Cats are strange creatures. One day you’re fighting tooth and nail to get your cat inside their carrier, and the next, you find them napping soundly inside it. But is it okay for your cat to sleep in there often?
It is perfectly safe for a cat to sleep in their carrier temporarily. However, cats should not be locked up in a carrier for extended periods without access to food, water, and a litter box. A pet crate should be used if you need to contain your cat for longer than an hour.
In the rest of this article, I’ll focus on topics directly related to this question in detail, such as why a cat choose to sleep in their carrier, how long they can reasonably stay in said carrier, and some alternative solutions for keeping them contained.
Why Is My Cat Sleeping in the Cat Carrier?
Oddly enough, sometimes a cat will decide to sleep in the carrier on its own. This can be confusing for some owners, considering cats are notorious for hating pet carriers. There are good and bad reasons for a cat to sleep in one.
A cat can decide to sleep in its carrier when it’s feeling sick, stressed, or even comfortable. A cat’s relationship with its carrier results from whether its owner properly acclimated them to it or not.
Let’s look at some of these possibilities and what they mean for your cat.
Your Cat Has Acclimated to Their Carrier
Cats acclimated to their carriers will typically use it for positive reasons such as napping, as a safe space when they’re feeling distressed, or simply as a hangout area.
This is because they have associated the carrier with positive factors such as treats, praise, or playtime.
Tips on Acclimating Your Cat to Their Carrier
Here are a few easy ways to help your cat get used to its carrier:
- Leave the carrier out and open. Cats naturally love small, secure spaces and will eventually want to explore inside. This also gives the carrier time to take on a familiar scent.
- Put a favorite blanket or toy inside. Even if your cat decides to remove their treasured belongings from the carrier, at least they will have to interact with it first. Having this inside will also help their scent attach faster.
- Praise your cat. Giving your cat a treat and some praise whenever they enter the carrier is a great way to encourage further interaction.
- Take them on a ride. Once your cat has begun entering the carrier on its own, you can start implementing short car rides. 5-10 minutes is a good starting point. This has worked wonders for my cat’s tolerance for her carrier and car rides.
Something Is Bothering Your Cat
On the other hand, if you notice your cat is inside their carrier lately when they usually hate it, it could be a sign that something is off. They could be sick, injured, or otherwise stressed.
This is an excellent time to examine your cat for signs of injury. Check sensitive areas such as the tail, paws, ears, and gums.
If things don’t improve, consider taking them to the vet. Since they’re already going into the carrier on their own, transporting them shouldn’t be too much trouble.
How Long Can a Cat Stay in a Cat Carrier?
Sometimes, your cat will have to stay in their carrier for extended periods. Whether it’s a quick drive to the vet or a long road trip, it’s necessary to know how long, on average, they can stay inside.
If necessary, a cat will be fine in a carrier for up to 8 hours. However, a break should be given every 2-3 hours to allow your cat to stretch their legs, eat, drink, and use the litterbox.
If you’re in the market for a new cat carrier, I highly recommend the Akinerri Cat Carrier from Amazon.com. I’ve used mine for years, and my cat loves it.
As previously mentioned, leaving the cat in the carrier for a while can’t be avoided if you have a long trip ahead. But a pet crate is a better option if you’re looking for an in-home solution.
Benefits of a Crate Over a Carrier
A pet crate beats a carrier in all aspects except portability. If you don’t trust your cat to be alone in a room for a while, crating them is the next best option.
Here are the main benefits of a pet crate:
- They provide enough space for your cat’s food, water, toys, and litter box, in addition to allowing your cat room to move around.
- Crates are generally safer, well-ventilated, and more durable than the average carrier.
- Crates are ideal for sick or injured cats who must be kept in a secured environment. They lessen the chances of further injury.
- Most crates have a removable floor panel that makes cleaning up simple and quick.
If you need a pet crate for your cat, I recommend this spacious Amazon Basics Cat Crate from Amazon.com.
Pet Crate Alternatives
Crates can be expensive, especially the larger ones. Since it’s not an option for everyone, below I will go over some additional methods that are very cheap or nearly free to implement.
Spare Bedroom/Bathroom
An extra bedroom or bathroom is an excellent alternative to a pet crate. It gives you all the advantages of one while also giving your cat more space and freedom.
You can set up their usual bed in this room with some favorite blankets and toys. Most importantly, there is ample space for their food, water, and a litter box.
Don’t be surprised if your cat voices discontent when you close the door. Cats don’t like when their freedom to roam is restricted, but this is still a better option than being in a carrier for hours.
Cat-proof Your Home
If using a spare room isn’t an option because your cat tends to be destructive, there are ways you can “cat-proof” your home or specific rooms to minimize any damage.
Here’s a short but effective list of ideas to help you:
- Use couch covers. A cover will prevent your cat from turning any couches in the room into ribbons.
- Set up a scratching post or cat tree. Both are great ways to keep your cat occupied until you can supervise your cat or it’s time to come out of the room. The one I use is the Fish&Nap Cat Tree from Amazon.com.
- Put away fragile objects. Anything made of glass, ceramic, or otherwise valuable to you should be stored away or put out of reach. If you can see or touch it, your cat probably can too.
- Extra playtime. An additional 15 minutes of playtime does wonders for your cat’s restlessness. The more worn out, the less likely they’ll damage something.
Final Thoughts
To recap, it’s okay for a cat to sleep in their carrier short-term. They’ll do so on their own for two reasons:
- Your cat likes their carrier and feels comfortable sleeping and hanging out inside it.
- They feel sick, scared, or stressed and are using the carrier as a hiding spot.
The bottom line is as long as your cat can freely enter and leave the carrier as they’d like, you shouldn’t need to worry.
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