Choosing and Using a Cat Carrier: The Guide

If you own a cat, then having a cat carrier is pretty important. From carrying them home when you first collect them to taking them to annual or emergency vet visits. Or if they’re staying with family or friends when you’re away on holiday, you’ll need to transport them safely.

You may not need it very often, but it’s important to have one so you’re not scrabbling around asking to borrow one when you need it the most.

It's always better to have your own cat carrier, rather than borrowing one from a friend. It will smell familiar to your feline friend, and you can really get them comfortable in it before you need to make any journeys. There are a few things to consider when you’re looking for the right carrier for your cat. Whatever type you go for should be lightweight - remember you need to be able to carry the carrier around with your cat inside, so the less the carrier weighs the better!

Accidents happen, so you should also choose a pet carrier that allows you to clear up any messes easily. Most carriers are made from a lightweight plastic, making them easy to wipe down and keep clean between journeys.

If you have multiple cats, then we recommend investing in multiple carriers. As a general rule, cats shouldn’t share a carrier on a journey. They might get along at home, but you would struggle to get along with anyone being in that close proximity. It’s always safest to travel with them separately as stress can cause them to lash out at each other when worried, even if there’s plenty of room.

All cats are different so there are lots of different sizes of pet carriers to reflect this. A perfect sized cat carrier will allow your feline friend to stand, lie down and turn around so they can get comfortable. It should be one and a half times the size of you to enable them enough room.

You may think the bigger the better but if you get a carrier that’s too big, your kitty could be falling all over the place during a car ride. A reduced amount of space will actually help keep them safe in their carrier.  

It’s no secret that cats generally don’t like their carriers, so it can be difficult to understand how to overcome that. We use them so little; our feline friends are usually smart enough to work out that the cat carrier often means something unpleasant. Be it that they don’t like car rides or every time they see it, they go to the vet, many cats build up a negative association with their carrier.

For a cat who doesn’t despise their carrier, often picking them up and placing their head inside of it should be enough to encourage them to walk the rest of the way in, leaving you able to shut the door behind them. It’s not always as straightforward as that though, and you may be met with a moggy who would rather wriggle backwards to avoid being confined.

If you have a cat who doesn’t like their carrier, rather than fighting a losing battle and trying to squash them inside while avoiding their nails, take it as a sign that you need to go back to basics. If they really dislike, it that much then you have some work to do to try and break that negative association they have with it and create a positive one.

You can start by leaving it open or taking the door off and leaving it in a room they like to spend time in. Put a nice comfortable blanket in there that they’ve already slept on, so it smells familiar to them, and let them explore it at their own pace. You could also place some treats inside to encourage them to go inside. The carrier should remain out and free to explore until they build up their confidence going in and out of it.

Cats naturally like to sleep in a cosy, small space so you can make the most out of this. When they are confident enough to take a nap in there you can pop the door back on and shut it for small periods while they sleep so eventually, shutting the door isn’t as scary. A trip in the carrier shouldn’t always end in the vet so take them on a few short, pleasant journeys to make sure the cat carrier isn’t only linked to unpleasant things.

While it’s not an ideal place for your feline friend to spend an extended amount of time, if you’re travelling it may be a necessity. Where possible, your beloved pet shouldn’t spend more time than they need to in their cat carrier. If you are taking them on a long journey, it might be unavoidable. If theres enough room, they should have breaks to stretch their legs and access to water.

With so many different options on the market, choosing the best cat carrier will largely come down to personal preference and their individual needs. The Savic Zephos Pet Carrier White & Grey is a fantastic, lightweight carrier that’s ideal for short trips. It has plenty of ventilation to make sure your feline friend has lots of fresh air circulating during their journey. It’s also great for smaller cats.

Another great option is the Savic Trotter 3 Pet Carrier Grey, it’s a more robust cat carrier and stands taller for those larger moggies. With only a wire front, ventilation isn’t a problem, and they can explore their sites as they please.

Pairing style and safety, the Catit Caribo Cat Carrier has it all. It’s super secure and well-made and it can even be used on flights. The handle is made to slide a seatbelt through to make sure it doesn’t slide about in the car and the whole carrier is water resistant. 

Whatever carrier suits you and your moggy, you can find all the cat essentials you need to keep them happy and healthy with Jollyes, in store and online.