Cat Carrier On A Folder?
 

Hi,

Has anyone tried to put a cat carrier on a folder? I want to take my cat to parks, and I don't have a car. I don't have a rear rack on my bike (Daho Speed Uno). Can I put any rear rack on it, or does it have to be by Dahon? Should I put the carrier in a basket then secure it to the rack? Thanks.

The cat is 12pounds.

You have to think hard abut the cat. The ride on the back of a bike is rarely cushioned, and dear Kitty will be bounced around. Cats also suffer from motion sickness, and while some don't mind being taken to the park, others find it stress inducing. They respond by climbing the nearest tree when let out, even on a leash, and you're there for four hours trying to coax them down. If the leash ties around a branch, you may have to get up there and cut the cat free.

In parks on a leash, cats don't have anywhere to hide if they see a threat like a dog or hear a loud noise like children, and they can panic which can cause accidents. Or they panic, pull out of the harness and disappear.

If the cat associates being put in the basket with going to the vet, it's also going to be stressed.

I honestly don't think it's a good idea after being owned by cats for 30 years.

That's why we have firefighters.

you could do it, but I would ask the cat about it first. My Siamese woulda torn strips out of me for trying.

How is the OP gonna put a cat and a firefighter on a Dahon Mu? The total weight limit for the rear rack is 8Kg.

Good point. The cat will have to walk.

A basket and a stretch net over the top should take your pet/hostage ,
of course there are commercial pet cages, those, you just have to figure out how to fit, yours.

but, anyhow.. Oregon coast touring, passing thru,
I have seen people with a cat, collar wearing, on a leash,

they were towing an old kid bike trailer for the Kitty-kondo.


I expect they , little kitties, are good Tick collectors too.

my cat walks along with me when i do a short and slow ride in my neigborhood. one time i was worried about her straggling, so thought maybe a leash might help. my gashes in the hand that tried to attach the leash is finally healing...

i also had a basket that if have for my folder and i placed a pillow inside to make it all comfy and such. interestingly enough, she enjoyed sitting in it while i had my bike parked in the basement. but as soon as the bike moved, she pounced out in a flash. so not about to risk that happening while we are on the streets.

as it is, she enjoys walking along with me at her casual pace, and i don't mind.

Am I allowed to ask why the OP wants to take the cat to parks? What will cat do when it gets there, and what will OP do, apart from trying to find said cat when it runs away?

My opinion: No Kids, No Pets and only Two Plants.

Our folders have proven to be less expensive companions than the cats my sister has had!

Amusing comments above, though.

Lou

You peopel make it sound like cats are nerous wrecks and that the OP is cruel to ewen think of taking the cat to the park. Cats are animals that are intended to look after themselves in the wild and get bored in a apartment. Locking a cat in a flat in a city without taking it to the park is cruel and they panic if you suddenly take them out. Most prisoners would.

Most of my cats would behave like old dogs. I could take them camping or ride a bike with them. Also peopel is going to have problems with motion sickness when they are not used to cars. I have seen this lots of times when giving refugees a lift just after they arrived here.

A folding bike with a rear rack is great for carrying a cat cage since there is plenty space between the rack and the seat (unless you have wery short legs). Use rubber straps w hoock to strap it to the rack. Later when you trust your cat not to panic you can go for something like this: http://www.thorusa.com/accessories/baskets.htm , scroll down to "doggybag".

You can make animals do almost anything if you can make them trust you. You can transfer your fear onto the animal or you can transfer confidence.

This is lnik to the only one I follow on Twitter: Cykeling Peppy. As far as I remember she is a "Norwegian Forrest" cat, just like my Tarzan. http://twitter.com/CyclingPeppy

Try searching for bike pet carrier https://www.google.com/search?q=bike...rrier&tbm=isch . Some of the results are good (e.g. http://petabbey.com/kasko-bicycle-pe...e-trailer.html ), other are funny (e.g. http://fairdalebikes.com/wp-content/...rsehlclose.jpg )

I would agree with the above with my own cats. They don't like change (like visitors, new pets, and sudden loud noises). And I am much too afraid to lose them. I don't even like to take the dogs even on the leash. I have only taken one cat to the veterinarian by bicycle-on my former Dahon Piccolo's rear rack. I strapped it securely on. That was after I transported her amputated tail that fell off unexpectedly after a cast iron skillet fell directly on her tail. It can be done, but as a rule, I don't care to bike them anywhere.

Around here, you will be laughed off as stupid for requesting assistance for something like that from our firefighters-unless you stupidly dialed the 911 for non life threatening problems. Then you would be in real trouble with the law. But to be fair, there are plenty of cases when pets are in danger, the firefighters have saved them from severe injury or even death.

I keep cats and dogs together in a small house. They have plenty to do (they are all working animals and are expected to do real jobs in exchange for room & board) so boredom is not an issue here. And they mostly live very long and active lives with gusto as they are not "pretty little ornaments" or window dressing for the house. And they are so loved here.

Our cats stay indoors. But I met a woman on BART (the San Francisco area subway/rail system) who had her two cats in a carrier on the rear rack of her bike. She said that she takes them along with her on lots of outings and they seem to enjoy the bike rides.

I'm not sure about the compatibility of the OP's Dahon with standard rear racks. My Bike Friday has a regular Blackburn rack with a modified support arm at the front. I wouldn't have any concerns about attaching a cat carrier to it if I thought our cats would enjoy it - but I don't think they would.

Bike for cat seem the only way forward

my cat rides in between the spokes on the front wheel.

My cat weighs almost as much as my (new to me) Brompton.

Ryan