All About Carrying For Cats

When traveling and during a car trip, during an air flight or in line with a veterinarian, in a summer cottage or at an exhibition, a pet needs a safe and secluded space that guarantees protection of the pet from prying attention. Carrying for cats does an excellent job of these tasks. Moreover, it is better to teach a pet to her at the most tender age - babies are easier to adapt to new conditions than adult animals.

But how to choose a large carry or small bag? Is a backpack suitable for an animal or is it better to immediately purchase a container with a rigid frame? How to make a carrying bag for kittens with your own hands and what should be the size of the cages on wheels? The answers to all these questions are very important and require the most detailed study. After all, when it comes to pet comfort, there can be no trifles.

Carrying for cats is a simple in its design, but very important device that is necessary for every owner of the animal. According to its purpose, the design can be suitable for long-term transportation - for several hours or days, as well as created for short-term use. In addition, it is very important to take into account the weight and dimensions of the pet - they affect the type of construction and some other features of carrying.

For a large-sized cat (over 5 kg in weight), it is worth choosing a reliable plastic design. For kittens, they usually buy carriers for outgrowth, especially if not one animal is to be transported, but several at once.Pets with plentiful hair should choose well-ventilated cages equipped with a special cover to create shade.

The main purpose of any carry can be expressed in three key points.

1. The calm of the owner. Reliably closed from possible external influences, the pet does not pose a threat to others, is protected from infections, saved from the possible risk of escape, loss, death.
2. A sense of security for the animal. Cats are well-known couch potatoes, they can hardly stand the change of circumstances around them and do not like to travel too much. Correctly selected carrying helps the animal to better carry the road, protects it from extraneous influences, unforeseen contacts.
3. Satisfying physiological needs. The first and most important thing that the carrying gives is the feeling of a hard floor under your feet. In addition, a properly selected container allows the animal to provide a comfortable location inside it. In a spacious carrying case, you can allocate a place for the toilet in the form of a hygienic absorbent diaper or a tray with a filler, install a drinking bowl and a feeding bowl.

Carrying is a convenient accessory, but it can be difficult to choose the best option for its design from the variety of options on sale. Models on wheels and with handles, shoulder straps and straps, in the form of cages, baskets and bags - with this assortment it is easy to get confused.

Classical designs with a light frame and fabric walls are most often created from synthetic, easily washable and hypoallergenic materials. It is convenient to store products, you can wash or clean them, and straps or handles are provided for carrying them.

It is important to consider that the bags are not oriented to a long stay of the animal, poorly suited for large cat breeds. In the absence of a hard insert with a hard floor, the pet will experience severe discomfort. For winter use, you need a warmed model, otherwise the animal will get wet or freeze inside the product.

Separately, it is worth considering frame bags-tents, in which the side walls are expanded, forming a fairly roomy house. This design is convenient for traveling in a car or traveling to the exhibition, but it is difficult to maintain and takes up a lot of space.

Bags on wheels - an option for active travelers. They have a retractable handle, a rigid platform and rollers for moving.

A metal cage is practically the only carrying option that you can take with you on an airplane. If we are talking about traveling in the passenger compartment, you only need to carefully measure the dimensions of the selected design - they should not exceed 45x35x25 cm. If you go beyond these values, the animal will have to go in the luggage compartment. Similar rules apply to cats weighing more than 8 kg.

Metal lattice boxes are also convenient when transporting animals in a car. In addition to safety and good air exchange, the cage allows you to take care of the safety of the animal, because its rods make it possible to pass a seat belt through them.

For exhibitions and shows, this solution is also optimal, allows you to provide a fairly high level of comfort and at the same time demonstrate the pet in all its glory. In addition, the use of cells can reduce the risk of escaping the animal in an unfamiliar place, and if you have the right cover, you can protect your pet from heat and other stress factors.

The most non-standard version of a carrying bag is a shoulder backpack, which the owner carries on him. Such products have a strong and hard bottom, may look like a sling for babies or a full capsule of a spaceship with a porthole. It is important to consider the degree of sociability, especially the nature of the pet. In addition, with this method of carrying the animal may experience nausea, and the first appearance is best done at all in a calm park or near the house.

