How Can I Let My Cat Outside Safely When Camping?
Cats are amazing, and it can be really fun to bring them camping, especially if you have an RV. When we first started full timing in our RV we had two cats that traveled with us.
They mostly stayed inside our large travel trailer but we would sometimes let them spend time outside in a large folding cat tent/kennel or take them on walks with a cat harness.
Related Product: Safely bring your cat on your adventures in a Cat Backpack Carrier/Bubble Bag (click to view on Amazon).
We used a soft folding kennel with open sides like the Sport Pet Portable Cat Kennel (click to view on Amazon), but there are tons of options out there.
Some cats are more ok with being in cat tents or kennels than others. If your cats don’t really try and break out, a simple cat tent will be a great option.
If you have a little escape artist, which many cats are. You may want to go with something a little more secure like a large metal kennel or a cat cage.
I’ve found some fantastic portable options for campers and travelers who want to be able to let their cats spend time outside safely.
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These cat tents and folding kennels can be used outside or inside, and many have different size options depending on your needs.
They don’t have to be just for campers either. You can use them at home or when traveling as well.
Most Portable
Best Overall
Best Metal Cat Pen
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Outdoor Cat Tent Reviews
1. Fooubaby Pop Up Cat Tent
The Fooubaby is a very basic pop up cat tent. It uses a steel wire lined fabric mesh and a fabric bottom to make a simple enclosure your cat can chill in while outside.
This is a great outdoor cat tent for calm cats, but I don’t recommend it for more active cats that might try and claw their way out.
This is the most basic and lightweight option for a cat tent. It’s also the most affordable and quickest to set up and take down.
The dome shaped tent is 47.25 inches long, 24.8 inches wide, and 19.7 inches tall.
It’s big enough for one cat but could possibly fit two if they are small.
The mesh is a little more heavy duty than what you see on a normal tent. There are small steel wires in the net to help prevent cats from being able to tear through it but it’s not completely claw and teeth proof.
If your cat really wants to get out they probably will be able to.
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Always watch your cat closely when they are in this cat tent, especially if you are camping.
The floor is made of simple polyester fabric much like what’s in the bottom of a regular tent. There is no shade cover for this tent either but it lets in lots of air which is good for animals.
There’s a zippered opening on one side.
To set up simply take it out of the carry case and let it go. It will instantly pop open and be ready to go.
To put it away you are going to have to learn how to fold it right but once you get the hang of it putting it away will be fast.
I recommend staking down this cat tent as well since it’s so lightweight.
The Fooubaby Pop Up Cat Tent is a great way to let your cat sit outside with you. This is only for calmer cats though and I wouldn’t leave my cat in this unattended.
PROS
- Fast Set Up
- Lightweight
- Affordable
- Very Portable
CONS
- No Shade
- Small Size
- Can Be Clawed Through
- Cat May Be Able To Move It If Not Staked Down
2. Outback Jack Portable Outdoor Cat Tent
The Outback Jack portable outdoor cat tent and tunnel is a great way to let your cat get a little exercise when you’re camping or traveling.
This is a cat tent and tunnel combo. You can use either of them separately or both together.
The tent part measures 74 inches long, 63 inches wide, and 36 inches tall. Just the tent alone is big enough for a few cats.
The tunnel is 62 inches long and 17 inches in diameter.
When combined together you get a lot of space for your cats to wander around.
The tent and tunnel have wire frames but they are mostly made of steel lined mesh. The mesh makes up all of the tent and tunnel, even the bottom.
There is no shade cover.
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There are bags included you can fill with rocks or sand to weigh down the tent and tunnel to stop them from blowing away in the wind or moving when your cat starts to run around.
The tent part folds up and fits inside a carry case that’s no bigger than your standard folding camping chair case. The tunnel folds into a flat disk that is also small and very lightweight.
Together everything weighs around 7 lbs.
The Outback Jack Portable Outdoor Cat Tent is a great way to give one or a few cats a little more space to move around outside when you’re camping.
