Conference misery::feline_v1

    I agree, always use a carrier.  Recently, while at the vet (I was the
    only one there), I open up the top of the carrier (the cardboard kind -
    since disposed of) to pet Barney while waiting for the vet.  You must
    understand that Barney is a very FAT cat.  Well, he jumped from the
    carrier and headed right under the Iams stand.  The vet and I figured
    Barney would just eat his way out!  Anyway, it took me a few minutes
    but finally managed to get him out.  As good as Barney is at the vets
    when I've done this before, I will never do it again.  Fortunately, I
    learned my lesson in worry-free way.
    
    Mary
    

    I put a thick towel in the bottom of the carrying case when we go
    to the vet.  Holly _always_ messes because she is afraid, I guess,
    poor baby.  Being a spendthrift, I bought a bunch of towels
    specifically for this for about $2 apiece the last time Sears had a
    sale, and I just throw them out once we get to the vet's office.
    A less profligate person would wash them.  Anyway it pretty much
    protects the bottom of the carrier -- I just wipe it down with
    Nature's Miracle and it seems to be fine.
    

    Hmmmm.  I usually took Coelura in my arms or a towel because she's a 
    petite kitten and easy to keep a snug hold on.  
    
    But now that she's starting to get a *little* bigger, she's not as easy 
    to subdue and I've been considering getting a kitty carrier or harness.
    
    Thanks for reminding me of what *could* happen.  I'm going to get one
    before we go back to the vet on Saturday to get the spay stitches
    removed!
    
    Carol
    

    You can get a good carrier for not very much money.  I usually buy
    all mine at the cat shows, the little blue kennel cabs can be had
    for about $13.99 at a show.  If that is beyond your budget, how
    about one of those new plastic versions of the standard cardboard
    ones.  There is an ad for them in the CFA Almanac this month.
    
    Let's see, the company is called Systems Go, P.O. Box 145415, Coral
    Gables, FL 33114-5415.  The only problem, they sell them buy the
    dozen.  The ad is geared to breeders, wanting them to buy these
    carriers and give one with each kitten.  The cost is $54.00 for a 
    case of 12, plus $6.00 shipping for the case.  That would be $4.50
    each, plus 1/12 of the shipping, or $.50 each, so $5.00 for a durable,
    cleanable, plastic carrier.  Maybe a bunch of Feliners could get
    together and order a case.
    
    Jo

For the last few years I've found the best thing for me and my cats is a 
burlap or canvas bag, or even a pillow case.  They don't have anything to 
fight (once you get them in the bag  8^) ) so they don't struggle as much
and I can hold them or pet them on the way to the vet.  I just hate it when 
you hear them lose their balance in a carrier when you touch the brakes or 
something!  Of course, this may not work well for all cats, but mine seem
to put up with it better than a carrier.  You have to be VERY sure the bag
is SECURELY closed before you go anywhere.  (Dare I say it?  You don't want
to let the cat out of the bag ...)

One of my vets used to sell bags for this purpose.  He called them "cat-bags". 

Roseanne
..in Atlanta

 
    >> I just hate it when you hear them lose their balance in a carrier 
    >> when you touch the brakes or something! 

       We discovered that Dundee loves to ride in his cat bed in the
    carrier.  He sits and patty-paws the sides of the bed all the way
    to his destination.  It has the added benefit of giving him a
    secure "seat" so he doesn't get thrown around.  Dundee usually rides
    in the smallest of our carriers and I seat-belt it into the front
    seat for him.
      Nancy DC

    I always use a carrier whenever transporting the brood, but I take it a
    step further...when they're in the car, I buckle them up, too.  I
    extend the seatbelt, draw it thru the handle, wrap it around the kennel
    and fasten it.  It's a pain with the combination seat/lap belt, but my
    boys' faces are already pushed in enough, and Julie...well, we don't
    need any more brain damage!  My kennels are small, so they don't move
    around too much inside, but I still feel better when they wear their
    seatbelts!
    
    Mary

    I belt Dundee in too, at least when he rides in the front.  I don't
    use the shoulder part at all, must the lap part around the carrier.
    I have the carrier facing me so I can talk to him. 
      N
    

    That reminds me, I saw a pet-belt advertised in Pedigrees.  There
    is more than one size available, including a cat-sized harness.
     N
    

    When we make the trip to the vets or where ever, I put the cat
    carrier in the front seat with the door/grill opening towards
    me and use a web type belt with "D" rings on it that put through
    the carrier handle and up around the neck of the head rest. Works
    great as the traffic going west on 101 is awful with people darting
    in and out and turning etc. With both cats in the cage there's
    not much room for either of them to roll around should I need to
    stop fast.
    
    Barbara - Mocha and Ming