Decoding the catpack

Manicured pups in designer handbags were an essential fashion accessory for socialites in the early 2000s In recent times social media influencers have put their own twist on this trend with backpacks that have cats inside them The most common design features a clear plastic window or lsquobubblersquo As is often the case with social mediadriven trends this one too can be geared more towards aesthetics than your catrsquos comfort and wellbeing experts sayNeha Gupta Pillai feline behaviouristldquoMany indoor cats are very territorial and would much prefer to not have to face a variety of stimuli and new environments The clear plastic bubble can leave your cat feeling exposed and vulnerable because it does not offer any respite from the distressrdquo warns says Raj Mariwala a feline behaviourist and founder of Citizen K9 She also states that while some cats may enjoy going out and exploring others who are more prone to anxiety can find the entire experience distressing ldquoAny carrier for your cat should have enough room for himher to place all four paws on the base turn around and lie down Bubble catpacks are typically small and can make your cat claustrophobic The allplastic body can cause overheating since the design does not usually factor in air circulation Your cat can become very anxious and claw hisher way out of the backpack or escape if the zipper breaks Many cats may be uncomfortable with the swaying motion of a backpackrdquo she addsRaj Mariwala feline behaviouristThe right fitNeha Rajadhyaksha founder of a cat backpack brand named Friends Of Fluff recommends making sure the backpack has a steady frame so that it does not cave in ldquoThe bag should be crossventilated and waterresistant so that it is easy to clean Choose the correct size and avoid using trolleys as the bumps on uneven roads will rattle your cat The bag must also have strong handles so that it remains steady when you carry itrdquo she saysNeha Rajadhyaksha founder of Friends Of FluffTake it easyWith the right bag and a confident cat you can proceed to gradually introducing your cat to the backpack says Neha Gupta Pillai a feline behaviourist and cat retention counsellor ldquoMentally prepare your cat to encounter other animals in hisher territory by placing himher on the balcony or window where she can smell other animals within a 500 m radius If your cat feels threatened she can get become aggressive towards you withdraw or become a picky eater If your cat is comfortable introduce himher to the backpack Spray the backpack with liquid catnip place hisher favourite toys or blanket inside the carrier and let himher explore the backpack without zipping it up Start short walks inside the house Reward your catrsquos calm behaviour every 15 seconds with a treat and repeat this once every 1015 minutesrdquo she advisesComfort factorI always wanted to take my twoyearold Persian cat to the park We ordered a backpack online When it arrived I noticed that the pack was made of a flimsy material that would collapse on my cat The plastic bubble would also heat up in the sun making my cat very uncomfortable She refused to enter the backpack I have since switched to a backpack that has mesh windows and has a sturdier frame and my cat finds it much more enjoyableInput by Abbas Motorwala lawyer