The importance of a pet carrier.

Have you ever wondered about the importance of pet carriers? We've touched on the subject briefly when we discussed how to take your pet with you on vacations or long drives and their necessity for the safety of both the cat and yourself as you drive. This post will be a further emphasis on the importance of purchasing a pet carrier for long term use.

Many people who adopt cats or kittens will think that pet carriers are not a necessary expense as the only likely time they will use it is to bring the cat home. However, carriers will invariably be used for visits to the vet as well as anywhere else you choose to take your cat. I've been to the vet so many times and seen people put complete faith in their cats being well behaved and not in a carrier, it is wonder an accident hasn't happened already.

A couple of things to think about then.

First, you'll have to consider the size of the carrier. Don't be coaxed into buying something cute and small for your kitten. Your cat will eventually out grow the smaller carriers and it is important that it has the adequate space to move inside. At the very minimum, you should be looking at a carrier of around 30cm x 30cm x 55cm, this should be large enough for all but the large Maine coons in their adult size.

Cat's prefer to be in a snug environment, particularly in rare and disturbing events such as travelling. Make sure they have enough space to turn around, and also have plenty of gaps for them to see outside so they feel less trapped.

Should the journey be a long one, then you must prepare a litter tray as well as a clip-on water bottle, and food bowls.

A trick I recommend to reduce soiling on journeys is to pour fresh litter into the litter tray at home before embarking on the trip. Your cat will instinctively try to use it immediately. This will buy you a couple of hours before the next toilet stop!