If you have a cat then a carrier is a MUST (Cat Carriers in general)

Member Name: cathodbach

Product:	Cat Carriers in general
Date:	04/11/05 (1376 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The only safe way to transport your cat

Disadvantages: Bulky to store

There are many types of cat carrier on the market; some are not worth buying and others are a MUST.

The cardboard type are a waste of time. First of all, they are not strong enough. If they were to collapse on a trip to the vet and your cat ran into the road . . . . well, it doesn't bear thinking about. Also, what if your cat were to pee on the journey - resulting in one soggy, smelly carrier with the bottom falling out. No, not a good idea!

The basketwork carriers tend to be on the small side. Imagine your cat having to be cooped up in one of these for a long journey - no room to "swing a cat" - excuse the pun!

The new shopping bag type, again, are small, and do not have much of a window for your cat to look out. Look at it with a cat's eyes - how would YOU like to be shut up in a dark bag for a few hours, being bumped around in a car, not being able to see where you are going? No thanks!

The solid plastic type tend to vary in quality. I once had one which slotted together with a slot-in perspex door at the front. The trouble with this type is that they tend to be fragile; one little crack in the plastic and the whole thing falls apart. Not a very good investment.

In my opinion, the best type of all is the wire mesh type. True, they are ugly, but then you don't buy it to sit on your sideboard, do you? The mesh type are top loading - can be a bit difficult if you have a playful cat who likes to jump straight out again = but once in there, your cat is fastened in securely, usually by a metal bar fitting right across the top, so there is no escape. Advantages are that the cat can see all around. In the bottom there is usually a foamy type pad; put an old cloth or newspaper on this, in case the cat pees during the journey! A word of advice: buy the biggest size you can! The bigger it is, the more comfortable for Puss and the more he will enjoy his journey,even if it is to the vet. The larger size takes 2 cats and if they travel together they tend to comfort each other on the journey. One slight disadvantage; the handle is in the middle of the lid which fastens at one end. It's a good idea to fix a stretch strap right across the top, so that the weight of the cats does not create a huge gap between lid and cage - slight possibility of escape here! These carriers are not the most expensive but are certainly the most practical. I've had mine now for 20 years and it is as good as new!

Summary: The best type of cat carrier; long lasting and practical.