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+--- Thread: What size carrier for short trips to vet (/showthread.php?tid=653)
What size carrier for short trips to vet - HelenMac - 05-23-2022
Zimba goes into carrier okay in fact loves sleeping in the carrier they are always left lying around but they are quite roomy but as soon as in moving car gets so stressed. Is it better to have a snug carrier or a roomy carrier for short trips to the vet.. Trip is only 10-15 minutes in car. Just trying to think of ways to de-stress him. I have tried spraying felloway and catnip in the carrier putting his favourite toy in there and of course his favourite blanket but he gets stressed. Just wondering what size carriers you all have if any work better than others.
RE: What size carrier for short trips to vet - MUM_of_FLUFFY - 05-23-2022
I had a small carrier that Fluffy grew out of as a kitten very fast so I bought a MUCH bigger one instead of going up just one size. It really is far too big for him and he quickly worked out that if he shoulder-charged the wall of it he could knock it over onto it's side. He was very pleased with himself for doing this and making his feelings known about being caged like an animal.
So if they can turn around and pace in it - it's probably too big for a short trip 10-15 mins to the vet. Hindsight is 20/20 vision as they say and now I would favour a snug carrier over a roomy one for a short vet trip. I think it reassures them more.
I have Fluffy's giant carrier inside the pram now - so it's not so much of an issue anymore and he likes to sleep in there...
But this is just one Mama's experience with her cat - and I'm sure that there are many docile loving ragdolls who step gracefully in and out of their carriers without a fuss...
RE: What size carrier for short trips to vet - Smudge's Mom - 05-24-2022
I was so lucky with Pooka and Smudge. They were world class travelers and loved big carriers...the larger the better.
Paddy, on the other hand hates being in a car. No matter what size the carrier, he goes head first into the back corner, smunches himself into the smallest ball of fur that is possible and tries to pretend it just isn't happening. I throw a blanket over the whole thing to make his cave dark. Thank goodness the whole ordeal lasts about 10 minutes or less.