On the Road with Waffles & Katie - Vacationing with #CrateHappyPets, Plus 6 Tips to Loving Your Carrier

This post is sponsored by PetSmart, and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. We are being compensated for helping spread the word about Containment Products and Education for your cat, but GLOGIRLY only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. PetSmart is not responsible for the content of this article.

WAFFLES:  Check it out, Boss! I'm OUTSIDE! ...by the OCEAN!!! 

KATIE:  That's not the ocean, Waffles. It's Lake Superior. But it's big enough to sound like the ocean.

WAFFLES:  Then where's the surfers? 

KATIE:  It's a LAKE, Waffles. Not the Pacific. 

WAFFLES:  Mmmm, is this what the ocean tastes like?

KATIE:  Waffles, that's just some leftover breakfast. 

WAFFLES:  No wonder, it tastes like chicken.

KATIE:  INCOMING! Seagull at 12 o'clock.

KATIE:  I could really get used to this view. Who knew this vacation stuff would be so fun!


Katie Talks *Containment*
When we heard we'd be writing about containment and carriers for PetSmart®, we had no idea we'd be reporting live from the shores of Lake Superior while on our family vacation! Although we use our indoor/outdoor kitty walk back home on our deck, the seagulls and crashing waves here sure beat out the sounds of the city.

Unfortunately when most cats hear the word *containment*, visions of doom and gloom and vets come into view. But not for us. Whether it's this fancy kitty walk or even our travel carriers, we've found a way to make friends with them by incorporating them into our daily life. Now when we do have to travel for pleasure or even the vet, it's a much more comfortable, and even fun, experience.

Discovering the Great Outdoors
A simple, contained kitty-walk is just the right thing to enable cats to experience some of the exciting sights, sounds and smells of the great outdoors in a safe and controlled environment. Most will fold up nicely for easy travel. We brought ours on the road with us so we could enjoy beautiful Lake Superior from the comfort and safety of our own vacation villa's deck.

Most are large enough to add in a comfy blanket and toys... though we had more fun just watching the waves and seagulls!

It's All About Making it FUN
If the only time we had to go in our carriers was for visits to the vet, well... you know how THAT would go. The trick is making carriers FUN by incorporating them into our daily routines so they're associated with good times, not bad. We have one in each of our main living areas, as well as a couple upstairs by where we sleep. We use them for napping, snacking, playing, hiding and hunting. And sometimes, just for hanging out.

If Glogirly is in the fireplace room, one of us is usually hanging out in the carrier on the ottoman by her chair. If she's in the living room, there's a carrier on the rug next to one of the loungers.

It didn't happen overnight... but over the course of just a few months, we've been able to turn what used to be a prison of certain doom into a party!

LOVE YOUR CARRIER:  6 Tips & Tricks 
1.  Never Out of Sight
Leave carriers out and open in the main living areas where they'll become just as natural as a piece of furniture.

2.  Cushy Comfort
Place a soft pad, bed or blanket inside the carrier. It's much more inviting to spend time inside when it's cozy enough for a nap.

3.  Play Therapy
Incorporate the carrier into playtime. Waffles loves to play fetch and retrieve his toy from inside the carrier. Dangle a want toy inside and let the hunting begin. Make it fun!

4.  Catnip Dreams
Sprinkle a little catnip inside on a blanket or towel. Irresistible!

5.  Tasty Rewards
Treats are a great way of providing positive reinforcement for going inside a carrier. We're not above bribery either.

6.  Calming Aids
Even though we love our carriers and hang out in them everyday, the vet is never our first choice of destinations. A spritz of Feliway or other calming aid inside the carrier a few minutes before entry can make a big difference in times of stress, especially when the smells of other animals come into play.

Throughout the month of March, PetSmart will have a variety of carriers, crates and containment accessories on sale. If you're thinking about a feline-friendly vacation of your own, PetSmart has some great tips in their Traveling Safely With Your Cat article.

We're Coming Home!

We're on our way home today... safely strapped into our carriers. There's much more to share so please join us tomorrow for our official vacation round-up! 

Will Katie beg to stay?

Will Waffles sing in the car? 

Will Glogirly wake up in time for check out?

Need to Catch Up?

If you've missed our previous On the Road with Waffles & Katie posts, we've DVR'd them for you:

1.  Preview: Wait, Did You Say FAMILY Vacation?

2.  Day One: Caturday Road

3.  Day Two: Our New Digs

4.  Day Three: Fun by the Fire & Synchronized Loafing

5.  Day Four: A Vacation Birthday