Traveling I keep my carrier zipped all the way now!!!

kerrimah2005

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I had taken my beloved Mr tummykins to the vet one day ...his first visit he did ok the ride there....however as I was leaving I had left his Zip style carrier open a little feeling he was stressed Lesson learned WRONG MOVE!!
he squeezed through the timy opening running across to the woods ..I didnt even hesitate just ran for Him chased him through the woods in the rain!! I am sooo I mean SO greatfull I was able to chase him while running with his carrier my bag and treats .. oh dear
my life would have been terrible if I had lost him forever ...Note to self and anyone Keep Those carriers firmly closed!! they can sneak out of the tinest spaces!! I would never want to see this happen to anyone else ...
Now ill always makes sure he is secure before i travel ever again!!
 

buzbyjlc10

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Good post... I always have Oliver's carrier completely closed when I'm outside, but even so, his leash/harness is secured to the leash hook inside the carrier... when we take the long carride home for Christmas he's attached to his carrier but allowed outside of it as much as his leash will allow (it's a 4 hour trip and he usually needs to use the litter box on the car floor).... that way he also cannot get under my feet as I drive yet can ask to get onto my lap if he pleases... If I keep him completely confined to the carrier he cries and screams for 4 hours straight, even though he's on the passenger's seat beside me and can see/hear me the whole time.... I dont open his carrier until were well into highway driving as well...
 

gardenandcats

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Good advice.That must of been a scare for you. I'm glad you where able to catch your cat!
 

yosemite

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Originally Posted by BuzbyJLC10

Good post... I always have Oliver's carrier completely closed when I'm outside, but even so, his leash/harness is secured to the leash hook inside the carrier... when we take the long carride home for Christmas he's attached to his carrier but allowed outside of it as much as his leash will allow (it's a 4 hour trip and he usually needs to use the litter box on the car floor).... that way he also cannot get under my feet as I drive yet can ask to get onto my lap if he pleases... If I keep him completely confined to the carrier he cries and screams for 4 hours straight, even though he's on the passenger's seat beside me and can see/hear me the whole time.... I dont open his carrier until were well into highway driving as well...
Excellent idea. As you probably know from our earlier posts, our kitties are outside their carriers when they are in the car with us, but they have on their harness and the leash is close by so that it is put on before any car doors are opened. They are also so used to the car that they don't try to get down under the driver's feet. We put a temporary litter pan on the floor in the back on one side and food and water on the other side. I usually put a little blanket by my feet (while John drives) and Bijou will either lay there, in my lap or on the backseat. Mika likes to be held in the passenger's arms so she can see out the window.
 

blazednconfused

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You may want to secure the zippers of the cage by running a safety pin through them. I don't do this on my carriers but I do put locks on my cages at shows, not so much to keep people out as to keep them in! One time I had just gotten everyone set up at a show, taken out one of my Orientals to groom and heard "cat out!" I turned around to see that my cleaver Aby had opened the zipper of the cage door and was leisurly walking around like he owned the place. I improvised with binder clips until I was able to go to walmart that night and buy luggage locks. The locks keep them in while not allowing strangers to get to them, but for trips to the vet I would suggest safety pins to keep your Houdini from another escape.
 

solaritybengals

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I have problems with 2 of the zippers on mine (the top zippers). I have to safety pin them shut because its the only way to keep them from escaping while in the car. Luckily they haven't figured out the front zipper. I like the soft carriers because they are so easy to handle...but for my birthday my fiance got my a hard sided carrier. I was very happy!
 

cyberkitten

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Very good post!! I too am super-cautious - having read so many horror stories about cats who get out of carriers at the vet!! I always keep YY in the carrier and take her out ONLY in vet's office - inside an office with the door firmly closed!!! I try to stay as well to watch others and fortunately thus far, she has not needed more intricate procedures that require an overnight stay - and I stayed thru her say surgery - watching the surgery as well. (Not so much for caution as because I wanted to see the procedure and even help with the stitches- I do so much stitching myself on tiny babies! My vet was most agreeable in this.) But I NEVER let her out of her carrier even in the car - which is also a dangerous place. (when I think back to how we used to allow our cats when I was younger loose in the car - tho usually we held them, we did not know any better!!!). Thankfully, times have changed and we are smarter 20 yrs later!!!
 
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