Cat Carriers that are Free
My brother is the kind who never walks away from stray cat. It can be the mangiest, ugliest, dirtiest cat on the planet, and he loved it like it was the most beautiful creature to ever walk the earth. The problem was that these cats were not always the most subdued or gentle animals, so containing them was a problem. Being inventive when it comes to cat carriers was a necessary skill.
Cats were among my brother’s favorite animals to rescue. Cat carriers are expensive, and they don’t always provide the easiest access to, or comfort for, a frightened or angry animal. Through his animal rescue days, my brother came up with some free, simple options for cat carriers.
One that he could always find around the house was a pillow case. Most cats are small enough to contain in a pillow case, once you can get it inside. It is soft, so trapping the animal is not going to injure it, and it provides some level of darkness, which will calm the cat as you move it around. Once you get a cat contained in a pillow case, be sure to secure it well, so it cannot escape unexpectedly, causing injury to itself or you. A knot or a cinch tie around the top will work just fine.
When transporting a cat in a pillow case, beware. It will likely be agitated. Agitated cats tend to use their claws. Be sure to pick up the case by the top where you have it secured. If you accidentally grab the cat inside the bag, you are likely to get scratched, even through the pillow case.
An advantage to a pillow case is that we all have them lying around the house. Another is that they can be folded into a small space and stored in your car or office. It is handy whenever you have need of it. A pillow case can be reused as often as you need it, and it can be thrown in the laundry any time you need to clean it.
Another free option for transporting a cat is a box. We all have those extra boxes in our garages and attics that have been there forever. A small box, slightly larger than the cat, will serve as a great cat carrier. Be sure to cut small holes in the box to provide air for the cat. Make the holes small enough that the cat cannot get his paws through them. If he can get his paws through it will be easier to destroy the box.
Also make sure that the box is small enough that the cat cannot move around too much. You don’t want him folded in half to fit in the box, but too much movement can allow the escalation of his anxiety.
Boxes are a great free option for a carrier because, like a pillow case, they can be used as often as you need them. They can be broken down and stored in a relatively small space when you are not using them. The only times you need to replace a box are when the cat wets in it, making it unusable again, or when the cat shreds the box by scratching through it. Both these instances are rare. Another advantage of the box is that you are protected from the claws of the cat when you need to move the box around.
In the case you don’t have access to a box or a pillow case, you can use a number of things you might have lying around. Consider a canvas bag you use for work or to carry your groceries. They work much like a pillow case, and they can be washed if the need arises. You may also use a gym bag or other small fabric bag you may have stored in your car, desk, or office. Be sure to make provisions for the cat to be able to breathe well while contained in your carrier. Don’t use a bag that is lined with a material that doesn’t breathe unless you are willing to sacrifice the bag and cut air holes in it. Never use a plastic shopping bag. Not only will it suffocate the animal, but it is not strong enough to endure the claws of the cat.
While you will not find these things to be airline approved cat carriers, and you would not want to travel extensively with them, they will meet the need
for a cat carrier in a pinch, and they are free!
You may find that retail cat carriers are too expensive or that you have a hard time getting an agitated cat in or out of a traditional carrier. Give these options a try. They won’t cost you a thing, and they come in quite handy in an emergency!
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