Size of cat crate?

I am getting ready to buy my cat crates so that they have lots of time to get used to them before we fly out.  Continental Airlines says that the animals must have at least 3 inches of clearance.  I measured my cats, from floor to ear tips, while they were sitting down and I would need a 21" high crate!  That would mean I'd have to buy a Sky Kennel #300!  Which according to this site (http://www.futurepets.com/Vari-Kennels.htm) is the size for springer spaniels and border collies. 

Do you remember what size kennel you used for shipping your cats?  I don't want them to be uncomfortable during the long trip, but larger cages are more difficult to handle. 

Thanks.

I don't remember the size exactly (you'd have to get ardenbird to tell you that) but I do remember they were bigger than we first thought we needed. We got what we thought would be plenty big, brought it home, and the first thing that happened was our cat went in and arched her back up and hit the top of the box. We knew right then that it wouldn't pass. So back to the store to exchange for a bigger one. The one we ended up with said it was for medium sized dogs.

The Virgin cargo department said - in fact strongly suggested - that we come in the day before and show them our cage, with cat in it, so they could tell if it was acceptable. We did that and all was fine. But someone else on the day we flew out did not come by in advance and they were running out to the pet stores at the last minute trying to get a bigger cage. We did not see them at the reception center in London, so they might have missed the flight. I don't know if Continental pre-inspects too, but I'd recommend it.

My cat is big, so I had to get a mid-size dog crate too. It was three years ago so I don't remember the exact dimensions, but I remember laughing about it at the time!

I bought my crate at PetSmart for about $30 and it is 26" x 18.8" x 16.5".  She had plently of room to move around and stand and sit upright.  Plus, in the back I laid a dog pad in case she peed and put her food dish in one corner and her water dish was hooked to the front.  I also laid two blankets in there for her comfort. 

I am flying out of a city 4 hours from my house...so a pre-inspection isn't going to be happening.      Even with a bigger crate they won't be near the weight limit for the ticket price, so I guess I should just get them big ones.   The woman on the phone recommended erring on the side of too big, rather than too small.  And I am not going to be turned away on the of my flight!  I refuse! 

I am getting ready to buy my cat crates so that they have lots of time to get used to them before we fly out.  Continental Airlines says that the animals must have at least 3 inches of clearance.  I measured my cats, from floor to ear tips, while they were sitting down and I would need a 21" high crate!  That would mean I'd have to buy a Sky Kennel #300!  Which according to this site (http://www.futurepets.com/Vari-Kennels.htm) is the size for springer spaniels and border collies. 

Do you remember what size kennel you used for shipping your cats?  I don't want them to be uncomfortable during the long trip, but larger cages are more difficult to handle. 

Thanks.


hi
the website u have where u r going to buy your cat crates from looks alot like the crates my cats were shipped in. we use the crates now when we have to take the cats to the vet. everyone who see's my cat crate asks where i got it cause it is so big & comfortable for bigger cats.

I am flying out of a city 4 hours from my house...so a pre-inspection isn't going to be happening.      Even with a bigger crate they won't be near the weight limit for the ticket price, so I guess I should just get them big ones.   The woman on the phone recommended erring on the side of too big, rather than too small.  And I am not going to be turned away on the of my flight!  I refuse! 

I think bigger is better anyway...you want your pets to be as comfortable as they can be.

Two more questions if anyone is still reading...

1) Do their tails count?  If they stick their tails straight up in the air that would be taller than them just sitting down.  Do their tails need 3 inches of clearance?

2)  What the heck do you do with the crates after you land?  Is there a market for used IATA approved crates in the UK?  Did you donate them to a local animal shelter?  Disassemble them and hide them under your bed?  Sell them on ebay?

I take mine apart and put the top in the bottom and then store other stuff inside it.  And the screws in a zip lock bag!

Two more questions if anyone is still reading...

1) Do their tails count?  If they stick their tails straight up in the air that would be taller than them just sitting down.  Do their tails need 3 inches of clearance?

2)  What the heck do you do with the crates after you land?  Is there a market for used IATA approved crates in the UK?  Did you donate them to a local animal shelter?  Disassemble them and hide them under your bed?  Sell them on ebay?

we still use ours comes in handy when need to go to the vet. mil also use's them especially when she needs to take her rabbit to the vet also. we just put our crates in the garage for when we need them next time.

1) Do their tails count?  If they stick their tails straight up in the air that would be taller than them just sitting down.  Do their tails need 3 inches of clearance?

Nope, tails don't count. At least, I didn't count my cat's tail and I had no problems. As long as there's plenty of room for their little cat bodies to stand up and stretch a bit, then the tail will be fine.

The International Air Transport Association has some crate guidelines that might be helpful. It's in pdf format, and my computer is acting up so I haven't actually been able to open the file: http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/live_animals/pets.htm  (click on Container Requirements on the right)

2)  What the heck do you do with the crates after you land?  Is there a market for used IATA approved crates in the UK?  Did you donate them to a local animal shelter?  Disassemble them and hide them under your bed?  Sell them on ebay?

The one I had was collapsible, so was easy to take apart and store in the shed. I don't use it for the vet because it's so massive! For that, I have a regular sized cat carrier. I've held on to it, though, just in case I need it ever again -- or in case a friend does.

2)  What the heck do you do with the crates after you land?  Is there a market for used IATA approved crates in the UK?  Did you donate them to a local animal shelter?  Disassemble them and hide them under your bed?  Sell them on ebay?

I kept my crate, but only because we're only here temporarily.  Hopefully when we fly elsewhere there won't be as many restrictions and hoops to jump through.

The 21 inch size you're talking about is called a Series 100 crate. I just bought it for my 8 lb kitty and it looks to be just the right size.  For my 20 lb cat we had to buy a Series 200 crate (28 inches) which will cost more to use on the airline.  It's quite large ( and is a dog crate) but as I said he's a big boy!  We got ours at Petco. The animal transport company we're going with said Vari is a good brand, and make sure the bolts are metal.

I bought the extra large Sky Kennel for Raisin.  They make really good crates, the vent holes on all four sides and mine came with food/water containers to attach from the outside.  We store our crate in the garage.  Thought of selling it, but decided to keep it because eventually we might move again.  Like you mentioned, you dont want to get turned away for having a small crate!  Go for the bigger one

Yet another question 

I went to the pet store yesterday to check out some crates and I noticed that even on the smaller crates the holes in the gratings are big enough for my cats' feet to fit through.  The airline requirement clearly state that the openings must not be large enough for the animal's feet or nose to pass through.  Did anyone have a problem with this for their cats?  Should I plan on wiring some mesh or metal screening to the door and sides of the crate?