Is it safe to take cat to the vet on my bike?!

gingin_2

My car is currently out of action and I am doing fine on my bike. Our cat, Ted, needs his annual injections. It looks like I can get the cat carrier both in the basket on the front and secured on the back. I am thinking basket at the front is best. Has anyone done this before? Am I okay to do it? I see people cycling around with dogs in the basket but not (surprisingly enough) cats in cat carriers! He is a indoor cat too and I have only taken him to the vets once before, for his booster.

We live in a very bike friendly city with a cycle route most of the way there but I will have to go through the centre of town. I could get the bus but have to walk a fair way from our house to the bus stop and Ted is a big boy, otherwise I will get a taxi but would perfer bike if I can do it.

Thanks

tandraig

well - I havent seen anything in the highway code to say you cant do it - but if he is a big cat and is likely to move around the carrier - how safe will you be? are you sure you can control the bike if he freaks out cos he isnt used to being biked?
er - when i first read the post i thought you meant motorbike and was going to say where are you going to get the helmet and leathers for him from?? lol sorry!
but the safety aspect worries me - but if you have a practice and see how the cat responds - its up to you hun!

gingin_2

Yeah, I knew it was a weird question :d . The title does conjure up a number of visions!

I don't think he is likely to freak out, he is very subdued. But just wanted to run it by others to see if it is fair/safe and, like you say, within the highway code.

thanks

Fire_Fox

if your cat is indoor how is he going to feel about the general traffic and people noise in the centre of town? Even if he doesn't appear to freak out I wold have thought he get pretty scared.

cyberbob

No - Get a taxi

gingin_2

cyberbob wrote: »

No - Get a taxi

Yes. I think now I probably will.

Dr.Shoe_2

Start off by pushing the bike and then if he seems not to be bothered you can try riding it. I'd probably push the bike along the pavements in busy areas.

Claire_Bear

Is there no friends/relatives nearby who you can ask to give you a lift? Even if you pay a few quid for petrol or give them a favour in return?

butler_helen

I walk with my cat in a carrier- it's a 15 minute walk and he doesn't mind, seems none the worse when we get there. I would also consider cycling the quiet bits and walking the other bits. Although he's a massive tom with a massive carrier so I don't think we'd get him into a bike basket!

gingin_2

Claire_Bear wrote: »

Is there no friends/relatives nearby who you can ask to give you a lift? Even if you pay a few quid for petrol or give them a favour in return?

Maybe, it's just it's right by my children's school, so I can send them in and then move on to the vets. it's not really a big issue. It was more something I was wondering out of curiosity as well as thinking of doing.

I think if he was an outdoor cat I would probably do it, but he is a big softie indoor cat and I don't really want to upset him. That's why I needed and am grateful for an MSE perspective.

I might just leave it a month, until I am car mobile again and do it that way.

Thank for the opinions

lowis

no, i wouldn't risk it.