Size does matter, make them comfy!
Nov 22 '00
Some people see carriers as evil and some see them as a blessing. I only use the carrier for transporting my cats to the Vet, but some people use them to house their pets during the night so they don't get into everything, or if they are introducing a new pet to the household.
For the purpose of this review I am mainly talking about cat carriers, since I own two cats.
First of all, you need to know what your intended use of the carrier will be. Are you just going to use it to take your cat back and forth to the Vet or do you want a place where you can keep your cat at night or when you're not home?
If you just plan on using it to go back and forth to the Vet, there are the sturdy, heavy plastic carriers, which I definitely recommend, or you have the temporary cardboard carriers. The reason I call the cardboard ones temporary is because if your cat has claws, he/she will mostly likely claw the heck out of it once they are in there, thus making it only a one time thing. Both of these types of carriers have plenty of ventilation and come in different sizes so your pet can be comfortable, but lets face it, how many cats are actually comfortable in a carrier!
Cardboard carriers are made of a heavy-duty cardboard so your cat can't easily claw its way out, but if you have a cat that hates carriers, like mine, they will find a way to claw through. If you have a very docile cat, this may be the one for you. They have plenty of ventilation and come in different sizes to accommodate different sized pets and from most that I have seen, you put the pet in and take them out through the top.
The plastic carriers are the ones I recommend. They have plenty of ventilation, have a sturdy door with a locking latch, which has no sharp edges, just in case your pet likes to chew. They come in a variety of sizes, usually have an attachable food/water dish and they come apart for easy cleaning. These are ones that can last the lifetime of your pet if you get the right size and they hold up very well against a cat that will try to claw their way out.
If you are looking for a place to be able to put your pet for the night or when you go off to work, I suggest you move away from the carriers and invest in a cat cage. They come in a variety of sizes and some have more than one level. These are the kind that you may see in some pet stores, where they may put some of the young kittens they have for sale.
Size does matter. The size of the carrier makes a big difference for your pet. You wouldn't want them to be cramped inside a dinky carrier for any length of time. I've seen the sizes of carriers, when I bought mine a long time ago, range from small to Jumbo (or extra large). Small and medium size carriers are usually the best sizes for cats, the large and extra large being mainly for dogs. You want to make sure you get the right size for your pet, even if it is only taking them back and forth from the Vets. Some Vets can be running low on space and may need to keep your pet in their own carrier if they are staying overnight. You want the carrier to be large enough for your cat to be able to stand up, turn around and lie down, without bumping into the sides of the carrier and you want to make sure that there is a little extra room in it so they can stretch out without being cramped. Also, if there are the attachable food/water bowls you want to allow a little extra room so that they won't be bumping and spilling them when they move.
If you own more than one cat, I suggest you get a carrier for each of them, granted you can buy a large enough one to be able to put both cats in there, but it's usually a stressful time for a cat when they are in a carrier and bumping into another kitty in there when they are already agitated will only be asking for trouble.
When first bringing your carrier home, it may look clean, but please wash it thoroughly and of course, wash it thoroughly after each use. You can also put a blanket in there to make them more comfortable, but I haven't found this useful since my cats just hate going into the carrier period, they know they are going to the Vet as soon as they see it and they try to run and hide!
Let your pet get used to the carrier, if at all possible, before having to use it. Set it out with the door open so that they can investigate it, this can help in making them less apprehensive about going in it. You may actually see them walk in and out of it and maybe even go in there and lie down!
Most of all, you want your pet to be as comfortable as possible in their carrier and if you get the right one, they most likely will be, well as comfortable as they can be.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Kittyokc
|
 in Pets, Games |
 - Top 500 |
|
Member: Kathy
Location: Oklahoma
Reviews written: 386
Trusted by: 413 members
About Me:
Please email me if you have questions regarding a rating or just general questions.
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.