats use their whiskers to detect whether or not they can fit through an opening. If the opening is greater than the width of their head, you can be assured a cat may attempt to enter potentially undesirable spaces. Whether it wishes to get behind the sofa in your RV or beneath your retracted slide outs, be vigilant to your cat’s explorations. They may attempt to crawl through cabinet openings that can lead further into inaccessible spaces within your coach. You may have to block those openings. Hint: Always check for your cat’s location before opening a slide to avoid injuring your pet.
Cats can jump six times the length of their body. That puts most counters, tabletops and open cabinets in your coach within their range! For short distances, cats can run faster than Olympian Usain Bolt. So watch that open RV door, or your pal will get outside into unfamiliar territory.
Cats can see in seven times less light than humans. That explains why our cat loves to climb behind the front curtains at night to gaze out through the windshield! Their hearing is their strongest sense at 64 kHz versus ours at 20 kHz. Their favorite activity is sleeping, which they will do for 70% of their lives. Make sure your cat has a safe and comfy place to sleep.
Cats live a long time, so treat them well. The average cat lives for fifteen years. Converted to human years, in year one they age the equivalent of 15 human years; in year two add 10 more years, then add four years for every year thereafter. That means the average cat’s life is equivalent to 77 human years. When you have a cat, you’re in it for the long haul—treat them well!
Cats like to be occupied. You’ve seen cats at play—many cats live for the hunt, whether it’s a ball of yarn or feathers on the end of a stick. Keep them stimulated to stay happy.
Final cat fact: Cats have five toes on their front feet and four toes on their back feet. More toes than that and they are called “polydactyl” cats. Ernest Hemingway, the famous American author, loved polydactyl cats. Forty-five cats still call his former residence in Key West Florida, their home. If you decide to visit Key West to see them, you will find Boyd’s Key West Campground a great spot to stay. Your cat will thank you for the gorgeous tropical views!
From along the road,
Chris