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Cat Forum / General Topics / January 2006Soft carriers versus hard carriers.
Soft carriers versus hard carriers. Am in need of another carrier for my furbabies and was wandering what the advantage of one over the other are. I have always used the hard plastic because it seems they would be kind of squished it the soft ones.  Signature********************************************************* . . E-mail address altered to foil spam. . Remove extra to reply via e-mail. . ********************************************************* > Soft carriers versus hard carriers. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I have always used the hard plastic because it seems they would be kind of > squished it the soft ones. Me too. Most of the time they wouldn't be in a situation where they could get squashed in a soft carrier but for the few times you need to transport them in a plane or use a shipping company, you may as well have hard ones. Even transporting them in a car a hard carrier would be safer if you crash. You can always put a few old towels in the bottom if you're worried about them being uncomfortable but our cats always seem perfectly happy sleeping on hard floors so I can't see why they'd mind a hard carrier. Signaturehttp://www.ollieclark.com/acronyms.html Ollie: We have both types, soft for short local trips to the vet, and hard for air and extended car travel. Both of our babies would prefer to not travel in a carrier in the car (our Tomcat actually likes sniff air out of a partially open window like a dog and then sit on the console between the front seats and look out the windshield!) but some type of carrier is really safer for them. Hard carriers are defiantly the way to go for the reasons the other folks here have noted if you are only going to get one type. Our two babies are world travelers (Europe, Southwest Asia, East coast, West coast). Just be sure to make sure the carrier states that it has been tested and is certified for aircraft use (even if you don't plan on them flying) it means the carrier has met the international standards required for transportation of live animals, many carriers have not been so tested and approved. Approved ones don't seem to cost much, if any, more money but you need the certification for them to be able to fly. We've found that you need to go to 'Petsmart' type store not a 'Walmart' to find approved ones. Hope this helps. Jay (top posted for you convenience) >> Soft carriers versus hard carriers. >> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > about them being uncomfortable but our cats always seem perfectly happy > sleeping on hard floors so I can't see why they'd mind a hard carrier. >Soft carriers versus hard carriers. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >I have always used the hard plastic because it seems they would be kind of >squished it the soft ones. I prefer the hard carriers. A hard one offers some protection for the cat if something falls on the carrier. The soft ones may be more comfortable but i've always been nervous about something falling on it/hitting it. (Obviously if a car/truck were to hit it nothing would protect the cat short of heavy steel cage.) ------------------------------------------ http://www.barnabascollins.blogspot.com >>I have always used the hard plastic because it seems they would be kind of >>squished it the soft ones. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > (Obviously if a car/truck were to hit it nothing would protect the > cat short of heavy steel cage.) I agree re the heavy steel cage for auto travel, but we use rigid molded pet carriers for auto (actually the only place they are driven is the vet) and on cross country move in '04 to transport two (the mellower) cats by pet cargo in plane. I gave generous tips to cargo personnel, going and arriving....whatever your opinion on that, those two were relaxed, safe & hand-delivered to my waiting relatives @ their destination. As for the third cat, he's feisty and huge; he flew under seat in front of mine in cabin in a soft carrier (mesh airholes). I was afraid any form of "approved" hard carrier would be (1) too small for him and (2) not fit where it was supposed to stay: under seat in front of mine. There is actually no "approved" in-cabin carrier; they don't care what your animal is in as long as it's not loose in cabin; I saw people with small dogs in bowling bags (!) near me. Anyway, attendants felt sorry for my big boy and suggested he ride on empty seat beside me when seatbelts were off. This was good except the aisle-seat-guy got snockered, failed to put on his seatbelt when ordered, and flew up to plane interior ceiling and then down hard on - you guessed it - soft carrier with my cat inside, who gave a loud pitiful yowl which caused nearby passengers to yell and curse @ the inebriated one; attendants refused to give him any more drinks. Only my cat's dignity was injured by this event. > Soft carriers versus hard carriers. