Whilst it may be cute to be able to see your furry feline, these on-trend backpacks are not suitable in the Hong Kong climate and owners are being warned about the dangers of using them.
Cats can suffer from hypoxia which is low oxygen supply to the tissue resulting in respiratory distress and the cat’s life in danger.
Dr Genevieve Touzel from Sai Kung Animal Hospital is keen to inform pet owners how dangerous these packs are. In the last few years, she has seen several cats almost die. These cats presented for routine appointments after their travel to the clinic in the ‘Bubble Backpack’. One cat was open-mouth breathing which is a sign of severe stress due to lack of oxygen in a cat. The bag the other cat was in, was extremely hot when unzipped and the cat just stopped breathing. Fortunately, after veterinary intervention, both cats survived.
These packs act as cages and create an ‘oven-like’ environment similar to a conservatory or a hot house. Once the heat is in, the heat is trapped and cannot get out. The ventilation holes are inadequate and the cat becomes heat stressed. Combined with the stress a cat experiences from its travel to and from the vet clinic, this is a disaster waiting to happen.
Despite what many may think, cats are not keen to survey the environment around them unless they are doing this from a vantage point where they can escape potential predators.
Resting these bags on the ground, especially if there are dogs, crowds and other noise about, will only increase the cat’s stress.
Please think twice about putting your cat in the ‘Bubble Backpack’. It is not safe and you are putting your cat’s life at serious risk.
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