The convenience of the backpack is associated with the way it is carried - the load placed on the shoulders is distributed more evenly. But such an accessory is designed for small animals, and it is better to postpone a long trip. An uncomfortable pose, the animal will be ready to suffer 1-2 hours. When choosing a model, it is worth giving preference to solutions made of dense fabrics with air holes and a porthole for a pet to review the surroundings.

A compromise solution is a plastic box, which is suitable for short trips, and for long trips or even flights. A sturdy frame in this design is made of hypoallergenic plastic, ventilation holes are complemented by a slatted door, and inside there is enough space for one pet or even a cat with kittens to relax.

The hard floor of the container makes it possible to delimit its space by placing inside a bowl of food, water, toilet, bedding for relaxation. A spacious temporary shelter gives cats a sense of security, helps to better move the road. In many designs there is a second bottom - for accessories, feed, and absorbent replacement diapers.

Owners consider the boxes to be the best choice for traveling and traveling with cats. But there are also disadvantages. The design is rather cumbersome, carrying it by one handle is difficult and uncomfortable.

The real classic is a basket for carrying cats, made of natural vines or their plastic substitute. Such an accessory is light in weight, durable in construction, it has a hard bottom and a fairly spacious place to relax. For owners' peace of mind, reliable latches and special locks are installed on this type of product. But the basket is not protected from precipitation, and in winter the pet will just be cold in it.

Among the advantages of these accessories can be noted good breathability, lightness, affordable cost. Plastic models are easy to clean, suitable for automobile transportation of animals, travel to the country or to the veterinarian. The pet will be protected from prying eyes, will be able to comfortably get inside.

The need to choose a suitable carrier for your pet appears even at a time when the kitten is in infancy. Trips to the veterinarian, trips to the cottage or on vacation, visiting exhibitions cannot do without the use of special temporary shelters.

If there are more than one pet, then you can purchase models of bags for two cats at the same time. Mostly they look like soft tunnels with an arched top, inside which there is a detachable divider. Using the device for 2 cats that do not get along too well, they can be easily isolated. For friendly cats it will be correct to remove the partition - they will become much calmer.

In addition to the number of seats, it is worth paying attention to the following points during the selection of carrying.

1. Existence of a viewing window. Cats cannot tolerate a cramped and enclosed space in which they cannot control the situation. There will be much less panic if during transportation the animal can see the owner and survey the surroundings. In addition, through the “windows”, fresh air also enters into the carrying case at the same time. They must be made of durable mesh, otherwise the viewing hole may become a loophole for escape.
2. Type of construction. If the carrier is not used too often, it would be wise to choose a folding type model, it is convenient to store and can be taken with you if you have to pick up an animal from a shelter or hotel.
3. A variety of mounts. The more belts, handles and other elements are in the basic configuration of the accessory, the greater the space for maneuvers will be when using carrying. Belts facilitate the fixation of a cage or box in an airplane or car. The shoulder strap allows you to free your hands.

When choosing the sizes of carrying for trips and trips in public or private transport it is necessary to be guided exclusively by the dimensions of the animal, the peculiarities of the breed and the personal preferences of the owner. The cat should sit and lie both along and across the selected container or cage. But if you plan to make flights, much more stringent requirements will be imposed on the size range and structure design. Among them:

• total parameters of length, width and height should not exceed 115 cm (55x40x20 cm);
• free air access - no closed bags;
• weighing more than 8 kg, animals travel in the luggage compartment (weighed with carrying).

The understanding of what dimensions are permissible for a particular transportation method also helps to choose the right carry. Using any public transport involves a closed type of container, preferably with a hard roof. The dimensions of the animal itself are also important. For large cats, whose weight exceeds 8 kg, it is worth choosing massive bags and boxes. The best choice will be products weighing about 3 kg, which are difficult to break or accidentally open, you can take the model on wheels so as not to bear the weight.

If the dimensions of the pet are less weighty, you can consider lightweight design options. For example, cats up to 5 kg are suitable for light bags, backpacks weighing no more than 1 kg.

Based on the design features for the manufacture of transfers can be used following materials.

• the cloth. Soft cloth carrying is used for short-term transportation of the animal. Easily washable and waterproof fabrics with sufficient hygroscopicity are usually used. For the winter season, warmed options are made.

