Have you ever noticed that when you carry an umbrella, it doesn’t rain? It only rains on the days you forget the umbrella at home.
Cat carriers seem to work the same way. A long time ago, I kept a carrier in my car’s trunk, and never ran across a cat in need of rescue. In the past few years, I was out of the habit, and sure enough, I repeatedly ran across rescues that required carriers and didn’t have them.
One of those rescues was Ashton. I was fortunate that she was small enough at the time to fit into a bin of odds and ends I kept in my trunk and hastily emptied for the rescue. If she had been uninjured, that wouldn’t have contained an active kitten.
Another was a friendly cat outside a restaurant. One of the waitresses told me that the had been begging there for weeks, and that the waitress had been trying to catch her. I didn’t have anything to put her in, and we had to wait for the waitress’s boyfriend to arrive with a cat carrier before catching her and sending her off to her new home with their family.
That was when I decided I needed a carrier in my car. The problem was that my trunk area isn’t that big. I have to be able to carry groceries home in it, too. That led me to look into collapsible carriers. Surely there were plenty of them out there, right?
I was surprised how few there actually were. Sure, there were plenty of fabric bags you could use as a carrier, but that wouldn’t work when you were rescuing a strange cat. You need something with hard sides to prevent escape. It also should be something you can decontaminate later, or it might not be safe to use again.
I finally settled on the Care-Eze folding carrier.
It folds down to only 4 1/2″ tall. When it is assembled, it is about the size of my medium, hard-sided carriers. Just what I was looking for. And even better, it has been like a cat umbrella. In the year I have had it, I haven’t needed to unexpectedly transport a cat! I even had it with me during my recent trip to Atlanta for BarkWorld/MeowWorld, and I managed not to bring back any additional cats. It’s like magic.
I gave a ride to other cat bloggers to and from the airport last month at BarkWorld/MeowWorld, and none of them never knew I had a cat carrier with me, riding along with their luggage. The size difference between it and a standard carrier makes it almost unnoticeable in the trunk.
Just recently, I ran across a photo of a different kind of folding carrier that got my attention. The Sport Pet Collapsible Travel Carrier looked interesting because it has a huge door that takes an entire side of the carrier. This is something I usually want when Ashton, Newton, or Pierre need to go into a carrier, so it makes sense that when I do finally need to use a carrier for a strange cat who doesn’t even know me, it would be a lot easier to put a frightened cat inside.
Of the two carriers, the one by Care-Eze is easier to assemble. I found the pieces on the Sport Pet carrier a that need to slide to secure the curved sides a little fiddly, and you have to be sure to latch it securely on top during assembly. But the Care-Eze carrier is a lot louder and rattles more, and Newton, Pierre, and Ashton were all afraid of it, even when it was inside their own house.
The Care-Eze carrier feels more durable, but both feel like they would hold an angry or freaked out cat. I found the Sport Pet carrier for less than half of cost of the Care-Eze carrier, so that may be a consideration. Someone in full-time rescue who is constantly moving cats would want something more durable than either one of these carriers, but both of them will let you fit a carrier in your car’s trunk and still have room for groceries. If my experience is any guide, they’ll serve as your “cat umbrella” against unexpected cat transports, too.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we get a small commission for our cat treat fund if you purchase after clicking the link on this page.
Summer says
These look like great carriers! I love the idea of a collapsable one – I think my human should have something like that just in case a kitty needs help somewhere.
Marg says
That looks like a great carrier. What a good idea. At least you will be ready if some kitty needs some help. Take care.
The Island Cats says
The mom says you’re absolutely right…she had no idea you had a cat carrier in your car when you gave her a ride to the airport. With all the luggage and stuff she and the others had, there was no way a regular cat carrier would have fit. We like the idea of a collapsible carrier and the mom is going to look into getting one.
madi and mom says
WOW WE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT ALL THE TYPES OF CARRIERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE!!
lOTS OF HUGS MADI YOUR BFFF
The Swiss Cats says
Foldable carrier is a very smart idea ! We didn’t know about it ! Purrs
Melissa & Truffles says
That is a fantastic idea…I actually never even thought of having a cat carrier with me at all times. My goodness Baby Ashton was a little doll!!!
Fur Everywhere says
I really like the idea of a door taking up the whole side of a carrier. It would be a lot easier to get kitties in and out of the carrier that way.
Laila and Minchie says
Great idea!
Brian Frum says
Now that’s darn cool. My Dad keeps a soft sided carrier in his car too.
da tabbies o trout towne says
ashton, yur wee kitteh foto iz priceless !!! N yur mom iz rite…therz knot much round in de way oh collapsible carrierz …. way kewl yur mom carriez a carrier…just in case….de food serviss gurl heer carriez tuna//chcikn pouches…just in case !! ♥♥♥
Random Felines says
those are very interesting (btw – mom says had she known about that carrier in your trunk….MOL) something to look into cause there is always a carrier in the hatchback and heaven knows one that goes flat would be a space saver
Connie says
LOL@magic.. yup.. I can’t argue with that logic.
Deztinee High says
Wow boff look weally cool. Mommy keeps a cawdboard carrier dat hers gets fur furee at da shelter fur these kinds of fings, and so they be unfolded when she gets ’em and only bout a 1/4 to 1/2 inch fick. And hers can easily fold it up and cweate da carrier at a moments notice. And then cuz it’s cardboard and furee, a one time use means it stays wiff kitty.doggy/whatever and hers gets anudder. Course hers has a dozen at a time cuz da shelter of course orders in bulk cuz dat’s how they send home any animals under 60 pounds dat gets adopted.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
Flynn says
That is a great idea. It takes up next to no room when it is folded down.
Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101) says
I’ve not seen the Care-eze before. I’d like to see a larger version. Our Sleepypod is long, narrow and folds flat to about three inches. Handy but pricey.
William says
I like that second one! But my mom meanly pointed out that I probably wouldn’t fit in it. 😐
Zoospot pet accessoires says
Thanks for really useful material!
I work in this field and have learned a lot of new things about cat backpacks.
Derby and Ducky says
Those carriers look interesting. Mum rarely sees any cats wandering about that need to be rescued.
PS. Actually we have no snow on the ground right now and it may be close to 50 on the weekend!
Mark's Mews says
Well, TBT doesn’t carry the PTUs in the car, but he does keep come sealab;r plstic tubs for other reasons. And iffen he came across a stray cat those would serve.
Cathy Keisha says
I think TW used to have the Care-Eze one or a similar one but never used it. She had wanted something that wouldn’t take any storage space since our condo is so small. She finally gave it to Linda for A Call 4 Paws.
Maxwell, Faraday & Allie says
we really like how very compact the Care-Eze is when folded up. NICE!!
Raven says
The fold-up carrier is very functional, which is nice. But it looks like a prison cell. Too bad it isn’t in a fun, bright color!
Kitties Blue says
Wow, we never knew such a thing existed. Mom thinks those look great. She’d be the one person to have one who would go looking for cats to rescue, so we are just going to say, “No,” at this time. Ho, ho, ho, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo