We’re often asked; “What is the best type of carrier for my cat?” It’s a hard question to answer – you wouldn’t believe the number of different types of cat carrier there are, and I think we’ve seen them all.
Wicker baskets
These are made of woven wicker with metal grilles on hinges. These are not easy to clean and your cat might decide to sharpen its claws on the wicker. They creak… nervous cats might not appreciate the noise at first.
Hard case carriers
Available in various sizes. This is a hard plastic shell carrier with a metal grill at the front. The top half can be detached from the bottom to make it easier to clean and dry off. Some models also have metal grills set into the top that can be opened to retrieve the cat from above.
Metal cage carriers
These are cages made of a coated metal grill with a slide-out plastic tray for the cat to sit on. If your cat is reluctant to leave the basket at the vet, you can slide out the tray with the cat sitting on it (but be quick to remove the cage from the table before the cat walks back into it).
Soft carriers
Several designs from a box-shape to a backpack, but all are basically padded cloth walls set around a metal frame with mesh inserts for airflow. The simplest has a zippered panel at the front as a secure exit/entry point though most have entry/exit panels both at the front and on top. The most elaborate have zip-up meshed extensions on each side, so that the carrier can be turned into a small nylon pen on very long trips.
Which carrier is best?
Which kind of carrier will be the best for you depends on what your cat prefers and what kind of travelling you’re planning. Some cats love being able to see out in any direction, while others just want to hide. It’s hard to judge what kind of cat you have until you put them into different kinds of carrier and see their reaction to it. Soft carriers usually have a shoulder strap for ease of carrying and may fold down flat for storage between journeys. They are fine for trips where there’s no luggage in the car that might fall onto and distort the carrier, though hard carriers give the cat inside a guaranteed space around them and are easier to clean.
Any carrier you choose has to be easy to clean because (you know this) there’ll come a time when you’ll be driving your cat somewhere and there will be that distinctive smell wafting around the inside of the vehicle that means that the cat has peed, pooped or vomited. If that happens, please don’t let your cat out of the carrier while you clean up the mess. They will not go back in, and they will be quick enough to escape as soon as you open the car door. We’ll clean out the carrier when your cat is safely in the pen. We’re used to it!
Important general rules
Even if you have two cats who get on really well together, get one carrier for each cat and carry them separately at all times. It’s stressful for a cat to be transported and even the most placid cat could turn on a companion when they’re trapped together in a small space.
Whichever kind of carrier you get, consider the size your cat may grow to as an adult. A carrier should be at least one and a half times the size of the cat, allowing enough room to stand up comfortably and turn around. Pad the base with an old towel – easy to clean, soft to sit on and with the scent of home. I’ve written in an earlier blog about getting your cat used to being put into a carrier and driven somewhere from an early age… see ‘Hide and Seek’ to refresh your memory.
After you leave your house, keep the carrier closed until you’re safely inside the vets or the cattery. However much you might be tempted to let your cat out within the secure confines of your car, please don’t. A cat’s natural instinct is to run away from stressful situations, and he or she will bolt as soon as they see the faintest chance of getting away. Your cat sees that carrier as a small piece of his territory, and however much he grouses during the journey he’ll be happier staying there during the journey.