• Plastic. The rigid structure forms strong walls, allows you to create a washable bottom. Such a carrier can be washed, cleaned using safe chemicals. Inside, foam rubber mats are commonly used to provide warmth and comfort.

• Metal. Cages for air transportation, as well as exhibition designs for the demonstration of animals are made from it. Usually, corrosion-protected chrome products are used, and litter liners can be placed inside to provide comfort for the animal.

• Woody vine. Wicker products can have an unusual shape and different sizes, they are environmentally friendly, provide good ventilation. But when in contact with odorous liquids or animal secretions, the vine absorbs them quite intensively, it is difficult to clean.

When choosing materials, preference should be given to animal-friendly solutions, focusing on the method of transportation. Among fabric models, you can choose bright attractive models that are quite spacious. It is convenient to pick up various options for carrying - you can find models with a shoulder strap, straps for carrying on the back or chest, with classic handles.

Polymer containers with low quality materials can have odors, in addition, they are rather bulky, not suitable for long trips. But they have full ventilation openings that allow for adequate air exchange, and the pet feels protected and less nervous.

If you have to use the carrier year-round, you should make sure that the pet is comfortable in it in any weather. For example, in soft bags, for which winter operation is provided, often make removable liners in the walls, allowing to insulate the accessory in the winter. Another option is an outer fur cover for hard carrying.

For the summer, it is better not to buy bags of black or dark color - they will heat up more than usual, which will create a risk of heat stroke for the animal. If possible, you should have your own carrying option for each season - for example, a winter sling or a backpack can be hidden under the owner's jacket, sharing heat with your pet.

When transporting an animal, especially when it comes to a sick pet that needs veterinary care, the removal of specific biological contaminants is always particularly acute. When several pets use the same carry, the infection can spread quite easily. In addition, it is possible to stain a cage or container, a cloth bag from the outside, dirt and dust settle on them. The most difficult thing is with wicker products - they are quite difficult to process. Due to the nature of weaving, you can skip the potential source of infection.

The first and most important rule in using the carrier is that it must be regularly treated with hot steam, and the fabric covers should be washed at high temperatures. Plastic containers made of high-quality food grade polymers can be disinfected with boiling water. Fabric elements are also boiled. In veterinary medicine, chlorine disinfectants are most often used for sanitation, but at home, you can also resort to non-chlorine variants based on formalin, soda ash.

Among medical preparations, Virosan, Glutex, Ecocid C, and Virocid are recommended for use. The cell can be sprayed with a solution of iodine, it is on sale in the form of a spray. When treating with antiseptics, it is worth leaving the compounds for exposure for 20-30 minutes, especially if there was contact with an infected animal. It is recommended to soak cloths with an antiviral agent for some time.

The easiest way to carry it is quite possible to do it yourself. If you have to take a sick pet to the veterinarian or transport a kitten, you can create a temporary shelter literally from improvised materials - out of the box (a cardboard box with high sides will do) by gluing its seams with duct tape. On an impromptu “floor” litter from a blanket or a soft mattress is laid.

A fabric carrying bag for travel is also easy to create. Just follow the simple instructions.

1. Pick up materials. Any dense fabric - from canvas to drap and jeans - will do. To form a hard bottom, thick cardboard or plastic is used, you can take the bottom from the old sports bag as the base. It will also require tailor's scissors, chalk, a sewing machine, threads and accessories. For one of the sidewalls, it is recommended to choose a mesh coating.
2. Build a pattern. The simplest form is a triangle or a quadrangle. One of the sidewalls should be detachable, with a sewn-in "zipper", the second - with a mesh for air flow (a durable mosquito with metallization is suitable). The base has the largest area, a cover is sewn for it, to which the remaining parts are attached. The dimensions of the elements should allow the animal to be freely positioned inside horizontally and vertically.
3. Using a machine, connect all the parts. starting from the bottom into which the prepared rigid frame is inserted. For winter, you can insulate the floor and walls, make them with fur or replace it with a synthetic winterizer. Next, it remains to assemble the parts together and sew in the fastener, add accessories.
4. Fasten the carrying strap or handles to the stitched structure. It is worth using a shoulder strap - it is most convenient to use, allows you to make the transportation process less uncomfortable. Check all connections for strength.

To learn how to make a cat carrier out of cardboard, see the next video.