(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best cat carriers & strollers

Hi, /u/freelifreed I have done exactly this - my fiance and I took our cat from Beijing to Los Angeles last year. Here's the process we went through. Please ask me if you have any questions!

It's good that you're starting this now because even with the paperwork we already had, the whole thing took us several months to organise.

So here's the rundown. My fiance and I did this ourselves without using an agency, we were pleased with how it went although it was expensive (probably 600 dollars overall.) It was totally worth it because as we know, China has an "eh, close enough" culture and I wasn't willing to trust anyone except myself to transport my kitty across international waters. I was also insistent that she travel in the cabin with me instead of being checked into cargo, too many horror stories of pets arriving dead or dying.

Pre departure:

• We adopted kitty from a reputable shelter in Beijing and they were very good w/ documentation. When we adopted her she came with a red book/passport showing her name, age, description and records of her microchip and rabies vaccinations as well as all vet appointment records. It was required for her to leave China. If you don't have your cats red book you need to get on that asap.

• Cat had to be rabies vaccinated at least 30 days prior to departure but not more than 12 months ago, if your cat hasn't been vaxxed recently that's a top priority. Vax date is then printed in the red book mentioned above. Cat must also be microchipped.

• Booking the flight. Only a few airlines allow animals in the cabin and they usually have a limit of 2 animals per flight. We flew Asiana the whole way and they were really excellent. We chose the flight we wanted, called up their customer service line and confirmed that there was space for a live animal. After they confirmed, we booked it online, they have an option to include a live animal. The flight was 2 legs, Beijing - Seoul - LA, each leg cost about 120 USD to include the cat. I think I called them two more times before the flight to triple check that they had confirmed the live animal allocation, probably unnecessary but greatly helped with my peace of mind.

• Bought an airline regulated cat carrier (has to be officially approved) and started to leave it open in our apartment with treats, catnip etc inside it so that kitty would be comfortable being zipped inside. We bought this one and I really recommend it, it has an extendable side so the cat has more room to stand up and stretch. It's also very sturdy. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073T6YHV1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_VwbNAb8JQG3RQ

• Bought several, extremely thick "puppy pads", put one in the bottom of the carrier and carried the rest with me in my hand luggage. She didn't actually end up peeing as I put her in the carrier just after she had used the litter box in Beijing, and she didn't eat or drink much during the flights.

• Chinese exit requirements dictate that the cat has to be checked up by one of the few authorised vets between 7-10 days before departure. We found one in Beijing and took her 10 days before the flight. She's a healthy cat so no problems there, they provided her with a certificate in Chinese and English stating that she's healthy to fly.

• We then took all of those documents to the Quarantine Bureau in Beijing and received an "animal exit permit", this took 5 days to process and is valid for 10 days. This is really important, your cat can't leave the country without it. If you cannot speak Chinese you need to have a Chinese speaker with you imo. The timing on this is crucial, the validity is really short!

Departure Day

• Cat in carrier, puppy pad at the bottom, I also included a tshirt of mine for comforting smells and one of her favourite toys inside the carrier. I also recommend buying a harness and keeping the body part attached to her, and carrying the leash separate. You'll need it for airport security. I feed her wet food usually but I bagged up some handfuls of dry food and put it in my hand luggage. She ate a bit during the flight but not much.

• With red passport/vaxx record/exit permit and vet certificate in hand we checked in. Kitty had never been to an airport before and started meowing a lot, I found it helped to place a scarf over the mesh for privacy and I also kept my hand in the carrier and zipped around it, this helped with her anxiety.

• Check in was easy, they made us write out a few forms with cats information and then provided us with her boarding passes.

• Obviously make sure your flight is either direct or a direct transfer so you're not going through immigration with a live animal in the transfer country.

