A Winter Cat Walk + Your Cat Backpack Review
Yes, we are those people (or should I say...I am that person). Haha!
It's been a while since I shared anything about my kitties, Rosie and Sybil! They're both sweet "old" ladies (Rosie will be 12 years old next month, and Sybil is 8) that enjoy their fair share of lounging in various places around the house and running around at odd times of the day (and night). I started letting them out on our balcony when the weather is nice so they can get some fresh air but still stay contained. Sometimes they like being out there and will take a nap, and sometimes they're meowing to come back in as soon as I close the door. You know, typical cat behavior.
I recently purchased a couple of cat backpacks so we can get them out of the house for walks and keep them safe. I have harnesses and leashes for them, but they aren’t well trained on leash, and I just feel better knowing that they’re contained since we could encounter a number of people and/or some wildlife. Cat backpacks are so dorky but something I've wanted to purchase for years now! With the recent release of the Miss Americana documentary featuring Taylor Swift carrying her cat, Olivia, in a cat backpack, I knew it was time to order backpacks for my own kitties.
After searching through various cat backpacks, including the wide variety on Amazon, I ended up ordering two of “The Fat Cat” Backpack by Your Cat Backpack. (Side note: I find Amazon’s assortment of various items far too overwhelming to sort through objectively, and with so many unknown “brands” on there selling essentially the same items, it’s hard to tell what’s legit and what isn’t.)
I picked the “The Fat Cat” backpack based on the fact that it was recommended for cats up to 25 lbs. Rosie comes in at about 12-13 lbs, and Sybil is right around 10-11 lbs. It is the perfect size for each of them, and I actually probably wouldn’t go with a smaller backpack; there’s plenty of room for them to move around. The girls wear a harness and leash when inside the backpack for additional safety. (I have Kitty Holster cat harnesses and leashes. Sybil wears a size S/M, and Rosie used to fit in M/L but now needs the S/M due to weight loss, especially around her neck.) There is a clip inside the backpack to hook the leash.
The backpacks arrived disassembled with two different options for the front hole: either the clear dome (pictured) or a flat black screen. It was an incredible pain to get either option to attach securely to the backpack, and I pretty much gave up and was so frustrated that I wanted to send them back (FYI: Your Cat Backpack don’t accept returns, which I didn’t realize until after the fact). I couldn’t get them to stay on, even after watching their how-to video over and over again. Korri reached out to them and was eventually able to figure out the trick…which was just making sure the ring around the outside was lined up exactly with the ring on the backpack. His hands are big enough to reach around the dome. So, luckily he was able to get the domes attached securely. They should NOT move when you press on it from the inside. My girls definitely tried to push on the dome, and I was glad that they didn’t bust out.
They’re both still getting used to their backpacks; Rosie especially can be pretty vocal in general, so she meows quite a bit (as you can tell), and Sybil meows a little bit. Rosie likes to move around a LOT! I could feel her constantly shifting when I was carrying her. I wonder if she might get a little bit of motion sickness, because sometimes I see her licking her lips, but she hasn’t puked. Sybil is a little more laid back and just like to look out at her surroundings. Sybil had a little bit of an accident last time we went out; she pooped! We think it happened right when we got home because we didn’t smell anything until then. Poor kitty! We weren’t even out that long. Luckily, I think I was able to clean the backpack pretty well, and I’ll be putting in some old towels to prevent more accidents from soiling the backpacks.
We’ve had fun taking them for walks when the weather allows. We take them out when it’s at least 55°F because they’re used to being inside a 68-70°F house all the time, haha. I’m looking forward to taking them out more this spring! The night we went on this walk by the river, a cold front was coming in, so we walked home in a pretty strong breeze and got home just as it started to rain. I think the weather made them a little nervous! I’m hoping that with time, they’ll get more comfortable with it. I love that it’s something we can do as a family. Korri thinks I’m absolutely crazy for buying cat backpacks, but he is willing to carry one, and I appreciate his support. 😂