Meet Rocket: the van that started it all!
There’s a particular kind of feeling you get when you open the back doors of a van for the first time and think: yes, this is it. Not because it’s perfect. Not because it’s finished. But because somewhere underneath the mismatched carpet and the slightly wonky wash basin, you can already see what it could become.
That’s how it was with Rocket.
Follow along to see my van conversion with cats and all that went into creating Rocket the way he is today.
How Rocket Came Into My Life
I found Rocket in 2024. A white Opel Vivaro, not the most glamorous van on the market, and honestly, that wasn’t really the point. The previous owner had already done some of the groundwork: Armaflex insulation lining the walls and ceiling, a proper floor over the Armaflex, with some carpet on top. Rust-proofing in all the right crevices (let me tell you, the wax is still everywhere). There was even a bed and a basic wash basin already in place.
It was within my budget, it had a head start, and the moment I saw it I just knew. Sometimes that’s all the reason you need.
I named him Rocket. Because every adventure needs a good name.
Ripping It Apart (Lovingly)
Here’s the thing about inheriting someone else’s van build: their layout made complete sense for them. For me? Not so much.
The bed was the first thing to go. I didn’t hate the idea of it, just the execution, the way it was built didn’t work for what I had in mind. So out it came, and I started from scratch.
What followed was one of those projects that’s equal parts satisfying and quietly maddening. I had a vision. I just had to figure out how to make reality match it.
The New Layout: IKEA to the Rescue
If you’ve ever wondered whether you can build a functional campervan kitchen out of IKEA Kallax shelves, the answer is: absolutely yes, and I will die on this hill.
Two Kallax units now form the backbone of Rocket’s kitchen area. The lower one I actually cut into — properly cut, with tools, with commitment — to recess the wash basin into it. It fits perfectly and looks like it was always meant to be there. I still feel a small glow of pride every time I use it.
On the other side of the van, I built out a pull-out bed that creates an L-shape when extended. This was the detail I was most deliberate about, because the L-shape isn’t just for sleeping — it means Mina and Loui’s litter box tucks neatly underneath and completely out of the way. Travelling with two cats is an exercise in creative spatial planning, and this was one of my better solutions.
There’s also a side storage unit with a collapsible table that folds out when we need it and disappears when we don’t. Space in a van is a puzzle, and every centimetre has to earn its place.
The Slat Situation
I want to talk about the bed slats, because nobody warns you about the bed slats.
In German they’re called a Lattenrost , that sprung wooden base that goes under a mattress. At home in your house, you just slot them in and forget about them. In a van, you have to cut them to fit, position them carefully, and secure every single one in place so they don’t rattle, shift, or turn into projectiles on a mountain road. Even if you buy them from Ikea, ready made, to save time and money… it still takes ages!
It took ages. More time than I care to admit. But the result is a bed that’s genuinely comfortable, that doesn’t creak, and that I built with my own hands, which counts for something.
The New Floor (Three Weeks Ago)
The original carpet had to go. It was dark, it was tired, and it made the inside of Rocket feel much smaller than it actually is. Plus, it was a b**** to clean, can you imagine all the litter that was caught in there? A nightmare!
Three weeks ago I replaced it with vinyl flooring, and the difference is remarkable. The whole van feels brighter, cleaner, more like a real living space. I’ll be adding photos here so you can see the before and after — because words really don’t do it justice.
Mina and Loui’s Verdict
I’d been a little nervous about how the cats would take to Rocket. I needn’t have been.
Both Mina and Loui were curious from the very first moment — noses twitching, tails up, exploring every corner with the confidence of cats who have decided something is theirs. They love being in the van, especially when the back doors are open and they can wander in and out on their own terms.
Which, if you know cats, is basically the highest possible endorsement.
What’s Next
Rocket isn’t finished, I’m not sure a van ever really is. There’s always something to tweak, something to improve, something you only realise you need after your third trip.
But right now? He’s home. He’s ours. And there are a lot of roads still ahead of us.
If you want to follow along — the adventures, the cat chaos, the ongoing van tweaks — you can find us on Instagram (@mina_and_loui). And if you’ve got questions about the build, the layout, or travelling with cats, drop them in the comments below. I love talking about this stuff.
Next up: how we actually travel Europe with two Neva Masquerade cats, and what that looks like day to day.