The material used is still the standard pet mesh that is more durable than regular tent mesh but it’s still not 100% claw or teeth proof.
This is not for super active cats or cats who aren’t used to being inside kennels. Always keep an eye on your cats when they are in this cat tent and tunnel when outside.
PROS
- Lightweight
- Very Portable
- Tons Of Space
CONS
- No Shade
- Can Be Clawed Through
- Takes Time To Set Up
3. Aivituvin Foldable Pet Playpen
The Aivituvin foldable pet playpen is the perfect combination of size and portability.
The extra large size which is the one I would use for cats measures 55 inches in diameter and is 30 inches tall. There are smaller versions available but for cats, the large size is going to make them the most comfortable.
Instead of being just mesh net, this cat tent uses both thick and durable pet proof mesh and sturdy 600D Oxford cloth.
The floor is cloth which will help keep your cats clean when outside and the roof is mostly cloth for shade.
There are enough mesh windows and openings to allow airflow and let your cats look outside.
There’s a zippered door on the side and the half mesh circle on the roof is also zippered.
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For portability, this cat tent uses 8 panels that fold together to make a flat rectangle that’s 30 inches long and about 23 inches wide.
It weighs around 12 lbs which is pretty lightweight for a pet pen of this size.
On the outside, there is a storage pocket and a water bottle holder.
The Aivituvin Foldable Pet Playpen is perfect for cats that are used to being in kennels and cages. It has a ton of space for them to play around in, shade from the fabric roof, and plenty of mesh windows for air and to see out of.
I still don’t recommend it for more active cats that might try and claw their way out. The mesh is sturdy but a determined cat with sharp claws may still be able to get out.
PROS
- Lightweight
- Very Portable
- Tons Of Space
- Shade
- Cloth Floor
CONS
- Can Be Clawed Through
- Takes Time To Set Up
4. Sport Pet Portable Cat Kennel
The Sport Pet portable soft cat kennel is a smaller option that’s a little more private than the all net cat tents reviewed above.
We had this style of kennel for our cats in our travel trailer. We used it in the back seat of the truck when we traveled and let out cats chill in it outside when we were camping in a calm area.
There are only two mesh panels on two sides. The big side has a panel that can cover the mesh for more privacy.
The small mesh panel on the end is also the zippered door.
This is a fantastic option if your cat wants to be outside but likes to be able to hide. It still lets in a lot of fresh air while shading and protecting your cat.
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It folds down to a flat portable size and is light, weighing only 2.26 lbs.
When open it measures 31.8 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 20 inches tall. It’s enough room for a large cat or two small ones.
The bottom is 100% waterproof and it comes with a fleece liner that’s removable and machine washable.
The Sport Pet Portable Cat Kennel is a fantastic portable cat tent you can use outdoors but I still don’t recommend it for cats that aren’t used to being in pens. They could still get out if they really wanted to.
PROS
- Lightweight
- Very Portable
- Shade
- Cloth Floor
CONS
- Can Be Clawed Through
- Small
5. Amazon Basics 3 Tier Cat Crate
Although metal pet crates and kennels are not as portable, lightweight, or easy to set up as folding cloth cat tents they are the better option for the owners of active cats who would scratch their way out of fabric netting in a second.
The Amazon Basics 3 tier cat crate is big enough for one or two cats to enjoy themselves and it’s completely secure.
The cage part is made with coated steel wire that a cat can’t scratch its way out of.
When open the portable outdoor cat pen measures 35.8 inches long, 22.5 inches wide, and 50.6 inches tall.
It weighs 37.4 lbs.
When folded down it’s only 35.8 inches long, 22.5 inches wide, and 6 inches tall.
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It’s not the most lightweight option but it’s huge and the perfect place for an active cat to safely be outside.
You can also use this indoors or on a balcony or patio.
What’s nice about this option for an outdoor cat tent is you don’t have to worry as much about your cat getting out and they will have a ton of space and they can climb.
