Slog
News & ArtsThursday, January 27, 2011
Cats / Fashion Cat Packs: CONDEMN OR ALLOW?!?
Posted by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey on Thu, Jan 27, 2011 at 1:26 PM
So this was spotted in Brooklyn. (Where else? And by "where else?" I mean "probably here.") It's a "Cat Pack." For... ummm... carrying around your cat on your back.
- Photo via Fucked in Park Slope
Okay then. LET'S DO THIS.
Don't forget to defend your answer in the comments below! (After all, your vote doesn't count unless followed by a pithy, Dorothy Parker-esque witticism.)
2
Awww, the kitty looks so sad. Still better than having the cat perch on your shoulder, like you were too poor to buy a parrot and an eyepatch. Yaaarrr, I be homeless teen, gimmie some xtasy!
3
If people can carry their itty bitty dogs around in purses as some kind of twisted fashion statement, I damn well want to be able to carry around my morbidly obese 25 lb cat on my back.
6
Seems like a convenient way to get your cat from place to place if you live downtown and have to use public transportation or walk.
7
Is this in bad taste or what? Carry your damned cat to the vet or whatever and keep your hands free. Who cares? I'm moving on with my life. Or getting a drink.
8
While it might make it easier for the vet to administer his knock-out shot when he goes in for check-ups, I doubt the menace he presents caged in a backpack would make up for the potential hazards involved carting a hissing, spitting, screaming feline with a discernible lack of social skills around in public. Just sayin-
10
Oh, this is going too far. I saw this post earlier on The Portland Mercury's "Blogtown." (Yes, I read both SLOG and Blogtown.) I'm not happy that the two blogs are beginning to become one.
This post is aggravating because Steve originally made an apt joke about Portland, and you have transposed it to become a joke about Seattle. An apt joke? I don't know, but I do care. Do others care? Is there anything to be gained by keeping SLOG and Blogtown separate?
I know Steve and Dan Savage have always double-posted — they are columnists for both papers — but lately it has gone beyond that, to the point where the majority of Blogtown is often written by The Stranger's staff (usually in the mornings).
So, SLOGtowners, condemn or allow?
I
This post is aggravating because Steve originally made an apt joke about Portland, and you have transposed it to become a joke about Seattle. An apt joke? I don't know, but I do care. Do others care? Is there anything to be gained by keeping SLOG and Blogtown separate?
I know Steve and Dan Savage have always double-posted — they are columnists for both papers — but lately it has gone beyond that, to the point where the majority of Blogtown is often written by The Stranger's staff (usually in the mornings).
So, SLOGtowners, condemn or allow?
I
14
It's an abomination! No cat should be subjected to such humiliation. The only reason a cat should be on your back is if it's jaws are slowly choking the life out of you from behind. Ask any self-respecting cat...they'll tell you.
15
Mrs. Humphreys would say, "I don't know what the big deal was. I got on the subway and everyone was looking at my pussy."
20
I remember carrying a 15 pound cat a mile and a half to the vets in a standard plastic carrier. I was thinking I should have stuffed him in a damn backpack.
21
if anyone has ever tried to walk any distance with a heavy (or even a not heavy) cat in a "normal" carrier you would know why this is BRILLIANT.
22
@10, I will condemn it if you promise to write another goddam novel already. I know you're prolific enough with other things, but I want a novel out of you. Deal?
24
@22 I'm writing one now; well, as soon as I get off this SLOG thread. Meanwhile did you read http://publicationstudio.biz/books/10 ? I think it's good.
25
I have two cats, my vet is two blocks, or about 0.4 miles from my apartment. It doesn't make any sense to call a cab or rent a car, but if I want to take both them to the vet at the same time, I have to make two trips (or do some serious weight training to be able to carry two cat carriers that far, but I don't think that is going to happen). I need one of these! It is more than acceptable: it is brilliant!
26
Cat, silly cat, on the back - your little paws of courage trapped within the confines of a sack.
So sad.
Stop peeing on the porch.
So sad.
Stop peeing on the porch.
27
If I still had a cat (sadly my kitty passed away last fall) I'd want one of those. Most cat carriers are far from easy to carry. A backpack would be a lot kinder on my back than the carrier was on my arm and shoulder not to mention the bruises I usually got from it hitting against my leg.
29
I have one of these. What you can't see in the picture is that, in addition to the backpack straps, it has wheels and an extendable handle, like roller-luggage (well, I guess you can kind of make out the handle on the top). It comes in handy if you've thrown out your back but you need to get your cat to the vet and you're wondering how the hell you're going to lift a carrier. It also folds up very compactly so it takes up less storage space, and it weighs a lot less that a standard carrier.
