Cheap Cat Carrier Nearly Kills Cat
Buyer Beware: Pet Products Aren’t Regulated Like Baby Products
Cat and dog carriers, strollers, and travel gear don’t go through anywhere near the safety scrutiny that baby and child equipment does. A crib or car seat gets recalled if it’s found to be unsafe; a flimsy pet carrier usually doesn’t, even if it fails in exactly the way that matters most — letting your pet escape or get injured. In fact, a faulty carrier is the leading cause of pets suffering serious harm during air travel, more so than any breed-specific risk factor.
A Real Example: The Zipper That Wasn’t
A cat once arrived for an appointment in a brand-new, hastily purchased soft-sided carrier. In the parking lot, the cat “just popped right out” through the top opening — and on closer inspection, it was easy to see why: the zipper wasn’t sewn all the way to the closure flap, and the flap itself had only a single flimsy attachment point. The carrier looked the part but wasn’t actually built to safely contain a cat.
Why a Zipper Guard Matters
For cats who are anxious, feisty, or prone to lunging at an open zipper, a “zipper guard” — a strip of fabric sewn along the length of the zipper track — makes a real difference. It prevents fur from catching in the zipper mechanism, and it keeps a determined cat’s claws away from the zipper pull itself, which some cats will absolutely go after if given the chance.
What to Look for in a Carrier
- A zipper that runs the full length of the opening, sewn securely into a sturdy closure flap
- A zipper guard along the top zipper track
- Metal hardware and latches where possible, rather than plastic
- A well-ventilated design that still allows secure closure from multiple sides
- For carrier styles with a “back access” panel (useful for a vet visit, since it allows access without fully opening the carrier), make sure that panel closes as securely as the main opening
How Ancient Law Pet Wellness Can Help
A secure, well-built carrier isn’t just for travel — it matters for any appointment, including our own Canine Rehabilitation and Tui-na sessions when transport is involved. If you’d like a second opinion on whether your current carrier is safe and appropriate for your pet, reach out at JLaw@VetVmd.com or call/text (813) 816-1759.
Great post! And funny too (we have our Chompers where I work, too)…
Yes, most of those cute, fashionista, trendy carriers are just as you explained…not made for cats, and not so great for dogs either! A cat can weasel it’s way out of the tiniest opening, and while we love those soft sided carriers for handling fractious cats, not all are made ‘cat-proof’, just as you explain!
Our favorites are the Sherpa and the Bergen bags
http://www.sherpapet.com/page.asp?id=38&name=Original%20Deluxe%20Bags
http://www.berganexperience.com/comfortcarriers/index.html
And about shipping pets in cargo, yes…you are right in saying that faulty carriers account for most losses of animals being shipped. The only carrier I will ship my cats in is the Petmate Varikennel. They are strong enough to stand on, with metal doors and secure latches. They run about $70 now and I have had people say ‘Oh, I can get a carrier for $30 someplace…but I tell them why I won’t use anything else.
I had a cat shipped to me in a flimsy carrier with a plastic door and while the person checking the cat in at the airport should have NEVER accepted such a carrier, that is where problems occur when staff is not trained properly or care enough to do a good job.
The door fell off the carrier while it was being transported from the plane to the terminal. I was sitting there waiting for her to arrive when an airline employee came up and notified me that my cat got loose. They took me down to the cargo area–a large hangar with lots of noise, vehicles, traffic around. I opened the ‘curtains’ of the luggage tram and it was a jumble of luggage, all tipped over.
I do not know if she had exited the carrier or not, but the door was off and if she had gotten loose in that hangar, we would have never found her. She would have been terrified! But fortunately, she had buried herself under the bedding in the carrier, way in the back and she had not escaped!
OMG! What a nightmare!
My pilot friends say especially do not transport pets i cargo during the busiest summer travel months when the baggage crew are temporary and severely undertrained.
As a vet, I love the Sherpa bags. They seem so well constructed and comfortable for the cats. They are not for cargo (of course), and they are not so excellent for auto safety. If you happen to get into an auto collision with a cat in the car, the cat will fly forward at the speed the car was travelling and suffer severe trauma or death. People do not think of this when their dog or cat likes to sit on their laps during travel in a vehicle like a car, but they should. You wouldn’t let a child sit on your lap in the front seat. Your cat or dog is in just as much danger as a child would be on your lap!
I’ll have to check out the Bergen bags; it’s great to have choices!