Cat Carriers
To Keep Your Happy Cat comfy and safe?

Cat Carriers come in all shapes and sizes and are designed for different uses. Some are designed to keep your cat safe during a long journey; others are designed to meet special safety and humane laws for travel in aircraft or ship. Then again some are designed for a quick trip to the vets and back. Which one you need very much depends on the type of journey your cat will be taking.

For most of us, we will only be making short trips to the vet or to the local cattery. The choices of carrier in these instances are very varied and range from simple plastic boxes or soft foldable bags, to fashionable designer ranges..

For those who will be using a cat carrier or cage more often, say for cat shows or long journeys, the choices are less varied. However you will have to consider all the options available to be able to find the right one that will keep your cat comfortable and safe for long periods of time.

Cat Carriers - Kitten in Carrier tyrian 123 flickr

Types of cat carrier

Little Mo only ever takes short trips to the vet now and again and so we have bought her a plastic carrier with a removable top, which we find the easiest to get her in and out of. We always put newspaper on the bottom of it, in case of any accidents and we also put one of her old cushions in as well so that she feels at home.

However there are many different types on the market now, here are just a few we have come across:

Plastic cat carriers – Lightweight and practical for those quick trips to the vet. Some of them even have special seat belt attachments so you can secure them in your car.

Holdalls – These come in all shapes, colours and designs. Easy to store afterwards as they can be folded up, and are also very stylish. They are also easy to wash as they can be popped into the washing machine. They are also easier to carry, as they come with a shoulder strap. Even though they look more like a handbag than a cat carrier they are still designed with your cat in mind and allow your pet to see out and sit in comfort.

I think if I lived in a busy city centre these would be my first choice as I would be able to carry Little Mo close to my body under my arm, which would be great when standing in crowds.

Sleeping Pods – We wanted to mention this type of carrier, as we know that many cats associate their carrier with a nasty trip to the vets. However these sleeping pod carriers can be used as very comfortable beds on a regular basis. This enables your cat to get used to them so that when they do have to take a trip, it is not so traumatic. Anyway we think they are a great idea, especially for very nervous cats.

Cat Cages – If you show your cat, you will need to have a cat cage where your cat can sit all day at the event. Space is essential not only for the cat’s comfort but also for easy viewing. These particular cages come with little hammocks for the cat to sit in and a nylon easy clean cover for that little bit of privacy and style.

Safety travel tips.

We though it might be helpful to give you a short checklist of things to remember when travelling with your cat, as the safety of cats is of great importance to us all.

Always make sure that you secure your carrier when travelling in your car.

Always place the cat carrier on the seat and never on the floor, as the noise and vibration will be stressful for your cat.

Never let your cat travel loose in the car. If you have to break suddenly your cat could be thrown out of the windscreen or act like a missile and injure you.

Never put your cat in the boot/trunk of your car. It will be dark, hot and may even suffocate your cat.

During long journeys make regular stops to give your cat breaks and have some food and water. It will also reduce the stress if they can have a quick tickle once in a while.