• One thing about Asiana is the total weight of the cat + carrier is supposed to be 5kg max. My cat is pretty hefty (4.8kg) and the total weight when they weighed her at check in with carrier was just over 6kg. I was a little worried about this, and if they would try to make her fly in the cargo hold, but I'd read online that the rules are lax when it comes to weight and I gambled that they wouldn't care. it was a risk and if they wouldn't have let her on I wouldn't have taken the flight that day and found another route. My gamble paid off and no one cared that she was 1kg overweight. It's up to you if you're willing to risk this. If your cat is smaller than mine it's no problem.

• Security was the worst because obviously they can't X-Ray the cat so I had to take her out of her carrier (she was extremely reluctant) and walk through the scanner with her. The lady at the security had never seen a cat going through customs before and even with all the paperwork she wouldn't let us pass. it took quite a while of arguing and then eventually calling her manager over before they let us through. Kitty was not happy at this stage, so many alien sounds, smells, bright lights and people poking her. She didn't need any encouragement to get back in the carrier after security. We had to go through security again in Seoul when transferring and it was much of the same. Be prepared for this part, keep a good grip on kitty (this is where the harness comes in handy), although my cat had her claws hooked into me and was clinging on for dear life anyway.

• Boarding the flight was easy, no one even looked at the carrier on my shoulder or asked to see her boarding documents. We showed them anyway and they were like "k".

On the flight

• Takeoff was the worst part. It's noisy and the pressure changes and I don't know if her little ears were painful due to the pressure. She meowed a lot at this point. I put her carrier on my lap and stroked her and held her. She was not happy but happier than she would have been in the hold, all alone.

• After takeoff she calmed down a bit. I kept her carrier on my lap. When the lights dimmed I actually took her out of the carrier and attached the leash to her and put her down. She sniffed a bit around the seat and then jumped on my lap, I covered her with my blanket and she fell asleep on my lap/shoulder. Air stewardesses saw me doing this and just thought it was really cute. They were all great about it. She slept for a few hours like that.

• I offered her food and water several times which she had a nibble at but wasn't really that interested.

Arriving at LAX

• Literally the easiest part. No one checked or asked to see her paperwork even though it was obvious we had a cat with us. Immigration didn't care, neither did customs, nothing was checked, we were stamped in and just like that, kitty is American now.

• I heard sometimes if you don't do the paperwork right, there is a quarantine for animals entering the US but this was't required for my kitty. I was obsessive about getting everything right to avoid this, but it didn't matter anyway because no one checked anything.

Settling in

• She spent perhaps a day sulking in a cupboard before coming out and being totally fine. I don't think that this is something I'd want to do regularly, I was super stressed that something would go wrong and I'd walk through fire to stay with my cat, but everything turned out ok in the end. She definitely didn't enjoy the experience but it doesn't seem to have affected her negatively and I'd do it again in a heartbeat if it meant keeping my cat with me.

I hope this helps - I don't think I've missed anything. Any questions let me know!

I am a reluctantly seasoned flyer with my maine coon mix and have lots of thoughts for you.

For carriers, I use the OxGord Airline Approved Size Large and it works great.

The only thing to really make sure is that it is able to fit under the seat in front of you. There are regulations on airline websites but as long as you have a soft-sided carrier, it is probably okay. They also all require the carrier to be big enough for them to turn around.

I HIGHLY SUGGEST GETTING PUPPY PADS. Every time we fly, my big guy gets nervous and pees in the crate and I found it extremely useful to line the crate with a puppy pad that I can switch out easily.

Tranquilizers - my cat has asthma so our vet didn't love the idea of sedating him, but did say I could give him children's benadryl. I did use some Feliway cat pheromone wipes in the crate. I'm not sure how well it worked, but worth a shot!

Everything I've read about sedating cats says you should test it out beforehand or make sure you've timed it correctly. I would definitely ask your vet for suggestions and carefully follow their instructions. My vet explained sedation shouldn't be done lightly, but you don't want them to panic either.

Other tips - Try as hard as you can to get a direct flight. I've done the east/west coast journey and it is so much better if it's direct. If you do have a layover, you can use the family bathroom to let him out to pee in a makeshift box and drink some water/eat some food.

