Dog Community

Carriers/small crates.

Posted : 5/12/2008 4:23:17 PM

What kind of carrier do you have for your cats or small dogs?

My cat is a big boy, 15 1/2 pounds, and looong. I had some cheapy small crates (you know, plastic rigid ones..like Varikennels, but knockoffs) from when we moved across country 4ish years ago, but Kovu's too big for them now. We had another crate that was a bit wider, so he fit a little better, but I can't find it.

I was taking him to the vet on a leash and harness, but that was a huge pain..trying to get him to sit still in the car (once he wedged himself under the seat on the way home, and I could not get him out..he wasn't stuck, but he wouldn't come out..so he sat in the car for an hour until he finally decided to crawl out...), getting scratched up in the waiting room if a dog barked..

So I went to Petco for a crate, and they were all like friggin $50, except for this one Petmate one that was $17.99. So I bought that. And it's plenty big enough, I wish the door was a little bigger, but it's fine...except my psycho cat broke it. I got him in, shut the door, and he started flipping out shoving on the door til one of the hinges broke. It's a plastic door, so I learned my lesson there, but still.. Then when I picked it up, it's so flimsy it felt like it was just gonna fall apart with 15 pounds of cat in there. I certainly wouldn't pick it up by the handle with him in it...

Sooo I'm in the market for a new one. But not one that costs $50. Preferably under $25. There are several on dog.com and jbpet.com that look good and are like 20-25 bucks, but I'm afraid they'll be as flimsy as my current one.

So basically this whole long-winded post is just to ask..anyone know of a really strong small-medium sized (I think the current one is 23"x12"x12"..and that's fine, though a little bigger would be nice) crate for under 25, maybe 30 bucks? Thank you!

Pwca

Posted : 5/12/2008 4:35:46 PM

I've had good luck with the brand name crates from Walmart, specifically this one:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4087822

Lizzie's current crate (which would easily fit a very large cat) was $16 from Tractor Supply company and is the smaller size of this one:

http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=content&target=products/outdoors/pets/products&start=0&selectedSKU=0337-40589-0028

So check Tractor Supply, Academy Sports & Outdoors (if you have one nearby) and Walmart! :)

Liesje

Posted : 5/12/2008 4:47:10 PM

For my cats' vet trips, I use heavy-duty boxes that (small form factor) desktop computers come in. I work in IT so I get first pick of all our boxes after a Dell shipment arrives. Dell boxes come in many sizes and they all have carry handles. I keep a stash around for my cats. None of them like the car, so they do better when they can't see anything. Also, if one pees or barfs, I just toss the box, no cleaning. Simple, disposable, and FREE. My largest cat is a big tom, not fat, but probably around 15 lbs.

calliecritturs

Posted : 5/12/2008 6:06:27 PM

Just as an aside -- be VERY leery of the PetMate stuff from Wal-mart -- I've used them and they're fine for a dog or cat who tolerates a crate and doesn't try to get out -- BUT they can be a deathtrap for a dog adamant about trying to get out. It's not what PWCA mentioned -- this is JUST a caution because someone's gonna scream otherwise. I'm talking about the Petmate all wire crates - they only have one latch and some dogs can spring it enuf to get partway out and it can trap them and hurt them or break a neck.

Chelsea -- have you thot about e-bay or Craigslist? sometimes you can pick up stuff for cheap that way and get what you actually want - just cheaper.

micksmom

Posted : 5/12/2008 6:37:11 PM

I haven't priced them lately, but it sounds like the #100 Vari Kennel is what you need. The one I had fit my late grnadmother's 11+ pound Toy Poodle in it (yeah, she was over weight when we got her). I have no idea how much it cost, tho- it was given to me for our cat.

Workingdoglover

Posted : 5/12/2008 6:45:31 PM

Check out petedge.com. Their stuff is fairly cheap, but all of their plastic crates are PetMates. I found one as cheap as $15. I excluded the PetMate Pet Escorts (which is probably the one you got from PetCo, because it's the one with the plastic door. It was only about $8 on the website).

DPU

Posted : 5/12/2008 6:49:30 PM

You won't believe what I saw this Saturday. A man came into Petsmart with his cat. He had the cat in one of those clear plastic rubbermaid containers with the lid on. He nonchalantly passed us by, oblivious to all the gasp and expressions on our faces. Talk about being in shock.

erica1989

Posted : 5/12/2008 10:25:03 PM

hmm.... I think I got my two biggest carriers from a general pet store - 14 years ago. They aren't really strong, but my kitties don't put up too much of a fight. My boy, Tonka, is 13-some lbs....he pitches a fit in his carrier - screams, but doesn't try to break out.

What about making the crate a positive place? Often before the kitties have to go somewhere, we get the crates out and just let them sit out for a few days. A nice towel on the bottom, and a few treats in the back works wonders! My one kitty Sammy - well, I can't keep him OUT of the dog crates!...or off from on top.... *sigh*

What about looking for a small wire dog crate? I have one that my pups are using now... and it's pretty sturdy - a bit heavy, but it would work for a cat. You could probably find one on ebay, or maybe even at a garage sale somewhere.

chelsea_b

Posted : 5/12/2008 10:41:59 PM

erica1989
What about making the crate a positive place?

That's the plan. He's eating canned food twice a day religiously now because he has to have lysine powder mixed in, so I figured I could just put his food in the crate (gradually...first with the top off..or just slightly into it.. I'm sure if I started with something at the back, even being the pig he is, he'd rather not eat than go into the crate at this point..sigh..) and that would make it a positive place pretty darn quickly...but I still need one that's sturdy enough for me to hold by the handle with him in it. I'm not positive anything would happen if I picked it up by the handle, but it just feels so flimsy that I don't want to risk it.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. That Petedge place is amazingly cheap. I found one elsewhere (called a Cayman?) that isn't made by Petmate (I'm feeling stubbornly boycott-ish at the moment..lol), and looks pretty sturdy..the question is... is it? Hmm...

jennie_c_d

Posted : 5/13/2008 6:02:02 PM

Emma is a little over 15 lbs, and the one from walmart worked fine, for her. It's when I picked it up, by the handle, with fat (24 lbs) Teenie in it that it broke. Emma's too tall for that one, anyways. Now, she has one of the $50 ones.

keedokes

Posted : 5/13/2008 6:49:42 PM

I second Callie's suggestion of Craigslist--that's where I got both cat carriers and Muggle's crate--Muggles crate was a brand new, double door 36" that I got for $30, and it retails for about $100. It was a steal!

sl2crmeg

Posted : 5/13/2008 9:53:10 PM

Craiiiiiigslist. I found my sis a brand new crate there for $20.

akyramoto82

Posted : 5/14/2008 11:38:41 AM

LMAO, i'm sorry your description of all of this was hilarious....i would say look on craigslist, theres usually alot of people selling decent kennels for way less than new.

Mechanical Angel

Posted : 5/14/2008 12:14:32 PM

I have a green plastic pet carrier with holes in the side and a metal door and I put an old towel in the bottom. Sugar just settles right in so maybe I got lucky that she likes crates. I got it from a garage sale.