Pet Carriers: a false economy?

misscomickat

I have to move my cat to a new house.

I do have a carrier, a cardboard one. It's not great but I have taken her to the vets in it before.

I've been having a look at Argos and they have a proper cat carrier she could see out of, for about £10.

Not sure whether to buy it. I'm trying to cut back at the moment, but obviously I want my cat to be happy.

What do you think?

keelykat

Hi!

We've got a pet carrier for both of our cats-we've personally had a lot of use out of them for vet visits, moving house etc... i prefer the plastic or metal ones as i know the cat is safe/secure inside and cant escape! but its personal preference i know.

keely.

pboae

I took my sister's cat to the vet in a cardboard carrier once. She was sick and had diarrhoea. The cardboard distintigrated, she got out, was covered in vomit and poo and went crazy trying to get out of the car. I was trying to drive in the London rush hour with her squawling and crying and climbing all over me. By the time we got to the vets I was scratched to ribbons, she was still covered in vomit, poo and now my blood as well. The receptionist thought we'd been in a car accident. Then I had to borrow a carrier to get her home again. So, on balance, I'd say a solid one was worth the money.

looby-loo_2

I have three plastic cat carriers all bought from car boot sales for £3 - £5. The £5 one is extra large - big enough for three cats except I can't lift it wth my three fat cats inside! I take that one to the cattery and they sleep in it.

~cleo~

i think they are worth it especially if you are moving and they are always good for vets visits

minimoneysaver

Have you thought about looking on ebay or the local paper when they have their free listing days for cheaper items?

ka7e

A determined cat will easily claw their way out of a cardboard carrier. And if they wee in it...eeeww!

Could you borrow a proper carrier from a relative or friend? It should be washed both before and after use to avoid any possible cross-infection.

We have a regular plastic one for our "ordinary" cats - most often used for visits to the vet. It is also regularly borrowed by a neighbour, for her cat. We also have an enormous fabric and mesh one for our big Maine Coon.

Rat_Chick

I can recommend plastic cat carriers, I've got one even though I haven't got a cat I use it to take my fancy rats to the vets when they have operations (more room to move than normal pet carriers), and I also use it for transporting rats (normally from their rescuers home to mine!)

sillyvixen

unfortunatly i no longer have my beloved cat, but in his younger years i bought several cardboard cat carriers. the first time i got him to the vets and back, not problems except the noise (constant catawaling is the best discription). the second time the cat distroyed the box on the way back from the vets, 3rd time cat distroyed the new box on the way to the vets (car journey taking 5 mins) 4th time the cat had managed to escape from the box and distroy it before i had locked the frount door! after that i invested in a metal cage type carrier.. the cat was much more happy to go to the vets and actually liked car travel..the one big difference was he could see and i never had a problem getting him in to the carrier or taking him to the vets (easy vet trips the carrier was worth its wieght in gold)..my cat had a like of all cardboard boxes and would happily sit in them for hours except for the carboard cat carriers.

WeirdoMagnet

Like the majority, I'd get a proper one. I once helped a friend move out of her house very quickly (she was escaping her boyfriend), and we used a cardboard box. What a disaster - cat was petrified, had no idea what we we doing (obviously) and escaped from box whilst we were driving. Good job it was only round the corner!

Tortieshell

I think cat carriers are a must, all my cats feel secure in them and they can see out although most of the time they just settle and sleep.

Our local pet shop "hires" them out for £2 a day if you dont want to buy one.