Lately, we have been seeing some concerns with kitties and their carriers! They're too small, too flimsy, too smelly, or - there aren't enough of them!! So let's talk about how to find the PURR-fect cat carrier for your cat!

So what makes a not so good cat carrier...?

✘ TOO SMALL - a lot of carriers sold in stores these days are way too small! When shopping for a new carrier for your kitty, make sure they have enough space to stand/turn around comfortably! You may have better luck shopping online where there are more larger carriers to choose from! Avoid triangular shaped 'collapsible' carriers especially where they likely won't be able to stand comfortably! 

✘ UNSTABLE/UNSAFE - kitties need to feel secure in their environment, which includes when they are traveling! Being in a backpack like carrier is bouncy, because of how we humans walk, and although us humans might think it's cool for them to see around them, cats actually prefer small, dark spaces where they can feel warm, secure, and hidden from predators. NEVER use a cardboard carrier which can break easily, or your kitty can break out of!

✘ UNFAMILIAR - when it's time to go to the vet, a kitty is always going to feel more comfortable with a carrier they are familiar with, and that smells like them! Smells are SO important to kitties - always keep a familiar item in their carrier like a favorite bed or blanket, or toy! A shared carrier that smells like other kitties (especially unfamiliar ones) and is dirty/dusty because it's kept outside in the cold Michigan garage all year, and is only brought out on 'scary' vet day is NOT going to be a good situation for you or your kitty.

Why does this matter?

Choosing the right carrier is SO important - because obviously, we want our fur babies to be comfortable! We want to ensure they are as calm as possible when their routine is disrupted, and feel secure when away from their home!

Think about your cat(s) and their carrier(s) - would you be able to safely contain them in their carrier in an emergency? Do you have a carrier for EACH of your cats if you have multiple? Has your cat not even been out of the home in over a year? It is SO important for kitties to have checkups at the vet, just like us humans, because their instinct is to HIDE when they don't feel good, as to not appear as weak. Unfortunately, some kitty owners don't know that something is 'wrong' with their kitty until it's too late.