ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 2, 1997 TAG: 9703030001
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-22 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: claws & paws
SOURCE: JILL BOWEN
Q: I have just tried to take my cat to the veterinarian. This is my third attempt. Each time she wriggles out of the cardboard box and flies round the car so I have to go home. I am getting desperate as she is overdue for her shots. What can I do?
A: There is no substitute for a properly designed cat carrier for your pet. Unfortunately, a freaked-out cat in a car is a prime candidate for injury or escape. Any cat traveling by car or public transport should be confined in a securely closed, well-ventilated carrier.
Carriers come in several styles. The least expensive are made of corrugated cardboard. Your cat, having become a past master at escape, may well have mastered the art of clawing his way out of such a container!
For your cat's safety, and your peace of mind, I recommend a carrier with a hard plastic body and a door that latches securely. The carrier should be large enough for your cat to stand up, turn round and lie down comfortably, but no larger. By this time your cat may well be a little reluctant to get into a carrier. The easiest way to do this without both of you getting hot and bothered, is to stand the carrier on end with the open door at the top. Hold your cat firmly by the scruff of the neck with one hand and support your cat's weight with your other hand by placing it under its rear end. Lower your cat into the carrier, continuing to firmly hold the scruff of its neck as you close the door. Very gently, return the upended carrier back into its normal position. When you want to remove your cat from the carrier, place it on the floor and wait. It is possible that your cat will have settled down and will walk out calmly. However if that is not possible, place the carrier on the floor, open the door and gently tilt the carrier so that your cat is literally poured out onto the floor.
For air travel, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has minimum standards for animal carriers, so when purchasing a carrier it is a good idea to buy one that meets the federal specifications. It is also your best insurance that your cat will travel in comfort and safety. Some people use a special soft sided zippered holdall for carrying their cats. These are usually much smaller, with no room for the cat to move around and should only be used for relatively short trips. They are also hard to clean and disinfect should an "accident" occur.
Jill Bowen is a veterinarian who has practiced in England and Texas and taught at Texas A&M. She lives with her veterinarian husband and two chocolate Labrador retrievers in Blacksburg. If you have a question for the column, please write to her in care of The Roanoke Times' New River Current, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg, Va. 24073 or send an e-mail to newriver@infi.net
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