31
I have one of these. What you can't see in the picture is that, in addition to the backpack straps, it has wheels and an extendable handle, like roller-luggage (well, I guess you can kind of make out the handle on the top). It comes in handy if you've thrown out your back but you need to get your cat to the vet and you're wondering how the hell you're going to lift a carrier. It also folds up very compactly so it takes up less storage space, and it weighs a lot less that a standard carrier.
33
@24, no, I haven't yet, but will almost immediately. I'm so glad - bless your pea-picking heart.
(can I picture the vivid red cover of my paperback edition of A Murder of Quality right now? yes! did I pass out last night with six pages left in my umpteenth runthrough of Tinker, Tailor, this one brought about by learning Tom Hardy's playing Ricky Tarr in the new movie version? yes!)
(can I picture the vivid red cover of my paperback edition of A Murder of Quality right now? yes! did I pass out last night with six pages left in my umpteenth runthrough of Tinker, Tailor, this one brought about by learning Tom Hardy's playing Ricky Tarr in the new movie version? yes!)
34
My late, strictly indoor cat would have *loved* this. The outdoors both tantalized him and scared the living bejeezus out of him.
I would have had to make him go to the litter box first though. I think the excitement would have caused him to lose control of his bodily functions.
I would have had to make him go to the litter box first though. I think the excitement would have caused him to lose control of his bodily functions.
36
I was going to condemn...
But then I saw that little chihuahua (or wheteverthefuck that little dog is) in the background. And then I thought it would be entertaining to stuff both the cat and that little dog together into the pack at the same time. So I changed my mind to 'allow'.
Yes, I know, sometimes I'm a little twisted.
But then I saw that little chihuahua (or wheteverthefuck that little dog is) in the background. And then I thought it would be entertaining to stuff both the cat and that little dog together into the pack at the same time. So I changed my mind to 'allow'.
Yes, I know, sometimes I'm a little twisted.
38
I thought you were asking if we thought packs of cats should be allowed to roam the streets, and I think probably not.
40
@10 I could be wrong, but Keck owns both of these-transsexual-prostitue-advertising weeklies. And the websites that actually cover the news that nobody reads in the print editions. Keck is all about the benji's (and the blood of children) so I would assume that eventually the blogs will merge. Plus, if they do, people besides yourself might actually read and comment on blogtown.
But Humpy was ours first! He was just on the early Portlandia plan, retirement for young people. And I think he liked the crystal there more.
But Humpy was ours first! He was just on the early Portlandia plan, retirement for young people. And I think he liked the crystal there more.
42
Well, I can understand if you live in a city and don't own a car. You might need something like this to transport your cat to the vet. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt on this one.
43
Actually, I want to change my vote to "allow" because I think it could be good for transporting cat to vet.
45
This is awesome. It will work so much better than the Baby Bjorn we tried carrying our cat around in...
47
I have decided to allow this.
But only on condition that the cat be instantly transformed into a howling Tasmanian Devil (WB edition) gouging chunks of flesh from the back of the Brooklyn hipster carrying it. As any self-respecting cat would.
But only on condition that the cat be instantly transformed into a howling Tasmanian Devil (WB edition) gouging chunks of flesh from the back of the Brooklyn hipster carrying it. As any self-respecting cat would.
48
I vote allow with grave reservations:
Have you ever been sitting on the outside seat of a crowded bus and standing just in front of you is a person with a large back-pack, who doesn't have any awareness that their pack is an extension of their body? If waves back and forth inches from your head and occasionally smacks you in the head. You tap on the person because they can't hear you due to head-phones, and say "Stop hitting me with your back-pack." They give you a dirty look and reply, "You could at least say excuse me, you don't have to be rude about it." Then you think, but don't say, "Who's the rude one here, why should I ask to be excused?" because you don't like talking to oblivious assholes.
This happens on elevators, too.
Have you ever been sitting on the outside seat of a crowded bus and standing just in front of you is a person with a large back-pack, who doesn't have any awareness that their pack is an extension of their body? If waves back and forth inches from your head and occasionally smacks you in the head. You tap on the person because they can't hear you due to head-phones, and say "Stop hitting me with your back-pack." They give you a dirty look and reply, "You could at least say excuse me, you don't have to be rude about it." Then you think, but don't say, "Who's the rude one here, why should I ask to be excused?" because you don't like talking to oblivious assholes.
This happens on elevators, too.
49
I will allow thee only becuase it is utilitarian in appearance... No pink leopard print or rhinestones to speak of... And I can see where this would be much handier in the city if you have to walk to the vet. Those plastic ones are super clunky and the crappy cardboard things are torn to shreds in minutes by a determined feline.
51
That beats carting around a cat carrier when you have no car and your cat needs to go to the vet. I'd use it.
