The camping season is almost upon us, but what do you do about your pets when you want to get away for the weekend?

We recently listed some great camp and touring sites in England that cater for pets – but while taking your dog away with you may seem straight forward, there are a few things you should think about before whisking away your whiskered friend.

If you are hoping to take your cat on a caravanning trip, the same rules apply – there’s just less canvas to be clawed….

1) Use your common sense!

If your cat gets car sick, is prone to running away and hates being put in his/her travelling cage, then camping is probably not for them!

It is also worth bearing in mind that if you are staying at a campsite known for being pet friendly, then there are likely to be dogs around. If you cat is not used to them, this can be upsetting for your cat.

It can be an amazing thing to share your holiday with your feline family, but if they are going to hate it or, worse, run away then it is best to leave them at home with a trusted minder.

2) Pack lots of treats and familiar faces

While cats aren’t as malleable as dogs are for the hint of a treat, it’s worth having a decent back-up of your cat’s favourite snacks to hand.

Also make sure to line their travel box with a familiar smelling blanket and toy, while your cat may turn their nose up at them initially, they will secretly be grateful for recognising something in an environment that’s unfamiliar.

Not quite as cute, but do also invest in a disposable litter tray.

3) Don’t forget your cat’s first aid kit

Sometimes accidents happen, so it is important to make sure you have at least a basic first aid kit on hand for your cat in case something happens and there isn’t a vet for miles.

Typically it should include bandaging equipment, tweezers, a blanket and antiseptic wipes or lotion.

4) Get your cat used to being on a lead ….

…. they going to be spending a lot of time wearing one! If you keep returning to the same camping spot with your cat then they should eventually get used to the area, but until then you’re going to want them where you can see them.

They will need a harness and a lead that you can attach to a tie out stake/ anchor or a washing line strung up between two trees or posts.

5) Do a full test run

If you are planning on heading far from home for more than a night it is worth doing a full test run. Pop your cat in its harness and into its travel box, drive around for a bit and then take it out to explore some new surroundings on its lead. If at any point it seems overly disturbed or defensive, then you may want to rethink the actual trip.

Remember to see how much your cat likes being in a tent, especially if you are planning on leaving it in there and you want to guarantee when you return your tent is more than shreds of material. In this instance, it’s much easier to go caravanning with a cat!

7) And never ever forget this ....

Whether you chose to put your cat on a lead, keep it in a pen, or let it roam free make sure it has access to shade and water, and never ever keep it cooped up in your car, caravan or tent for too long.

Good luck and happy camping!

The post we've linked to HERE is a little old and but it’s a great photo diary of a couple who took their cat camping – we like it :)

If any of you have been on successful camping or caravanning trips with your cat, we’d love to hear from you – Tweet us @sail_trail