Bring a small tupperware with you that you can fill up with water. It's a long journey for them to go without any water and it's easy to dehydrate when flying, especially for us because my cat pants when the plane is taking off...

Finally - MAKE SURE YOU GET HIM A HARNESS AND LEASH. Strap him in and do not take it off until you're at your final destination. Most important tip I can give.

I hope this is helpful - let me know if you have other questions! Good luck to you and Sebastian on your big move. He's such a cutie!

Here’s some things I view as necessities for MCs:

• Strong cat tree, get a tall one with large perches near the top!
  
  
• scratching posts strategically placed next to furniture you don’t want flayed.
  
  
• large pet carrier (petluv has a great one!)
  
  
• feather wand toy: pet fit brand is awesome. Catnip toys, anything to chase. Laser pointer.
  
  
• large litter box: I highly recommend the Cat-illac system (it’s extra large and great for multiple cats) paired with a litter genie. Super low maintenance. You can use their pellets or use dried beans or feed store dried corn as substrate. Eco friendly and no litter tracking.
  
  
• brush: greyhound style + furminator covers most of the bases.
  
  
• harness + leash. Start yours young and they’ll enjoy it! Gooby brand or one of those Velcro ones that wrap around the torso are pretty secure and comfortable.
  
  
• I wasted money on cat beds but they loved this
  
  
• pet insurance. I use healthy paws. It’s paid for itself many times over in the first year.
  
  
• those super large sticky lint rollers. One for home, one for work, one for your car :)

Do the back seats come out to make room for the kennels? If so I would fit 2 large kennels there.

Also, Amazon sells large kennels that attach to the backseat, this first one has a divider which would help with keeping the pets from being too crowded, these will also be good for a litter box:

Amazon Car Seat Kennel 1

Amazon Car Seat Kennel 2

if one can fit on the seat and one on the floor space below that may work.

I read this great review on Amazon for the cats and I'm sure it will help with dogs as well:

'We recently moved from California to Texas, and while we had our personal possessions shipped we took our cat, a spry 18 year-old kitty on our road trip with us. We ordered the carrier early, put a small blanket that smelled like her family in it, and placed it in the sunlight in one of her favorite spots to lay, in place of her bed. In under 3 days she was going in and out of the carrier like it was her bed. We made the trip across the western states from roadside attraction to roadside attraction, and she made the trip with ease.'

​

Also this thread has some good tips for using hotels that are pet friendly

https://new.reddit.com/r/moving/comments/e11avi/relocating_1200_miles_socal_to_northern_washington/

Yep. I've been looking to buy one of these for my new cats who we yoinked off the street so we can keep them sociable and outgoing and happy to be travelling/outdoors. I believe it's this model, which is made to either be open with the cat hooked in (like the video), or with the top zipped it acts more like a cat carrier where you don't have to hook them in, but they can feel a little more freedom with the extra windows. Texens makes a few carriers like this and I'm honestly super undecided between them, they seem to be well-reviewed, nice look and quality, etc. I know this one has popped up on reddit a few times. I'm planning on asking for/splurging on one for Christmas this year!

I feel like the most you're going to get out of a toy dog like that is maybe a few half hour walks a day. Weren't they bred to be lap dogs? If you want him to come along on longer jogs/bike rides, you could always get a stroller/bike basket for him to ride in.

http://www.amazon.com/Pet-Gear-Jogger-Stroller/dp/B007PPTYXW
http://www.amazon.com/Solvit-69996-Wire-Safety-Cage/dp/B0057AETGY

Also:
>I wouldn't say I'm highly active--more like low-moderate. 5 miles of jogging a day, working up to at least 7. 3 or 4 miles of biking several days a week

If you live in the US and you keep to this routine, you're definitely in the high end. I know a lot of people (like 90% of my friends and co-workers) who don't even WALK a mile a day. For your activity level, you may be a better fit for a herding breed.

