Yes, I know. Eight cats in a medium-size bus is a lot. I’ve heard it, I’ve thought it myself, and somehow we manage. After nine years of living in a tiny home on wheels, I can tell you that Olive has never once felt empty. Today I want to introduce you to the crew who make sure of that, and show you what a typical evening looks like around here.

Meet the Family

It all started with Kerbie, my very first cat, who joined me in February 2022. Buttercup came into our lives in June 2024. Kerbie became mom and Buttercup became dad. Their first litter gave us two calico tabbies, Shadow and Sunshine. Their second litter was a whole batch of orange kittens: Pumpkin, Goldie, Jasper, and Honey.

That’s eight cats, and every one of them has claimed a piece of this bus as home.

The Chaos Is Real

Let’s be honest about what living in a small space with this many cats looks like. When they decide it’s time to play tag, they run from one end of the bus to the other, over everything, with total commitment. Most of the time I just let them be. It’s their home too.

Then there’s the zoomies in the middle of my sleep. Those moments are not fun. I’m not going to pretend otherwise. When you live in a tiny home, there’s no “other room” to escape to, and a cat stampede at the wrong hour will wake you right up.

My Evening Reset

My evenings are all about resetting the bus. First, I make sure everything that could go flying while we’re on the road is secured. When your house moves, nothing gets to just sit wherever it likes.

Next comes the part everyone has been waiting for: dinner. I feed all eight cats before I do anything else on my cleaning list.

Then I vacuum, and I vacuum a lot. With this many cats, fur shows up everywhere throughout the day. Staying on top of it keeps the air cleaner and helps keep my allergies under control. After that, I clean the litter box. It’s not glamorous, but it’s part of keeping eight cats and one human comfortable in a small space.

The Big News: A New Litter Box!

I have to share this because I’m so excited: I finally bought the cats a Pet Pivot litter box! I just need to pick it up from my aunt’s house, since they wouldn’t deliver it to a PO box. Sadly, that’s one of the little quirks of life on the road. Even a simple delivery takes a plan.

It might sound like a small thing, but when you live in a tiny home, small upgrades feel huge.

Why I Wouldn’t Trade It

Small-space living teaches you to make peace with imperfect moments. Life in motion isn’t always calm or tidy. Sometimes it’s messy and loud and a little exhausting, and it’s still full of things to be thankful for.

I’m grateful that this little family has a home that moves with us. I’m grateful for the way a bus full of cats keeps me present, and for the reminder that a home isn’t about square footage. It’s about who’s inside it.

If you’re in a season where things feel crowded or chaotic, try this: pick one small, ordinary moment from today and say thank you for it, even if it’s the same moment that also drove you a little crazy. Both things can be true.

For me, tonight, it’s eight cats, one very full bus, and a new litter box on the way.

Your Turn

Do you share your space with a pack of pets, or have you ever lived somewhere small? I’d love to hear your stories (and your best fur-control tips) in the comments below.

If my little corner of the internet makes you smile, you can buy me a coffee to support Olive, the cats, and the journey.