Cat Carriers: Don’t Leave Home Without Them!

As our veterinary tech lay in the hospital bed, she recounted a horrifying accident caused by her cat! On a winters’ day, she was rounding the corner of the road between the clinic and home, with “Trainwreck” her cat nicely perched on her shoulder. Ahead in the road, the reflections indicated ice and she slowly applied the brakes. Trainwreck felt the car start to wobble and destabilize and jumped down in between steering wheel and driver. After the turn, our tech relaxed and petted Trainwreck soothingly. Nice to get through that patch! Unfortunately, not a minute later Trainwreck decided to jump down into the gap around her feet. A truck pulled out and when she tried to hit the brake, the cat unfortunately was in the way under the pedal! Off the road they went, flipping over twice in the ditch and when our helper woke up, the windows were all broken, she was trapped upside-down in her car, bleeding, with no cat in sight. Her cat was picked up a day later and placed in the humane shelter, where family members later found Trainwreck. They were reunited after she recovered from her injuries and went home from hospital.

Sound like an adventure show segment? Unfortunately, this is a true story and not the only instance where a cat loose in a vehicle has wreaked havoc. Cats with no restraint during travel have been known to run off, hide under something in the transport vehicle and not make a peep, leading to a long and frustrating search, or be hurt when they are suddenly on the loose in parking lots or on busy roads.

Types of Carriers:

Soft Carriers

These are made of heavy fabric and are closed by zippers. Much like a large purse, they provide a soft warm environment for the cat. An absorbent towel is placed under the cat to take up any “accidents”. Screened air vents are present on the sides of the carrier. These let you peek in to check up on your little friend.

Hard Carriers

For transport in cargo, a hard walled carrier is required. Airline regulations vary considerably. Make sure you get specifications from your carrier. Labels are required on the outside, and leashes should not be left dangling from the outside during transport. Size of the carrier may be stipulated. Some airlines allow a small carrier as a carry-on. Vent slots for air circulation are present over the carrier, and allow good air circulation and a view inside. Lots of soft towels placed inside will help to make this a comfortable ride. Towels will also absorb any voided urine.

A really nice feature of some of the carriers is the ability to take the lid off to load and unload the cat. Many a cat has got inside and not be really keen to come out again. Taking the lid off saves fingers if Kitty gets fractious with the stress of transport.

You would really rather not reach in there if a hissin-spittin machine awaits you!

Threaded nuts and bolts or sliding or lifting plastic closures are re-attached when it comes time to transport again, or the lid can be left off during loading so uncooperative Kitty does not have to be squeezed into the small door.

Some carriers will collapse for easy storage--see the picture showing the hinged sides below.

Home fashioned and cardboard carriers

These can serve very nicely for transport in the short term. Cardboard carriers are often available at the veterinary clinic for those who have not yet bought permanent carriers. Some tough cats can chew through these though, after they get a tooth or two through those air holes! As well, once soiling occurs, the cardboard carrier should be disposed of since the urine will soak into the cardboard, weakening it, and leading to resident odors and bacteria.

A pair of laundry tubs constructed from sturdy wicker, and lashed together with bungee cords, and lined with absorbent towels works very well indeed in a pinch. Large breed cats and those with a big waistline may need a larger enclosure such as this!

In an emergency, a sturdy pillow case can help to keep a feral cat restrained for brief transport as a last choice method. Make sure the opening is secured, and that the cat is not left inside for long periods. An alternative is an ACES EvacSak, which is a bag like a pillowcase, with looser mesh, and a secure closure. If available, this would be preferable. These emergency "carriers" are sometimes able to prevent injury when a feral cat is caught, or a wild child is not at all interested in your $100.00 carrier!

Safe travels!

Disclaimer: This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If you require any veterinary related advice, contact your veterinarian promptly. Information at Cathealth.com is exclusively of a general reference nature. Do not disregard veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of accessing information at this site.

See these links for related topics:

Equipment for Cats Walk the Cat Going to the Vets Travel with Cats