Teesside's ONLY independent Cat Charity covering Stockton, Yarm, M'bro & beyond
Carriers - Buy well, buy once
Soft Carriers
Plastic Clip Carriers
If it's got a zip...take it to the tip.
These are some of the worst carriers available.
Soft carriers not only provide very little protection when travelling, they are also far too bendy to support a cat well after surgery.
Add to that the fact that most cats take hardly any time at all to work out how to unzip them, and you've got an absolute disaster on your hands.
Don't throw your money away, no matter how cheap they are - it's just not worth it.
Plastic Clip Carriers
Plastic Clip Carriers
One step-up from a soft carrier, these budget carriers are unreliable at best.
Watch out for doors popping open, handles detaching and low weight-bearing capacity.
If dropped, they instantly pop open - if you have no other choice but to use one, secure them further by using cable ties to attach the top to the bottom for a little extra safety, and carry from underneath, rather than using the handle.
Solid Door Carriers
These carriers tend to be reliable, strong and robust. With a spring-loaded, lockable door, they provide a safe and secure way to transport cats.
Cons:
No top-loading option
Can be quite pricey
Our Favourite All-Rounder
Our Favourite All-Rounder
This is the carrier that we use every single day (we have quite a few of them!)
Pros:
Front spring loaded solid door with multi-point locking system
Top-opening, making it MUCH easier to pop a cat in without stressing them
Very robust body, with enough privacy for anxious cats
Size 'small' is actually larger than a standard carrier
Extremely well-priced (around £27)
Cons:
Handle can be annoying if needing to stack carriers
MDC Cat Carrier
Our Favourite All-Rounder
MDC Cat Carrier
The industry standard.
MDC make excellent quality products, used by many professionals, volunteers and pet-owners.
Pros:
Virtually inescapable
Strong, robust plastic-coated metal body
Top-opening for ease of use
Cons:
Cats are completely exposed unless you use a fabric cover
Hard to keep the mesh clean
Handles break easily
Significantly high price (around £60)
Harnesses - their safety is in your hands
Why use a harness?
Plastic Clip Carriers
When people consider using a harness on a cat, it's understandably often accompanied by images of trips to A&E for injuries sustained in attempting to convince your beloved little ninjas that wearing one is a good idea.
Equally, some people may laugh hysterically at the thought of your cat going where you would like it to - harness or no harness!
However, by taking time, patience and treats to accustomise your cat to the harness BEFORE attempting to use it outdoors, this can be a great way to allow your cat safe time outside - especially for those people who are unable to fully cat-proof their garden.
ALWAYS:
- Accompany your cat at ALL times when using a harness
-
Plastic Clip Carriers
Plastic Clip Carriers
One step-up from a soft carrier, these budget carriers are unreliable at best.
Watch out for doors popping open, handles detaching and low weight-bearing capacity.
If dropped, they instantly pop open - if you have no other choice but to use one, secure them further by using cable ties to attach the top to the bottom for a little extra safety, and carry from underneath, rather than using the handle.
Solid Door Carriers
These carriers tend to be reliable, strong and robust. With a spring-loaded, lockable door, they provide a safe and secure way to transport cats.
Cons:
No top-loading option
Can be quite pricey
Our Favourite All-Rounder
Our Favourite All-Rounder
This is the carrier that we use every single day (we have quite a few of them!)
Pros:
Front spring loaded solid door with multi-point locking system
Top-opening, making it MUCH easier to pop a cat in without stressing them
Very robust body, with enough privacy for anxious cats
Size 'small' is actually larger than a standard carrier
Extremely well-priced (around £27)
Cons:
Handle can be annoying if needing to stack carriers
MDC Cat Carrier
Our Favourite All-Rounder
MDC Cat Carrier
The industry standard.
MDC make excellent quality products, used by many professionals, volunteers and pet-owners.
Pros:
Virtually inescapable
Strong, robust plastic-coated metal body
Top-opening for ease of use
Cons:
Cats are completely exposed unless you use a fabric cover
Hard to keep the mesh clean
Handles break easily
Significantly high price (around £60)