I found myself buying a lot of plastic today in the form of two cat carriers. The pragmatic alternative would have been to find the best home possible for our rescued cats in this country. The strong emotions of children sometimes trump pragmatism. We are taking our African cats to Europe.
Alternatives to plastic cat carriers are few and far between. Airlines aren’t in the business of flying pets around. The process and the restrictions are quite a hurdle and there are stories of airlines refusing to take a pet on board because the carrier isn’t on the list of approved ones. I had to go to the biggest department store in the capital city of Tunis to find approved carriers. They were quite expensive 
If you never plan on flying with your pet, there are a host of plastic free options for carrying it. You can get a Cardboard Pet Carrier. These are inexpensive and are adequate for trips to the vet, etc.. I have fashioned free cardboard boxes into cat carriers on several occasions with zero injuries. There was an unfortunate escape while I was driving. With a particularly bad cat this could have turned ugly. The real cardboard pet carriers have superior gluing and, importantly, no staples.
A wicker pet carrier has the advantage of doubling as a bed when you are not traveling with your cat.
I honestly think anyone who is concerned with sustainability should think long and hard before getting pets. Our cats were rescued from the street. One of ours was tiny and sick and starving and approached Catherine and me when we were sitting outside at the local cafe. He is now the head of our household.
November 14th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
At a previous job we had to fly a groundhog from California to NY. Finding a non-plastic approved carrier was just as difficult if not more so. There had to be no plastic so the groundhog couldn’t chew through it and it had to be light still and I don’t even remember the other issues. I think it took us about a month to find an appropriate carrier. It was actually easier to fly two tiger cubs than it was a groundhog. Yes I deal with odd things at me work, but it sure is fun.
November 17th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
I agree with your comment about sustainability and pets. I know my pets have greatly enhaced my life but as they have died I haven’t gotten other pets. Though my child would like me to get another animal, I am now down to a single old cat. The cost for the visits, meds and care in their senior years is expensive. Chickens, for the eggs, or a couple of goats for the milk, is the only way I would consider any animals now.
Cherri
January 4th, 2010 at 4:23 am
I’m very glad you kept your cats and brought them with you. Whether or not pets should ever intentionally be bred, these particular cats are now members of your family.
As much as I abhor plastic in general, I’m a fan of plastic cat carriers like the ones shown in your picture. A carrier like that is a godsend when evacuating on foot during a storm, because the solid top keeps the cat relatively dry. The carriers are also stackable if transporting several cats by car or spending time in a crowded evacuation shelter. The solid tops and bottoms of the carriers keep each cat in the stack from being subjected to urine from those above or teeth or claws from those both above and below.
If having plastic carriers troubles your conscience, you could sell them to someone else who will soon be traveling. I have often seen people who are about to fly with their dogs ask if anyone has a used airline crate for sale, and imagine that a similar market exists for cat carriers approved by airlines. However, in your shoes I would save the carriers for the next time you move internationally.
January 4th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
Cousin Yellowstone – The cat carriers do serve their purpose very well and they are on a shortlist of plastic items that don’t make me shake my head.
The island where we are living now recently saw an intensive trap and neuter program for the feral cat population and it has made quite a difference. These two cats are probably going to be the last pets we ‘own’ and the plastic carriers will be donated to a shelter when we don’t need them anymore.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
i dont use plastics.
Force Factor Supplements
February 25th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Cats are wonderful pets, and pretty much top of my list of animals to have around for companionship, without the neediness and bad toilet manners of dogs. Having said that, myself I haven’t had a cat for years, and with my travelling wilbury kind of a lifestyle there is just no time or space for pets. Moving around a lot isn’t something that is conducive to having pets.