Need advice on carrier....

I have lots of trouble getting Autumn into the carrier as I have said in another thread and received lots of ideas on how to do that. Some of you mentioned buying a carrier with an opening on the top rather than just the side. I have looked online and saw a few of them. What should I be looking for, a sherpa carrier, could she claw her way out ?? I didn't see any hard carriers with a top opening. Let me know if you have a good idea for a new carrier, thanks.

They definitley make hard carriers with tops that open I'll see if I can find them... and give you a link.

Leslie

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2751219

Here is one that has the top door and a front door.

Leslie

I have both a soft side, and a hard side carrier - both with top openings.

Here is the hard side I have:
The pros: Spacious, light, the top opening is very wide, the door opens from left to right or right to left... All and all, I would highly recommend this one... I bough a larger size as Bugsy is pretty large, and I wanted him comfortable in it. It is airline approved, and I don't know why, but my vet was very impressed with it - he loved it!
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=3073395

Here is the soft sided I have:
The Pros: Very light, comfortable, easy to secure in the car with the seat belt... I think this is a great carrier to take your kitty to the vet, but I would not ship my kitty cargo in it. I have used this carrier with my three kitties, and all of them approved. I no longer use it with Bugsy as he pees when stressed, and a hard carrier is far easier to clean than a soft one...
http://www.amazon.com/Jakks-Pacific-...7344846&sr=8-1

Sherpas are really good; I don't think you would have a problem with her clawing her way out... I do think however that the hard case I have makes it easier to put them in through the top, as the opening is much bigger.

Thank you Leslie, this is a really nice one but I do find the hard ones are heavy for me. I will save the link tho and thanks again.

Yes after seeing the soft one, it might be tougher to get her into it. The only think is I find the hard ones kinda heavy for me to carry as I mentioned before. I will save these links also. I will go to Petco tho and check out what they have and how heavy they are. Thanks again ladies, these are really nice carriers.

I got the medium sized Sherpa bag as a 'shower' gift when I got my first cat - bought the second, large size (from the dog aisle) later for my big boy cat. Con is that they're not the cheapest carriers in the world - pro is that they're airline approved, sturdy, my cats will sleep in them if I leave them out, I love them, and my vet loves them - you can either get the cat out the front or lift from above. The lambskin is removable and washable - another plus for me.

The only real advice I have to is to test your carrier to see how easy it is for you to close once you get kitty in. I tried a hard carrier at Petsmart which was really nice but I had a hard time closing locking it quickly - my hands must not be strong enough.

Be careful with a top opening hard carrier where the carry handle is on the opening part. I've seen several times the lid pop open while carrying, and the cats inside were only small-medium weight kitties.
If you can use a shoulder strap it takes the pressure off the opening lid.

Thanks for the tip, appreciate it. Will be going to Petco next week and will check out everything you gals have mentioned. Thanks to all for the good advice, now I know what to look for.

I have the carrier jack31 linked...the petmate 2 door one. It is sturdy and holds my large cat (15lbs), BUT be warned the handle is a piece of junk and the rubber around it came off about 2 months after purchase...I now have a very stylish electrical tape / duct tape ghetto handle... which ain't great with a 15lb cat inside. If you don't mind that, then it should work well for you.

Art

I finally purchased a new soft two door carrier from Petco. It's from FashionPet Travel Gear and seems to be made well. I bought the large which holds a cat or dog up to 20 lbs. It has a privacy flap on one side of the mesh, don't know why a cat needs privacy :-) Anyway I like it and have had it out and open on the floor since I brought it in. I am now giving Autumn her snacks in it, putting them way in the back and she has to go all the way into the carrier to eat them. Hopefully she will be used to it by the time I get her to the vet.

Again, thanks for all your advice.

What do you all think of the Sturdi Products? I was looking at a Sturdi Tote at Petsmart tonight. Kind of neat. Round shape, has top and side zipper opening and a base that you zip into the bottom that gives it shape; it has a pad that you velcro into the bottom. Looked pretty neat. Probably best for toting around town and not for travel. They make other carriers and shelters too. Anyone use this brand? I also went to Meijer and found a generic made in China soft sided 20" crate (for dogs, but could just as easily be for cats) for around $25. It is similar to a dog crate that I have. They are burgundy and black.

What do you all think of the Sturdi Products?

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Mews2much has the Sturdi carrier, pm her and ask. I saw them at Petsmart, and I think they would be too small for my crew, lol.

I finally purchased a new soft two door carrier from Petco. It's from FashionPet Travel Gear and seems to be made well.

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Glad you found a carrier you like! I have several but my favorite is the small Petmate Deluxe with the top door.

...petmate 2 door one... the handle is a piece of junk and the rubber around it came off about 2 months after purchase...I now have a very stylish electrical tape / duct tape ghetto handle...

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LOL. I have one and the rubber grip fell off, but I found it and taped it in place with clear tape. You might could get one for free if you emailed the company, that is what I was going to do before I found it. They should have glued it in place or used a solid peice of rubber versus one with a slit down the middle.