In earlier articles on this blog we’ve mentioned litter trays several times.  The traditional kind of litter box was just an open tray filled with sand.  Eventually more absorbent materials came into vogue, that not only soaked up the moisture but also much of the odour.

This was quite an advance over having a wad of old newspaper on a patch of linoleum, but even so for many cats this was not ideal.  Some seem very concerned about their privacy, and therefore the location of the tray had to be chosen with care.    Then came the enclosed litter box came into use.  This is a box with a roof to it, and a cat flap entrance through which the sensitive feline can go, do what it has to do, and emerge with dignity intact.

For a range of litter trays and boxes take a look at our CatCarePlus.com CatStore.

Tags: cat care, cats, litter box, litter tray

Maybe you, like many other people, think it’s cruel to put your cat in a small cage.  Maybe it is if you do it unnecessarily and for long periods, but there are circumstances in which it is the only safe thing to do.

One example is when driving.  A cat roaming free in a car travelling at sixty miles per hour is a serious health hazard both to itself and to you.  A good quality pet carrier is not really an optional extra.

Cats, like other pets, can be unpredictable and as the old saying goes it is always better to be safe than sorry.  When, for example, transporting a cat to see the vet it is always better to have it securely locked in a cat carrier.

There are many different kinds of cat carrier available on the market today.  Here are some points that you should consider.

Your cat carrier should:

• be big enough for a full grown cat; remember that small kittens soon become grown cats;
• allow enough space for the cat to have some freedom of movement;
• have plenty of ventilation to allow air to circulate;
• have a hole in at least one of the sides big enough for the cat to look out;

Many cat owners make a practice of putting several layers of old newspaper in the carrier base so that if there’s an ‘accident’ the urine will be soaked up  This can be especially helpful if your cat is not yet accustomed to being transported in this way.

Just in case the carrier is bumped or thrown around it is also good to have some form of padding around the sides.  This could be your cat’s own blanket; in fact this would have the added advantage of making your cat feel more comfortably at home in its carrier.

Pet carriers these days are made from many different materials.  In times past one would often see a kitten’s head poking out from the top of a wicker basket.  More often today cat carriers are made of plastic materials or plastic coated metal.  There is a wide range to choose from in our CatCarePlus CatStore. The two graphic images above are also clickable and take you to pages with further details.

UK visitors: We recommend the leading UK pet store, Pets at Home

Tags: carrier, Cat, cat carrier, cat safety, cats, kittens, pet, pet carrier