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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

2917.0. "Carrying case or Harness" by STAR::PMURPHY () Thu Oct 05 1989 12:12

    I was just curious about why so many people I see at the Vet's office
    (who are obviously there with their cat or kitten because they care
    about their health) carry them in their arms, perhaps wrapped in a
    towel, instead of a pet carrying case?
    
    A cat (unlike the dog) if frightened and gets away from the owner will
    always run away and not come back when called.  Very few are ever found
    or make it home.  I understand some cats have a problem in a pet taxi
    and "mess" in them.  My brother had one who was like this but when he
    put a cat harness and leash on her instead of using the pet taxi, she
    had no problems riding in the car to the Vet's or while in the waiting
    room there, yet he still had control of her in case she became
    frightened and tried to get away.  I am fortunate in that my 4 cats
    have no problems riding in their carrying cases (and can hardly wait to
    get back into them when their exams/shots are finished). :-)
    
    While in a Vet's waiting room a few years back I had the misfortune of
    seeing a beautiful (but terrified) cat get away from his owner's arms
    as she was carrying him to her car.  She never did find him and it
    happened in a heavy traffic area in the city.  I felt sorry for her as
    she was in tears, but I felt more sorrow for the poor, frightened and 
    lost cat.
    
    Perhaps some people don't realize how quickly their calm, purring
    animal can become frightened and disoriented.  Then there are some
    folks who just want to show off their beautiful cat or kitten so they
    carrying or hold them without the safety of a pet taxi or harness.
    
    Pat
    
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2917.1MICLUS::MTAGThu Oct 05 1989 16:5912
    I agree, always use a carrier.  Recently, while at the vet (I was the
    only one there), I open up the top of the carrier (the cardboard kind -
    since disposed of) to pet Barney while waiting for the vet.  You must
    understand that Barney is a very FAT cat.  Well, he jumped from the
    carrier and headed right under the Iams stand.  The vet and I figured
    Barney would just eat his way out!  Anyway, it took me a few minutes
    but finally managed to get him out.  As good as Barney is at the vets
    when I've done this before, I will never do it again.  Fortunately, I
    learned my lesson in worry-free way.
    
    Mary
    
2917.2CIRCUS::KOLLINGKaren/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.Thu Oct 05 1989 17:259
    I put a thick towel in the bottom of the carrying case when we go
    to the vet.  Holly _always_ messes because she is afraid, I guess,
    poor baby.  Being a spendthrift, I bought a bunch of towels
    specifically for this for about $2 apiece the last time Sears had a
    sale, and I just throw them out once we get to the vet's office.
    A less profligate person would wash them.  Anyway it pretty much
    protects the bottom of the carrier -- I just wipe it down with
    Nature's Miracle and it seems to be fine.
    
2917.3Good point!SSDEVO::CHAMPIONLetting Go: The Ultimate AdventureThu Oct 05 1989 17:4312
    Hmmmm.  I usually took Coelura in my arms or a towel because she's a 
    petite kitten and easy to keep a snug hold on.  
    
    But now that she's starting to get a *little* bigger, she's not as easy 
    to subdue and I've been considering getting a kitty carrier or harness.
    
    Thanks for reminding me of what *could* happen.  I'm going to get one
    before we go back to the vet on Saturday to get the spay stitches
    removed!
    
    Carol
    
2917.4WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityThu Oct 05 1989 17:5316
    You can get a good carrier for not very much money.  I usually buy
    all mine at the cat shows, the little blue kennel cabs can be had
    for about $13.99 at a show.  If that is beyond your budget, how
    about one of those new plastic versions of the standard cardboard
    ones.  There is an ad for them in the CFA Almanac this month.
    
    Let's see, the company is called Systems Go, P.O. Box 145415, Coral
    Gables, FL 33114-5415.  The only problem, they sell them buy the
    dozen.  The ad is geared to breeders, wanting them to buy these
    carriers and give one with each kitten.  The cost is $54.00 for a 
    case of 12, plus $6.00 shipping for the case.  That would be $4.50
    each, plus 1/12 of the shipping, or $.50 each, so $5.00 for a durable,
    cleanable, plastic carrier.  Maybe a bunch of Feliners could get
    together and order a case.
    
    Jo
2917.5How about "cat-bags"? RHETT::RROGERSMon Oct 09 1989 15:0415
For the last few years I've found the best thing for me and my cats is a 
burlap or canvas bag, or even a pillow case.  They don't have anything to 
fight (once you get them in the bag  8^) ) so they don't struggle as much
and I can hold them or pet them on the way to the vet.  I just hate it when 
you hear them lose their balance in a carrier when you touch the brakes or 
something!  Of course, this may not work well for all cats, but mine seem
to put up with it better than a carrier.  You have to be VERY sure the bag
is SECURELY closed before you go anywhere.  (Dare I say it?  You don't want
to let the cat out of the bag ...)

One of my vets used to sell bags for this purpose.  He called them "cat-bags". 

Roseanne
..in Atlanta
2917.6CRUISE::NDCNancy Diettrich-Cunniff-I wanted it allMon Oct 09 1989 15:3811
 
    >> I just hate it when you hear them lose their balance in a carrier 
    >> when you touch the brakes or something! 

       We discovered that Dundee loves to ride in his cat bed in the
    carrier.  He sits and patty-paws the sides of the bed all the way
    to his destination.  It has the added benefit of giving him a
    secure "seat" so he doesn't get thrown around.  Dundee usually rides
    in the smallest of our carriers and I seat-belt it into the front
    seat for him.
      Nancy DC
2917.7Buckle up, Honey!CLUSTA::TAMIRACMS design while-u-waitTue Oct 10 1989 23:1610
    I always use a carrier whenever transporting the brood, but I take it a
    step further...when they're in the car, I buckle them up, too.  I
    extend the seatbelt, draw it thru the handle, wrap it around the kennel
    and fasten it.  It's a pain with the combination seat/lap belt, but my
    boys' faces are already pushed in enough, and Julie...well, we don't
    need any more brain damage!  My kennels are small, so they don't move
    around too much inside, but I still feel better when they wear their
    seatbelts!
    
    Mary
2917.8CRUISE::NDCNancy Diettrich-Cunniff-I wanted it allWed Oct 11 1989 11:005
    I belt Dundee in too, at least when he rides in the front.  I don't
    use the shoulder part at all, must the lap part around the carrier.
    I have the carrier facing me so I can talk to him. 
      N
    
2917.9CRUISE::NDCNancy Diettrich-Cunniff-I wanted it allWed Oct 11 1989 11:014
    That reminds me, I saw a pet-belt advertised in Pedigrees.  There
    is more than one size available, including a cat-sized harness.
     N
    
2917.10This works for me...MAMIE::IVESThu Oct 12 1989 15:5810
    When we make the trip to the vets or where ever, I put the cat
    carrier in the front seat with the door/grill opening towards
    me and use a web type belt with "D" rings on it that put through
    the carrier handle and up around the neck of the head rest. Works
    great as the traffic going west on 101 is awful with people darting
    in and out and turning etc. With both cats in the cage there's
    not much room for either of them to roll around should I need to
    stop fast.
    
    Barbara - Mocha and Ming