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I have always used the hard plastic because it seems they would be kind of > squished it the soft ones. I take my cat to see her vet several times a year to monitor her thyroid condition and to board her when I travel. I usually end up waiting about ten minutes each time I go pick up my cat at the vet and I have never seen any people come in with their pet in a soft carrier. I have seen and chatted with a lot of pet owners, and they all use a hard carrier, which is also what I use. I don't see how a soft carrier could offer anywhere near as much protection for its occupant as a hard carrier. I agree hard is better in some situations. We have a bunch of hard ones, a soft one with wheels on the bottom, and a baby buggy. Put a solar blanket in the baby buggy and I can't describe the way the wind is blocked, it's great for our stray. She uses a hard carrier in the summer as her home. Our babies know to go in the purple carrier. It's easy. SignatureIf you object to logging, try plastic toilet paper and towels. > > Soft carriers versus hard carriers. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I have always used the hard plastic because it seems they would be kind of > squished it the soft ones. >Soft carriers versus hard carriers. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >I have always used the hard plastic because it seems they would be kind of >squished it the soft ones. I have no experience with soft cloth or plastic, but based on my experience with cardboard carriers, you could expect a soft carrier lifetime of up to ten minutes with some cats. For me, it's more a case of protecting my investment in the carrier than of protecting the cat, though that follows automatically from chosing a carrier that cats can't destroy. SignatureT.E.D. (tdavis@gearbox.maem.umr.edu) SPAM filter: Messages to this address *must* contain "T.E.D." somewhere in the body or they will be automatically rejected. >>Soft carriers versus hard carriers. >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >cat, though that follows automatically from chosing a carrier that >cats can't destroy. Thanks for reply but I was not really asking about the cardboard version. I never really considered them other then when I brought my furbaies from shelter. I considered them temporary at best. >>>Soft carriers versus hard carriers. >>> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >considered them other then when I brought my furbaies from shelter. I considered them >temporary at best. I was suggesting that soft carriers are more like cardboard than they are like hard plastic in that as strong and determined cat might be able to tear one up in short order. SignatureT.E.D. (tdavis@gearbox.maem.umr.edu) SPAM filter: Messages to this address *must* contain "T.E.D." somewhere in the body or they will be automatically rejected. I have both. I like the soft carrier because I can sling it over my shoulder, and that way i can carry two other carriers, and with six cats, its not a bad idea. It is also loved by my kitties that like to wiggle their way under the bed sheets. I think they think it is cozier and more den like People have mentioned they think that hard carriers would be safer in a car crash, I personally think it would be the other way around. Even if you buckle in a hard carrier, the cat is going to be thrown against the side of the carrier as fast as your car was going when it was hit. A soft carrier buckled in would have the cat thrown against the soft carrier, which to me seems like it would cause less damage... but then again, Ive not seen any crash test data for cats, and Ive not been in an accident with my cats in the car (thank goodness) so I could be completely wrong. > Soft carriers versus hard carriers. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I have always used the hard plastic because it seems they would be kind of > squished it the soft ones. > Soft carriers versus hard carriers. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I have always used the hard plastic because it seems they would be kind of > squished it the soft ones. I favour the hard carriers because when I walk with my cat(s) to the vet, I don't have to worry about uncontrolled dogs. Even with a hard carrier, the cat would still be very frightened, but there would be little or no chance of injury. Spider >> Soft carriers versus hard carriers. >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >Spider Just as a side note: There are covers available for the hard plastic carriers. That way it would protect them from the wind and cold and not allow them to see all the big, bad things out ther [ DOGS :-) ] > >> Soft carriers versus hard carriers. > >> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > it would protect them from the wind and cold and not allow them to see all the big, bad > things out ther [ DOGS :-) ] Worth knowing ... thanks. Spider >Soft carriers versus hard carriers. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >I have always used the hard plastic because it seems they would be kind of >squished it the soft ones. I started out with a soft carrier, but later bought a hard carrier as it had more room and Cat had no problem with it - or maybe it's just that she realized the futility of trying to scratch her way out of it, althought that's probably not the case as she didn't even want to get out of it until the whole carrier was out of the car. > Soft carriers versus hard carriers. