Automatic Litterbox Central

Hi folks!

I've been in need of new cat carriers and I just don't feel good enough about the reviews I've found on various shopping sites. Sherpa seems to come up a lot, but I would love to hear all of your experiences.

I have a 6 lb kitty and a 16 lb kitty (which seems to be the end range for a lot of these carriers). I'm mainly getting carriers for vet visits, but I'm also terribly concerned about hazards and being able to flee with my cats quickly. I live in a vertical community (condo) so opening the door and hoping they make it out okay isn't going to yield much. Currently we have a Sharper Image back seat carrier for dogs - which means it takes up the whole back seat, there's plenty of space for them to run around, but it takes both my husband and I to carry it. We had one of those cheap soft carriers, and the wire frame broke and stuck out and I don't want to have to deal with that again, though I much prefer soft carriers.

I don't really like hard cases, possibly because there isn't the option to use a shoulder strap. I'm not sure why I'm not partial to them; the shoulder strap thing seems silly once said outloud, but I think that's the big thing for me. I get uncomfortable carrying things in my hands for too long and I assume in a fire, I'd want the use of my hands.

A lot of the reviews I've found mainly review how well the carrier does on a flight. That's not really what I care about. Is it durable, is it easy to carry, is it easy enough to get a reluctant cat in it (think all four legs in parachute mode), how easy is it to clean, and will anything stick out of it and possibly poke someone in the eye after a limited amount of time? Does it take up a lot of space in storage? (Once again, condo, we definitely don't have a lot of space near the door, which is the ideal place for them). And a tote is out of the question for our cats, they're too skittish in foreign places or around foreign people to calmly only stick their head out of a bag.

I look forward to hearing your experiences.

Aloha,
Cheryll

No one has to go anywhere with their cats?

Hi Zanira,

Sorry no one has offered any solutions to your problem. I don't have one either. I use the hard plastic carriers and only one of my cats gives me trouble putting her in, and that's only occasionally. I leave them out so the cats play in and on them and I can easily trick them into getting in for a vet visit. My smallest kitty, Lily, loves her carrier. When I take her to the vet, we just take the top part off and leave her in the bottom half for her exam. At home, I remove the top, thinking she will get out, and she just stays in it. She sleeps in it.

I don't care for the soft carriers because they dont offer a stable enough floor and my cats freak out.

I've seen backpack types of carriers but those would probably be a 2 person project to get into and I doubt the cat or person carrying the cat would be very comfortable. Especially that 16 lber.

For a quick easy escape I guess you could keep a couple of those cardboard carriers that fold flat, by the door. They are easy to open, but if the cat isnt used to it, they would probably put up resistance getting in. If it was an emergency tho, it would be better than trying to carry a scared cat out the door in your arms and quicker than digging thru a closet trying to find the carrier.

ab

PS Thanks for contributing to Litterbox Central! It is very much appreciated!

Thanks for the reply abbeytoo.

I guess I should ask, no one has to go anywhere with their cats in a soft carrier!

I think I'll just take the plunge and post a review here =)

Did you end up getting a soft sided carrier? I'm curious how that 16lber likes it. My cats freak out in them because the bottom is er...soft and unstable. Its weird enough to be up in the air, carried around. They are calmer with the sure footedness of the hard types.

I guess you and me are the only ones who lug their cats around.

The one I have is super fancy but also really expensive. It's very similar to Pet Ego's Rolling Pack.



The trick with this is that the back unfolds turning it into a large space covered with a net. This allows you to put your cat into the nonthreatening roomy mesh, then when you have that zipped up, you zip the back up and your cat is now in the main smaller part of the carrier before it knows what's happened. You can also open the back when you arrive at the vet's office or anyplace where the cat would like to look around but you don't want to let him out yet. It's kind of like a screened porch. Mine also has two small velcro openings on the sides that let you pet your cat while it's still in the carrier. This is great if yours is as terrified by the vet as mine is.

It works as both a rolling carrier and a backpack. Since I walk to the vet, it was important for me to have a backpack-style carrier. The net window on the back also lets your cat see what's going on outside however mine prefers to bury himself in the bottom and cry. He's not an adventurous outdoor cat.

[Edited by Admin to attach image rather than link to an external site]

That is an awesome carrier, Scott! Where did you get it? My cats would totally be looking out the screened area all the time. Of course, if anyone approached them, they would shrink up or close their eyes so no one could see them.

I'd have to look at mine when I get home. I'm sure the one I have isn't this one but this appears to have all the same features except maybe the Velcro openings. Everyone who's seen it including the people at the vet and the Humane Society have said they'd never seen a carrier like this before. It looks so much like a backpack that people have been surprised when walking behind me to suddenly see a cat looking back at them in the back window.

That looks pretty awesome. I want one!

I pulled my carrier out of the closet and it's this one.

This one is cheaper than the other one. You can see the fold-out porch which is great for getting them into the carrier and calming them without releasing them when they get to the vet or where ever. It isn't the most comfortable thing to have on your back (it's square and hard) but I carry 40-60 lbs. of camera equipment on my back so a 10 lb. cat is nothing. The more expensive one looks more ergonomic to your spine.

Um, I"m getting some concerned looks right now so I'm going to put it back into the closet...

Thats a cool one too. I found several I want now! I dont think I have ever put much thought into carriers, simply because they are used so infrequently. Until now, that is. Lily has been to so many doctors so many times, she has turned her carrier into her bed. When we need to go, I just put the top piece on and we are off.

these look kinda cool too




http://www.catsplay.com/spodwhite.php3


the mini version of that one would be perfect for Lily!

LOL! You guys rock! I especially had a great giggle over "mine prefers to bury himself in the bottom and cry". That's one and a half of my cats (my boy cat will get adventurous every once in a while).

I am a little depressed though. I've already ordered a couple carriers and now I want Scott's =) (or the one he linked the first time, cause I think his is too small for my 16 lber)

These are what I ordered: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015AM778 , http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006349AI One has already shipped and the other is too late to cancel (though I think I'll call to double check).

The only problem I have with the Pet Ego rolling pack is that it doesn't list the weight for the pack, though considering how huge it is, it's probably fine. I think I'll (try to) cancel the Sherpa case and talk to my husband about which one he'd prefer. Should be getting the Bergan one soon, so will try to post pictures of that when I get it.

Thanks for the responses! (and sorry to hear that Lily has to go to the vet a lot!)

Zanira wrote:I am a little depressed though. I've already ordered a couple carriers and now I want Scott's =) (or the one he linked the first time, cause I think his is too small for my 16 lber)

The one I have is definitely not large and your cat would probably end up sitting it instead of lying down. For a backpack style carrier, this is a good thing because it's easier to carry a sitting cat on your back than a lying cat. For long trips when they won't be on your back, you can set the carrier on its back which will let the cat lie down and stretch out like in the duffel bag style carrier you bought.

I like this one now! I wish there werent so many choices for everything. Lily would fit perfectly in this and be able to see out. She's timid but very nosey.



http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... 786&ab=ft2

That "curl-up" idea for the round carrier above is very appealing, isn't it. My cats hate their cat carriers -- the old plastic model and of course they can't curl up -- who would have thought of that? Perhaps that's part of the issue. Now if they could curl up, take a little nap...