52
This is so much better than the Hot New Trend of people (Cat Buskers) walking around with leashed cats on their shoulders and backpacks that I will ALLOW IT.
56
@30 ftw.
That said, there should have been an option "c. Allow in urban areas for people w/o cars and Disallow for trendy hipsters who read"
That said, there should have been an option "c. Allow in urban areas for people w/o cars and Disallow for trendy hipsters who read"
58
Considering Ms. Parker's love of her dogs and their constant accompaniment of her everywhere, she very well may have found this acceptable, albeit quite unbecoming.
60
This cat pack is permitted. It is much more dignified than the little cat/doggie fake-baby strollers on the market.
64
cats deserve to get out in the world beyond their two house radius, but they look fucking ridiculous on a leash. this looks a little better but still not ideal.
65
OK, maybe to walk the cat to the vet. I just think these packs are going to encourage people to take their cats everywhere--banks, grocery stores, bars--the way some dog owners want to take their dogs everywhere.
I am deathly allergic to cats. At least a big plastic carrier is a warning that someone is carrying a cat on the bus. In conjunction with comment 48, let me say I really don't need to be smacked in the head with a hidden allergen bomb. And I don't need to stand in line at the post office right behind one.
Plus, chances are good the unhappy cat will take its feline revenge, and you now have a person walking around with a backpack full of cat shit, cat pee and/or cat barf. Yum.
I am deathly allergic to cats. At least a big plastic carrier is a warning that someone is carrying a cat on the bus. In conjunction with comment 48, let me say I really don't need to be smacked in the head with a hidden allergen bomb. And I don't need to stand in line at the post office right behind one.
Plus, chances are good the unhappy cat will take its feline revenge, and you now have a person walking around with a backpack full of cat shit, cat pee and/or cat barf. Yum.
67
Queue up the the videos of dogs chasing a person with the cat-pack on... I hope it has some hard parts to help protect... I constantly see dogs not on a leash and occasionally see dogs attack each other with the owners trying desperately to separate them!
All that said... I still want one for my cat! My cat is more likely to kill any attacking dog.
All that said... I still want one for my cat! My cat is more likely to kill any attacking dog.
68
I believe the proper way to transport your cat is perched UPON the backpack. At least that's what our itinerant hobo children do.
69
Why the heck not? It's less cagelike than a cat carrier, and how else are we going to get those ornery clawbags back and forth to the vet or the park? I have one cat who was always gentle with humans but would probably kill any other furry creature she met--large dogs included. For their safety, I would gladly shove her in one of these. It's kinder than the ball gags that would otherwise be necessary.
70
@54- Friends of mine give their cat it's daily catnip fix IN the cat carrier.
Then on vet days they slap the cage door closed on the poor fucker when he goes in for his demon weed. He gets mad for a day or so, but he always comes back for the 'nip.
Then on vet days they slap the cage door closed on the poor fucker when he goes in for his demon weed. He gets mad for a day or so, but he always comes back for the 'nip.
71
I don't have a car and have to load my cat into a standard carrier to go to the vet. This seems much easier! (Of course, it depends on the price--I have a feeling the cat backpack may be much more expensive than a standard carrier.)
72
I have extremely large cats. The last time I tried to carry the carrier into the vet's office from the car, I threw my back out for a week. A pack would be much kinder on my back, because a) the weight is more evenly distributed, and b) only one cat at a time would fit. Also, these packs have wheels.
The kitty strollers, on the other hand - those look goofy. Plus they'd need to be made of razor wire to keep aggressive dogs from trying to eat the caged feline.
http://www.precious-pets-paradise.com/c-…
The kitty strollers, on the other hand - those look goofy. Plus they'd need to be made of razor wire to keep aggressive dogs from trying to eat the caged feline.
http://www.precious-pets-paradise.com/c-…
73
@70
"Demon weed." I like that.
My cat has claws like a bobcat and super-feline strength. To get him in a carrier I throw a sheet over him, wrap him like a mummy and then cram cat and sheet into the carrier. (I'm very gentle you guys, I swear). He works his legs out of the sheet in the comfort of the carrier, and viola! It doesn't even make him that mad anymore.
"Demon weed." I like that.
My cat has claws like a bobcat and super-feline strength. To get him in a carrier I throw a sheet over him, wrap him like a mummy and then cram cat and sheet into the carrier. (I'm very gentle you guys, I swear). He works his legs out of the sheet in the comfort of the carrier, and viola! It doesn't even make him that mad anymore.
75
@ kinison, that is the funniest thing I have read all day.
I might be stealing it and repeating it around chicago for quite some time now. Ha!
I might be stealing it and repeating it around chicago for quite some time now. Ha!
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