You could also wrap a blanket around the carrier. With everything else
you're doing, though, it sounds like he'll be ok (probably warmer than
you! *grin*)

Rene

Hi Priscilla!

Here's what I'd do...

If you happen to have a heating pad, heat it up on MED about 15 or 20
minutes before your cab is due to arrive. When the cab BEEPS to let you
know it's outside, pull the plug out of the wall, place it in the
carrier with your jammies on top. In goes Francis and you're on your way!

When you get to the vet, plug the pad into a wall outlet, so it'll be
nice and warm when you leave...

Alain...San Diego

Ooooh, the hot water bottle is a nice idea.  I didn't much like
having Mingy out today--and it was warmer today than it will be
tomorrow.  Good luck with the trip and the neutering.

I think he'll be warm enough, too.

When I take a cat to the vet when it's cold outside, I have a towel that I
put over the top of the carrier - side-ways.  It's a hand-sized towel: I cut
a slit in its center, just long enough to slip over the carrier's handle, &
blanket-stitched the raw edges of the slit.  My carriers are each top &
front-loading ones, so this keeps the cold air from entering through the top
& the sides.  The front's still open to the air, so on the way from the
front door to the car, & then from the car to the vets' door, I try to keep
the front of the carrier from facing into the wind.  If the car's interior
is warm (remote started ahead of time), then I usually flip the sides of the
towel up during the actual drive over to the vets'.

Cathy

I've had to take Scarlett to the vet quite a few times lately (also
a short trip) and we're just about as cold as you are here in MD.
She's even had the added indignity of having an already shaved
tummy. I put a flannel sheet and a towel inside the carrier so that
it sort of forms a scoop that she can sit in the middle of, and I
cover the whole thing with a large beach towel so that it blocks
the cold air coming in through the vent holes.

Good luck to Jr tomorrow, and I'm a worry-wart too. :)

Purrs from Memphis and Phoenix for a good operation and safe transportation.
Phoenix in particular can sympathise as he was snipped only a couple of days
ago. No problem at all, and soon back to normal.

Well, that cold trip didn't happen today.  I could not get a cab to
come.  Two out of three cab companies didn't even answer their phone
(well, one was continuously busy and the other put me on "all our
operators are busy" hold), and the third couldn't find a cab in my area.

I called the vet practically in tears and told her I'd have to cancel
and try again another day, when I'd see if my neighbor could drive me.
The original plan was for a friend to drive Francis (without me), but
she's gotten wierd lately and is avoiding me.  I don't know what's up.

But Francis was good as GOLD!  He waited quietly in the guestroom while
his siblings had breakfast and while I showered, dressed, and
breakfasted.  Then he waited on the flannel-wrapped hot water bottle in
his carrier while I phoned around for an hour trying to get us
transportation.  He only mewed a few times.  Such a champ!

So finally I let him out and gave him breakfast.  He didn't understand
why I was so upset or why he'd been given a time-out in that comfy warm
carrier, but anything that encourages face-rubbing with Mommy must be
good, yes?

The vet was so nice.  I apologized, and she (actually the receptionist)
said she was just concerned about me.  I was on the verge of tears --
and did have a nice little jag after everything was over -- partly
because I'd gotten so worked up about the visit.  My little baby, his
growing up, his heart murmur, the possibility (slight) that something
bad might happen in the operation, my having to get up 2+ hours early to
take him over, and so on.

Well, I have the carrier set-up down now (hot water bottle wrapped in
flannel PJ bottoms, flannel shirt folded up along one side of carrier,
favorite stuffed leopard in the back, Francis snuggled in amongst it
all) and just have to get the transportation more firmly fixed.  

*sigh*

Priscilla

We had to take Luna to the vet on Saturday here in the Chicago area and
it's a 10-15 minute drive.  Took her out in her carrier (with only a towel
in the bottom) to a not-warmed up car, drove her to the vet and she was
just great.  We've done this with all our cats for the past 9 years and
they've all been fine.

That's one of the things cat fur is good for - it keeps them warm!  :-)  
I don't think you have to worry too much about a 10 minute trip - they're
not going to get frostbite or hypothermia from such a short ride....

brian