A cat carrier is not often required, but you will find you do need it from time to time. Once a year when you take kitty in for her yearly check-up and shots, for occasional travel, for an overnight motel visit if your house is being worked on, to the emergency clinic, or in times of calamity such as an earthquake, fire, or flood.

There are three types of cat carriers.

The first is a box constructed of cardboard.

You will typically find this type of box used by adoption facilities to give to clients for transporting the adopted cat home. While mostly acceptable for this limited short term use, cardboard boxes are not recommended as your regular “go-to” permanent carrier. Cardboard is not strong enough to stand up to a cat’s scratching. After several uses you may find Miss Kitty has opened up a few holes and is gearing up for a break out.

Cardboard is not good in the rain, it will become soft and spongy and can offer a quick escape.

Cardboard is also not good with urine, spilled water, and other liquids it may come in contact with. It will weaken the cardboard and it is not possible to adequately clean it for future use.

Cardboard carriers are not approved for airline use.

The second type of carrier is a soft sided carrier.

A soft-sided carrier is often made of nylon, or ballistic nylon, and is lightweight and easy to tote.

While sturdy and quite popular for pet travel, it should only be used for cats that are good, calm travelers, as it is possible to tear out the nylon mesh ventilation panels if they become extremely agitated. There is also potential for a very determined claw to get through the zipper material.

If you use a soft sided-carrier, be sure that it is sized correctly for your cat. She must be able to stand-up, turn around, and lie down easily—and have a meal and drink inside—yet there shouldn’t be so much space that she can slide around a great deal in air turbulence or a rough car ride. Cats especially like cozy spaces, so try not to get any more volume than is necessary. The coziness makes them feel secure.

The soft-sided carriers are by far easier to clean and keep up than cardboard carriers.

It’s a good idea to purchase a soft-sided carrier that does not sag a great deal when your pet is inside. Most have light frames in order to prevent this, and if you are unsure while making your purchase, simply put a heavy book or several items from the pet store aisle inside in order to assure that it does not sag. A sagging bottom will be most uncomfortable for your cat.

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