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[Katherine]

Today whilst out walking i saw a man carrying a cat in a backpack, a hard, clear plastic one with the top shut and a tiny mesh panel on the side. The cat was squashed and enclosed, the weather was scorching and there was no shade. It was really awful to witness. I was on my own and it was a family and I felt so helpless as I didn’t feel able to say anything I was just so shocked. I’m not against cat carriers but with the heat and the design and the fact it was closed, it must have been like being in a greenhouse with a fur coat on. I asked the RSPCA about it and they said it’s just the new way of carrying cats around. I was shocked even more by their response. Has anyone any thoughts on this? It’s unbelievable that it’s somehow not ok to lock an animal in a hot car but ok to do this!

[bombsh3ll]

That does sound really cruel and I would find that hard to watch too. Some people can just be really thoughtless - I once saw someone cycling with a toddler on the back of the bike, and he was wearing a massive backpack which was forcing the kid's head backwards and smacking him in the face as it swung side to side.

Hopefully the cat was on an infrequent outing - I can't think of that many places I'd take my cat.

[getting_old]

I saw a woman doing that with a small dog. Even from a distance i could see the poor thing was obviously hot and unhappy, and if I could have caught up with her would have said something. I can understand taking pets out in prams if they can't walk far, because they get shade and fresh air, but when it's really hot there's no reason to take them out no matter what method is used, and yes, I think it's cruel and anyone whose dumb enough to do that to an animal should be forced to try it themselves and see how horrible it must be! And as for the manufacturers 

[Katherine]

Thanks ladies for your support. I’ve a feeling if I’d said something they would have just said she was fine and there’s nothing I could have done. I think the products should be banned like electric shock collars. It is apparently a new trend. I think next time I will just have to say something so at least I tried.

[getting_old]

Forgot to say, I'm horrified by the RSPCAs reponse, but honestly not surprised. The sad thing is that it will take animals dying before anything is done, and then only if it is highlighted by the media 

[CLKD]

It's a grey area.   When travelling with a cat it's best in a cage with air vents which is how we carried ours as well as two rabbits, all on litter trays in separate cages.

I believe that this trend has come in from Asia.  I've seen it occasionally cats and small dogs. 

[jaypo]

I've seen the doggy ones but they're more like the baby ones and the dogs head is out in the open.
The RSPCA can be useless sometimes, we lived in a house that was backed by a big field of sheep,I was forever out rescuing them,as they got stuck in the brambles,this one time,the poor thing was bleating like mad at 11pm,so out I went again and cut it free,phoned the RSPCA the next day and they just said...oh sheep are always doing that,the foxes end up getting them 😳😳😳😳😳😳
I think I would've confronted the cat person but just by saying...oh,is that a cat in there? Is it not awfully warm? 🤷‍♀️

[Katherine]

I’ve made a complaint to the RSPCA an and it’s being looked into. This bubble backpack wasn’t the same as the soft mesh ones that are sometimes used to transport cats to the vets, it was literally like a clear plastic box with a tiny mesh panel on the size that the cats head was squished against anyway, and the family were just strolling round in the sun, then going into a supermarket, it looked like they were doing it ‘just for fun’. I really hope this doesn’t become really popular like dog pushchairs as it’s completely different. If it does I’ll have to do something. I’ll see what Cats Protection have to say. I got a photo of the cat so that should help.
That’s shocking about the sheep. I’ve always thought highly of the RSPCA so I was surprised about that.

[getting_old]

Not sure if I'm allowed to post links, but here goes. This is the sort of thing I saw https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B094QSF4LT?th=1 which has to be absolutely baking hot and doesn't allow the pet to move around 

I know the ones you mean Jaypo, and think they're fine as the animals can breathe.

[sheila99]

I can't imagine why anyone would want to take a cat anywhere except the vets. It's not as though you can let it out when you've got there so what's the point? With any luck the cat will have remembered what happened and scratches the next person who tries to put it in the backpack.
 The RSPCA are clueless. A fox can't even take a mid sized lamb never mind a full grown sheep whether it's caught or not.

[getting_old]

Actually I have seen the odd person taking a cat for a walk on a lead, but that actually allows the cat to exlpore. Putting them in a plastic case is cruel.

[Katherine]

I can't imagine why anyone would want to take a cat anywhere except the vets. It's not as though you can let it out when you've got there so what's the point? With any luck the cat will have remembered what happened and scratches the next person who tries to put it in the backpack.
 The RSPCA are clueless. A fox can't even take a mid sized lamb never mind a full grown sheep whether it's caught or not.

I googled it today and there is a famous model holding a similar one that I saw. Apparently celebs are doing it, so that’s really going to help  Once I’m on my computer I’ll post a link of the type I saw. I’ll also let you know what RSPCA complaints and Cats Protection say. I’m not against cats being taken out on harnesses or anything that they enjoy where they can breathe. I can’t help feeling that most cat owners would know not to do it so I can’t see it becoming really common fingers crossed.

[getting_old]

I can't imagine why anyone would want to take a cat anywhere except the vets. It's not as though you can let it out when you've got there so what's the point? With any luck the cat will have remembered what happened and scratches the next person who tries to put it in the backpack.
 The RSPCA are clueless. A fox can't even take a mid sized lamb never mind a full grown sheep whether it's caught or not.

I googled it today and there is a famous model holding a similar one that I saw. Apparently celebs are doing it, so that’s really going to help  Once I’m on my computer I’ll post a link of the type I saw. I’ll also let you know what RSPCA complaints and Cats Protection say. I’m not against cats being taken out on harnesses or anything that they enjoy where they can breathe. I can’t help feeling that most cat owners would know not to do it so I can’t see it becoming really common fingers crossed.

Ugh! That's not good. I was talking to someone in a shop the other day and they were telling me about a product that was flying off the shelves thanks to some celeb endorsement, despite being utter junk.

[jaypo]

Blimey what a fickle nation we are,if a celebrity endorses something,let's face it,half of them are as thick as two short planks

[Katherine]

  thanks ladies, you have all made me feel better with your support xxx