That poor little dog is probably like "Jesus, mom, slow down! My legs are like 5 inches long!" XD

We use this one: https://www.amazon.com/Original-GORILLA-Carrier-Approved-Airplane/dp/B06XDF4DZ9/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1521068579&sr=8-4&keywords=dog+carrier+airline+approved. It comes with a travel bowl too, but the bowl is useless. We use a rubber collapsable one instead.

And of course they let me put the carrier in my lap during the flight. It's just like any other carry-in. His carrier needs to go under the seat during take-off and landing but I can do what I want with it in between. I'm sure it helps that he's adorable and very well behaved. We also fly JetBlue almost exclusively and their customer service has always been superb.

Do not sedate dogs for flights. Especially puppies as it can stop their hearts and kill them. Many vets advise against it for this reason.

I would get dog used to whatever bag he will be transported in and take him on some bus/car rides for positive reinforcement.
Put potty pads, lots of them, on his bag and also put a diaper on him. Since he is flying on board with you just change his diaper every few hours and you'll be fine. Think of it like flying with a baby. Tsa allows dog food on the plane and you can always get water in the plane so just take a small plate or Tupperware to keep him hidrated and fed. Make sure he has plenty of space in his crate to stand up and turn (all airline requires this for onboard pets and some DO measure their size at check in- remember dog must fit under seat compartment meaning dog can't be taller than 10-12" in a standing position.) and throw in some toys + have spare to exchange and keep him interested. Comfort him and remember to stand up and stretch since your legs will be extra cramped from keeping him under your seat! Oh and it's illegal to take them out of the bag on board so when changing diapers either do it in bathroom or work magic to do it inside the bag.

I picked up my 2 month old puppy from the other side of the US and flew her in one of these. She was awesome and didn't even cry! Slept most of the way.
https://www.amazon.com/Sherpa-American-Airlines-Carrier-Charcoal/dp/B00MEKF5HC

But she barely fit standing at that age so hopefully your puppy does too otherwise they will check her in!!! Which is bad!

Good luck.

Maybe try a pet carrier where the cat can see you better? I have one that looks like a baby carrier that you can put on in front of you like this: https://www.amazon.com/PAWABOO-Backpack-Adjustable-Easy-Fit-Traveling/dp/B01NAK4VXM/ref=zg_bs_2975334011_4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EN72ZAG89FXD6976CQ8

Or one where only their heads are poking out like this: https://www.amazon.com/YUDODO-Carrier-Sling-Shoulder-Chihuahua/dp/B06Y66NKC7/ref=zg_bs_3024189011_5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JF460820QKHV42R1AM5M

Both have a short leash that can be used to hook onto harnesses so they can’t escape easily. Both allows you to support them and allow them to see you.

My cat loves this carrier. I see him sleeping in it when I’m at work. I like how easy it is for me to carry as well. I prefer carrying him in this over the hard crate.

Akinerri Airline Approved Pet Carriers,Soft Sided Collapsible Pet Travel Carrier for Medium Puppy and Cats (Medium, Grey) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D6QZHBS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_N2mODbHKH8HGR

This is a great carrier that isn't too unwieldy and easy to load a kitty into (and collapses to store!). You'd need 2 (which is best anyway) or as a second to your current carrier.

SportPet Designs Foldable Travel Cat Carrier - Front Door Plastic Collapsible Carrier https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GJ7TME8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_z6LuDbKPHJF5R

I just got this bag and this pet bed to go inside of it for a little more comfort. It just looks like a big purse and it’s got pockets on both sides for my stuff. Bun is still getting used to being out of her comfort zone, but she seems to like the bag.

Edit: There’s a YouTube channel I really like and she uses that carrier. Here’s a video showing how she has it all set up.

Thanks for the tips! I started looking around and found this one which seems pretty perfect.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Talia-Dog-Carrier-Sand/dp/B00KUAD390

Same product, in use:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/66/ed/d7/66edd7f841c08313991b5d4e2ab1dd4c.jpg

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0797DGZ38/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_wZPBDbQ7FFK71

This is the one I got! Kitty loved it and pretty much slept the whole time. Some times he didn't even want to get out 😃

I did a 13 hour drive with two cats.