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I have always used the hard plastic because it seems they would be > kind of squished it the soft ones. I've always used the hard carriers, but recently got a soft carrier as well. The soft carriers I looked at weren't rated for very much weight so most of them wouldn't be appropriate for really large cats. The soft one is a bit easier on me when I'm carrying multiple cats. It seems like it might be more comfortable for the cat, but it doesn't seem as safe. For a cover, I took an old bath towel and cut a hole in it for the handle and just put that over the carrier. A couple of the cats seem to travel much better in the car when they're concealed by the towel. Not to mention that they don't have to look at the big scary doggies in the waiting room. > Soft carriers versus hard carriers. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I have always used the hard plastic because it seems they would be kind of > squished it the soft ones. I have a soft carrier and, although I like the convenience of being able to sling it over my shoulder and that it is easy to store, I regret that I don`t have a hard carrier yet, as I transport kitty more frequently these days. I am interested in a hard carrier that I saw in a specialty pet store (not walmart)...it`s made by Nylabone and it is a collapsible, hard-sides plastic which is airline approved. Does anyone have this carrier?? I would like to know what you think or have heard about this carrier and what would be the best size. There are 4 sizes...the smallest seems to small for my large cat, the next size up was missing, so I couldn`t assess the size, and the next 2 were HUGE...too big for my convenience. So if anyone has any thoughts... Rosie Rosie: I looked at a picture of one, am I correct that the only ventilation comes through the front door? The folding flat part for storage is appealing but I prefer ventilation on all 4 or at 3 least sides in case one side is stored up against a solid surface in an aircraft hold. Jay >> Soft carriers versus hard carriers. >> [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Rosie Actually Jay, the Nylobone carrier that I saw had lots of holes on all sides--the whole thing was pretty much holes (like a honeycomb pattern)...so I wasn`t concerned about ventalation...more about the quality and usefulness of this type of carrier as opposed to a traditional large, square plastic box... What do you think? > Rosie: > [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] >> >> Rosie Rosie: OK, I must have been looking at a different make of folding carrier. The criteria I use is that it's approved for aircraft use. The Federal Animal Welfare Act mandates the requirements for animal transport containers. You can look at it at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/researchmanual/13-8PECO.PDF (Here is a snippet of what I think are the relevant portions) "An animal transported in commerce must be contained in an adequately ventilated, properly constructed primary enclosure. [3.14, 3.36, 3.61, 3.87, 3.113, 3.137] A primary enclosure, such as a compartment, transport cage, carton, or crate, used to transport an animal in commerce must be properly constructed. - The transport primary enclosure must: be strong enough to contain the animal securely and comfortably - be able to withstand the normal rigors of transportation - have an interior without any sharp points, edges, or protrusions that could injure the animal - be designed so that the animal can be quickly and easily removed in an emergency - have adequate devices, such as handles or handholds, on the exterior to: - enable the enclosure to be lifted without tilting - ensure that anyone handling the enclosure can avoid contact with the animal unless necessary - be constructed to prevent leakage of fluids during transit - be constructed of a material that is: - cleanable and sanitizable, or disposable Non-disposable primary enclosures must be cleaned and sanitized prior to reuse. Dogs & Cats The primary enclosure must be designed and constructed to: [3.14(a)(9)] - prevent seepage of waste products by having a: - solid, leakproof bottom containing unused litter, or <removable leakproof collection tray under a slatted or wire mesh floor ANIMAL CARE 13.8.1 4/01 - prevent any part of the animal from protruding outside the enclosure in a way that could result in injury to the animal or to any nearby person or animal - A slatted or wire mesh floor must be designed and constructed: [3.14(a)(9)] - to protect the animal's feet and legs from injury - to not allow the animal's feet to pass through the openings" From a quality (construction) standpoint I figure this it is, at least, a government standard they have to meet so they had to complete some type of testing to be able to prove to the Government that their container meets the peovisions of the statute. IMHO if you can get a carrier that does all that, looks pretty, folds flat for strage, and doesn't require a second mortage on the house, all the better! Jay > Actually Jay, the Nylobone carrier that I saw had lots of holes on all > sides--the whole thing was pretty much holes (like a honeycomb [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] >>> >>> Rosie |
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