One thing about cat carriers, is the ease and safety of moving your precious cats. Without having the sturdily designed cat carriers available these days where would we be transporting our precious cats from point A to point B and not ending up with lost cats. I will share with you the terrible situation my feline friend, Owl and myself went through 28 years ago, shifting ourselves from Western Australia to Queensland.
Sometime before the flight, I managed to get a cat sedative down Owl's throat without having a lot of blood being spilt. This was a time when we weren't so aware of all of the pet accessories which are readily obtainable these days. And also I didn't really have that much of a clue! So I then put poor Owl inside a six inch thick, large foam box with reasonable sized air openings. The entire contraption was then taped up within an inch of its life with gaffer tape. Good, this appeared suitably elephant-proof at the time.
The flight time in those days was approximately five hours, with one aircraft change stop over. When we landed for the change over and all the passengers were waiting patiently for the luggage transfer - it had become a bit of a worry because there seemed to be some sort of hold up. After an extra hour and a half delay, we were put back again on the next plane without explanation regarding the reason why it had been such a wait. But once we arrived and I went along to pick up my cat Owl, from the luggage dept the problem became obvious.
Well there was my Owl sitting very prettily within an 'Ansett' blue and white cat carrier. Whatever had become of my magnificently taped contraption that Owl had been loaded on to the aircraft in. The airport attendants basically pushed the cat carrier at me and then followed a real ticking off from them! For what reason hadn't I sedated my cat? I did! None of them could understand how any pet could possibly tear their way out of that particular contraption. As though I had intended it! At any rate after getting away in the luggage hold Owl had subsequently pooed not over one suitcase but several. All of this baggage had to be cleaned on the stop over. This was after they were able to eventually capture him beside yet another carrier containing two budgies and desperately trying to get in with them. I am forever extremely grateful to the flight men and women for making certain my Owl didn't get lost and ended up being sent back to me safely. After a massive amount of apologies and explanations of not understanding the issues better from me they were all very thrilled to view the back of me, the precious cat and the cat carrier that they happily provided me with to ensure I would leave. The cat carrier was a little smelly!
Don't know what the cat calmative was that the veterinarian had supplied me but Owl did not sleep for three days. And even, when he managed, it had been for almost four days straight. I'm not sure that I would recommend automatically sedating cats on flights only if the medication is tried in advance on your cat.
Now before you think negatively of Owl, he had been a rescue to start with although he's the one who rescued me back then! Just after a year in Queensland we returned to Perth although a lot less eventful this time around with Owl carefully locked in his cat carrier. Owl proceeded to live a full and eventful life with lots of fun along the way. Owl now is laid to rest in the backyard with subsequent, much loved animals.'THE' cat carrier, nowadays succeeded by a newer model, continues to bring back again many memories and resides on the laundry cupboard, storing laundry detergent.
Sometime before the flight, I managed to get a cat sedative down Owl's throat without having a lot of blood being spilt. This was a time when we weren't so aware of all of the pet accessories which are readily obtainable these days. And also I didn't really have that much of a clue! So I then put poor Owl inside a six inch thick, large foam box with reasonable sized air openings. The entire contraption was then taped up within an inch of its life with gaffer tape. Good, this appeared suitably elephant-proof at the time.
The flight time in those days was approximately five hours, with one aircraft change stop over. When we landed for the change over and all the passengers were waiting patiently for the luggage transfer - it had become a bit of a worry because there seemed to be some sort of hold up. After an extra hour and a half delay, we were put back again on the next plane without explanation regarding the reason why it had been such a wait. But once we arrived and I went along to pick up my cat Owl, from the luggage dept the problem became obvious.
Well there was my Owl sitting very prettily within an 'Ansett' blue and white cat carrier. Whatever had become of my magnificently taped contraption that Owl had been loaded on to the aircraft in. The airport attendants basically pushed the cat carrier at me and then followed a real ticking off from them! For what reason hadn't I sedated my cat? I did! None of them could understand how any pet could possibly tear their way out of that particular contraption. As though I had intended it! At any rate after getting away in the luggage hold Owl had subsequently pooed not over one suitcase but several. All of this baggage had to be cleaned on the stop over. This was after they were able to eventually capture him beside yet another carrier containing two budgies and desperately trying to get in with them. I am forever extremely grateful to the flight men and women for making certain my Owl didn't get lost and ended up being sent back to me safely. After a massive amount of apologies and explanations of not understanding the issues better from me they were all very thrilled to view the back of me, the precious cat and the cat carrier that they happily provided me with to ensure I would leave. The cat carrier was a little smelly!
Don't know what the cat calmative was that the veterinarian had supplied me but Owl did not sleep for three days. And even, when he managed, it had been for almost four days straight. I'm not sure that I would recommend automatically sedating cats on flights only if the medication is tried in advance on your cat.
Now before you think negatively of Owl, he had been a rescue to start with although he's the one who rescued me back then! Just after a year in Queensland we returned to Perth although a lot less eventful this time around with Owl carefully locked in his cat carrier. Owl proceeded to live a full and eventful life with lots of fun along the way. Owl now is laid to rest in the backyard with subsequent, much loved animals.'THE' cat carrier, nowadays succeeded by a newer model, continues to bring back again many memories and resides on the laundry cupboard, storing laundry detergent.
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Things you very likely didn't know about when purchasing cat carriers. The reasons why sturdy cat carriers stack up better than flimsy versions.
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