I did two separate carriers, normal cat size ones where they can turn around and whatnot, but not move a ton. I'd recommend a hard sided carrier, they're safer. If you had a soft one, make sure there aren't any holes he can bite/claw to work his way through.

I used something similar to this that I picked up at petsmart for about $20.

I wanted them safe in case of an accident - the less room the had to fly forward in their crate, the less likely they were to get injured.

I stopped the normal amount of times I would, probably every 3 hours or so for gas, restroom, and food.

I would get the food, and eat in the car, and I let them out while the car was parked while I was eating.

I had a small covered litter box and water/food for them to have access to. They didn't use any of them, which is fine, it was only half a day. But he should have access to all of them, and at least a few 10-20 minutes breaks to give him the option to use the litter and drink.

They were pretty quiet, talked a bit at the start.

Never let the cat roam the car while it's in motion. Ever.

for sure. We have this one from amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYX40VK/ref=twister_B074W4Q1WH?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

it comes in a couple of colors, folds flat when you're not using it, and so far our super timid/shy/scared of everything cat has done really well in it for trips to the vet.

I just tried this one (https://www.amazon.com/Pawaboo-Backpack-Adjustable-Easy-Fit-Traveling/dp/B01KNULJLU/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1488008383&sr=1-5&keywords=dog+carrier+backpack) and will be returning it - just not large enough for my 20lb dog. The bag in this image looks like the perfect size, if only a brand name was visible.

The backpack is a good idea. My dog is only 35 pounds. Maybe this one will be good? He's probably an XL.

This is the Bubble Backpack.

Price: $60

More details here.

> Perfect for 12 pounds cat and 10 pounds dog.

Yep! It's this one we ordered: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005CC5NH6/ref=pd_aw_sbs_1?pi=SL500_SS115
It's a little bit pricy but soooo worth it! It's a jogging stroller so it's really smooth and doesn't jostle them around.

This is the Bubble Backpack.

Price: $60

Here is the link if someone interested. r/Productporn stuff.

Sure do! https://www.amazon.com/Pawsse-Comfort-Carrier-Backpack-Outdoor/dp/B0797DGZ38

Haha! I'm surprised she fits!

I used to have one that we bought especially for dogs. Here's a pic of my bully in it. https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/supadoggie/2922522535/

This is the one we got: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005CC5NH6/ref=twister_B006B7ZE98

Amazon, Walmart, etc. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FNJWQ6I/ref=asc_df_B01FNJWQ6I5183545/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B01FNJWQ6I&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167141013968&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1993340121625812610&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002017&hvtargid=pla-307174449581

Pawaboo Pet Carrier Backpack, Adjustable Pet Front Cat Dog Carrier Backpack Travel Bag, Legs Out, Easy-Fit for Traveling Hiking Camping for Small Medium Dogs, Small Size, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NAK4VXM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_snNJDbEVZEGWJ

here u go fren

Asking the real questions. Here's mine: where can I get one?

EDIT: Found it!

https://www.amazon.com/Pawaboo-Backpack-Adjustable-Easy-Fit-Traveling/dp/B01KNULJLU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522339961&sr=8-1&keywords=chest+strap+to+carry+dogs

not the same model but should work.

I got you:
PAWABOO Pet Carrier Backpack, Adjustable Pet Front Cat Dog Carrier Backpack Travel Bag, Legs Out, Easy-Fit for Traveling Hiking Camping, Medium Size, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KNULJLU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_n79JDbJSF5QTB

Pawaboo Pet Carrier Backpack, Adjustable Pet Front Cat Dog Carrier Backpack Travel Bag, Legs Out, Easy-Fit for Traveling Hiking Camping, Medium Size, BLACK https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KNULJLU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.U1SybHQMX6QJ

This? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KNULJLU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_IsaazbCV8JEMZ