Cat Box for Travel

Alcmene

Hi all

I wonder if anyone could advise!

I have 3 cats.

I need to replace one of my cat boxes this month. I always have 3 as each cat has his own box.

I foresee that possibly sometime next year I will be travelling (air) with the cats. It seems money saving to buy a box now that would be suitable for this.

There is so much choice, any got any recommendations?

chez22

I have one of these http://www.netpetshop.co.uk/p-27472-hagen-catit-design-pet-cargo-cabrio-cat-carrier-pink.aspx it meets airline regulations and I really like the fact it is top opening, so much easier to get a cat in that doesn't want to.

Alcmene

ohh that is very funky thanks!

I have heard some people use soft ones.

rising_from_the_ashes

I've never travelled mine by air but I think I'd be a bit worried about a soft one in case it got bashed by the baggage handlers.

Alcmene

Ohh if I used a soft one it would be to carry-on with me! I think some airline let you take one animal on board with you and it works out a lot cheaper. Not a cheap trip when there's 3 of them!!!

juliebunny

Are you moving overseas? If you are well done for keeping your pets and not fobbing them off onto a rescue shelter.
:T

Alcmene

juliebunny wrote: »

Are you moving overseas? If you are well done for keeping your pets and not fobbing them off onto a rescue shelter.
:T

Hi Julie

At some stage in the future yes. As I need new carriers I thought I may as well get suitable ones now so I don't need to buy them again.

WHY oh WHY would I leave them in a shelter. They are my responsibility and when I decided to make them my family, I did so for life! It saddens me how people 'change their minds' about pets when they are no longer convenient.

bouncydog1

Rules on carriage of animals on planes are published on the airlines websites. There are also specialist handlers that can arrange all of the transportation for you - my friend has relocated to Dubai and then back to UK, taking her pets with her each time.

Depending on where you are travelling to, rather than trying to do things cheaply, you might be better to use a specialist handler so that all of the animals can travel together. Transporting animals by plane is not something to take lightly as they can get very stressed. Some airlines will also only take one animal on a flight in total and will have very rigid rules about the transportation - it is not usually just a case of carry them on as hand baggage.

If you are moving to Europe then boat and car might be worth investigating further.

[Deleted User]

Hi we emigrated some time ago with two cats (and later on came back again).

We always used this type of case, but without the mesh on the sides, but with the front and top doors. We made sure that they were study and rigid in case they got banged in the hold. Also, having the door on the front means that you can stand the carry case on its end and put the cat in this way. There is then no sides for the cat to grip when trying to get them in.

http://www.dabners.co.uk/product-6166-ferplast-atlas-vision-10-cat-carrier.html


Just some other things we found out that might be useful. You will need to check as this info may be out of date :

- Most ferries will not carry animals so you will probably have to fly.

-Each airline is different. Before you fly check that the airplane they are booked on has a pressurised hold. My husband was booked to fly and luckily we rang the night before as the airline didn't really seem to know what to do with the cats. It was lucky that we checked as they had booked my husband and the cats on to a plane with a non-pressurised hold! We had to swap flights and airports (an extra two hours drive away). They tried to charge us more money too, but I refused as it was their fault not ours.

-Some airlines will allow one animal on board. This still means that they two other cats will have to go into the hold.

-When you book the flights have the travel boxes with you are they usually ask for the measurements.

- Line each carry case with lots of newspaper in case the cat needs to go to the toilet. We also lined the bottom with an old towel.

- Most airlines will insist on one carry case per animal.

- When we checked in we had to go to a different room for unusual items (no idea what is was called). We had to take each cat out of its carry case so that the cases could be put through an x-ray machine. Be prepared to get scratched to high heaven as you cling on to the cat.

- Check the injections needed (rabies) as there are limits on the time the cats can stay in the country after they have had their jabs. Also, check what you need at the country to which you are travelling as they may be stricter and you may need to show proof at customs of their injections.

- Make sure with your vet that they are OK to travel as it can be stressful for them.

Hope this helps.

amszephyr

A second vote for the Hagen Catit carrier: 4 of the 7 cats in my extended family have these and they're brilliant. My boy cat (who's rapidly growing into a giant) is very comfy on regular drives from Berkshire to Suffolk and back and you slip the seatbelt through the top handle for safety in the car. I also flip down the 'food hatch' (and remove the bowls) so he can stretch out his front paws through the front 'windows' - there's no danger of him getting out and it means he isn't at all cramped.
Access is either through a door on the front or by opening up the top, so it's very flexible. It also has integral food/snack dishes and a shoulder strap, which I find comes in handy when carrying 2 cats' carriers at once. I got all of ours (purple/grey & orange/white ones) when they were on offer a while ago for about £22 each, but you don't seem to get much change from £30 now. Still, I'd definitely say it was worth the investment.