There are wheels on the bottom and a large plastic tray to catch anything if you are using the playpen inside.
The Amazon Basics 3 Tier Cat Crate may not be the obvious choice for a camping cat playpen but it’s pretty portable.
It’s heavy but it can fold down to a small size and it does take time to set up but it’s very secure and big enough for even 3 cats.
PROS
- Very Secure
- Large
- Places For Cats To Climb To
CONS
- Heavy
- Long Set Up Time
- No Shade
6. MidWest Homes iCrate
If the 3 tier cat tower seems like a little too much another option for a metal outdoor cat play area is just an extra large kennel.
The MidWest Homes iCrate is a well made folding dog kennel that will work perfectly for letting your cats outside while camping or traveling.
The XL version is 48 inches long, 30 inches wide, and 33 inches tall. It weighs around 40 lbs.
When folded it’s the same length and width but only around 6 inches tall.
The bars are made with coated steel. There’s a divider included if you want a separate area for two cats.
The bottom is a heavy duty plastic tray and there are included wheels you can put on the bottom if you want them.
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There’s one door that’s held in place with two large slide latches.
Your cat shouldn’t be able to get out of this outdoor pen.
It’s big but because of the height, it’s actually pretty fast to set up and take down. The weight is the only downside to portability.
For camping or travel the MidWest Homes iCrate is going to be an awesome way to let your cats spend some time outside.
This isn’t technically a cat tent but I think it’s actually better since your cats won’t be able to easily get out and nothing will be able to get in.
If you want to be able to give your cat some shade and privacy MidWest Homes also makes covers (click to view on Amazon) for their pet crates.
PROS
- Very Secure
- Large
CONS
- Heavy
- No Shade
What To Look For In An Outdoor Cat Tent
Claw Proof
Many portable cat tents use a wire lined fabric mesh that’s lightweight but not entirely claw proof. If a cat really wanted to get out of them they could.
If you have a cat that always tries to get out of carriers or pens a fabric cat tent isn’t going to be the best option.
On the other hand, if you have an anxious cat getting a non-metal carrier or cat tent may help them feel more secure and help them enjoy their time outside more.
Weight
The metal cat play pens are more secure and often bigger than small portable cat tents and they can weigh a lot.
Small portable cat tents don’t weigh very much which means they sometimes can be moved by your cat or be moved by the wind.
Set Up Time
If an outdoor cat tent takes a long time to set up and put away you might end up not using it very much.
If you camp long term a metal playpen you can leave outside the entire time you are camping could be a great way to always have somewhere for your cat to be outside.
Size
Is your outdoor cat tent for one cat to chill in or is it for a few cats to play in?
In this review alone there are all sorts of sizes of outdoor cat tents and playpens. Bigger is usually always better but if you have a chill or elderly cat that doesn’t do much a smaller cat tent might be enough.
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My Pick For Best Outdoor Cat Tent
For my cats, the metal MidWest Homes iCrate (click to view on Amazon) would have been the best option for them to enjoy the outdoors safely while we were camping.
They were extremely active and they didn’t love being inside their cloth and mesh cat tent. They usually tried to get out as quickly as possible. I ended up using a harness and leash more than the cat tent.
If I had been using a metal pet crate I could’ve let them out more without having to worry about them escaping.
We ended up having to rehome our two cats because the travel and camping life just wasn’t for them. But if you have cats that like to travel they are most likely pretty calm and don’t mind being in pens or cat tents.
So for my best overall pick, I choose:
Aivituvin Foldable Pet Playpen
The Aivituvin is my choice for the best outdoor cat tent because it’s large while still offering plenty of shade and privacy for your cats.
Cats like to be outside but they also like to be able to hide when they want.
Because of the cloth walls, this foldable pet playpen offers a place to hide while still being very open and airy.
It’s made very well, is lightweight, and is portable.
For camper or traveler cat owners this is a fantastic way to let your pets enjoy the outdoors with you safely.
Have any questions about outdoor cat tents or camping with cats? Leave a comment below.
