Getting a cat from one place to another outside its environs could be a very challenging venture, especially if it is for the first time.
If you want to travel safely with your cat, you need to get a convenient cat carrier. But how long can a cat stay in a carrier?
We will help you learn that and much more.
Cats’ movement from place to place is strict as not everyone can accommodate them physically, or some people may be allergic to cats. In most states, there are stipulated laws of having animals let alone cats. These laws may include:
- A safe home
- A cat should have a collar for identification.
- Regular checks at the vets
- Conducive transportation carrier in cases of movement.
How Long Can a Cat Stay in A Carrier?
Cats are suspicious animals, and there are many facts you don’t know about them. They get spooked at the slightest of provocation, and if need be, they will fight their way out of any situation.
Whether it is forced, showers, nail trims, or even when being given medicine. Cats have a very natural defense mechanism, and hence getting them to do what they do not want is often very hard.
Getting a cat to enter a carrier for starters for the first time can be a tricky thing. It could be something about the enclosed space or being closed in the cage.
As challenging as this may be, it is not a difficult task. You would inevitably have to use a carrier for your cat, and therefore you have to get it accustomed to being in one.
Owner Plays a Huge Role
If you take longer flights or long distance car travels, you can opt to sedate your cat to feel nervous when traveling. How long it stays in the carrier will largely depend on its owner, who has to make the cat not hate being in a carrier.
Like rules of getting a cat used to using the litter box, its owner should work on it using the carrier. For first-time owners, there are guidelines offered when you adopt a cat from a shelter home, or even when you have gifted a cat, make it your duty to know about the care and health of a cat.
How long a cat stays in the carrier to whichever destination will take the cat a lot of getting used, especially being confined in a small space if used to roam free within and without its environment.
Types of Carriers
You also learn the variety of carriers for difficult and nervous cats. Some types of cat carriers available in the market include:
- Metal cage carrier
- Backpack carrier
- Side bag carrier
- Plastic cage carrier
Most of these carriers are very simple to use, though the design of the carrier the owner gets to use will depend on his experience and the nature of the cat.
How long a cat stays in the carrier to whichever destination will take the cat a lot of getting used, especially being confined in a small space if used to roam free within and without its environment.
Getting your cat to use the carrier will take some time and dedication, just like getting it to use the litter box.
With repetition comes mastery. Anything and everything can be learned by regularly performing the task. In this case, you can get a cat to use the carrier using:
Having Many Training Sessions
It’s important to get the cat used to seeing the carrier as a part of its normal lifestyle. Leave the carrier in its normal play area or where it rests and reward it when it uses the carrier. This the cat understand that a carrier is a normal item.
Also, place the cat in the carrier from time to time and allow it to walk out of the carrier when it pleases. Do this often, a few times a day for a couple of weeks.
Start carrying the cat using the carrier within the house once it has learned that the carrier is a safe space that it can use from time to time.
Ensure The Carrier Is Very Comfortable
If possible, place inside it a replica of the very kind of material used in its normal sleeping area. You can also use some of your person’s scent or perfume on the sleeping material to give it a sense of comfort when it’s placed inside the carrier.
You can also get the cat to use the carrier but take it for test drives to get used to the different atmosphere from the norm. Long drives to the park and back to give it a feel of what to expect.
Also, short drives, where you stop and release it to play for a while, put it back in the carrier. So it knows that the carrier is not a lifetime bondage experience.
In trying to get cats to enjoy using a carrier, most people make many mistakes that usually earn them a scratch from their lovely pets.
Therefore, it is important to get the assistance of experts in training a cat to use a carrier. Note that a wrong turn in this process may mean your cat will never use the carrier for fear of their very first encounter with the carrier.
Final Words
Cat carrier mistakes and how to avoid them may mean getting the help of an expert in the field who would take the time to train the cat and you, the owner, to make the cat’s experience of the carrier very easy to use.
This is because a large part of the cat’s life will depend on a carrier’s use. If using expertise without your reach, get a friend who will help you out because some of the cat carrier mistakes may be costly.