How to Measure Your Dog or Cat
You know you need an airline-compliant dog carrier. But what you don’t know is what size you need. Make sure your fur baby has plenty of room in their carrier with Katziela’s guide for how to measure your pet!
Before Measuring Your Pet, You’ll Need…
- Soft measuring tape, or a piece of string and a ruler
- Your phone or a notebook to record measurements
- Treats to reward good behavior
- (Optional) A helper to keep your pet still
How to Measure Your Dog or Cat for a Pet Carrier
Step 1: Weigh Your Pet
All pet carriers, including ours at Katziela, have weight limits for each size. For example, the max weight of our quilted dog carrier is:
- Small: up to 10 lbs.
- Medium: up to 16 lbs.
- Large: up to 20 lbs.
You may exceed the weight limit slightly. However, based on different breeds with these weights, they measure around these sizes.
Step 2: Measure Your Pet’s Height
Height is important for carriers, especially if you’ll be flying. This is because most airlines’ pet travel requirements mandate that pets have the ability to sit and move around comfortably while in their carrier.
Here’s how to measure your dog:
- Get your pet to stand in a natural position. This may be easier with a helper.
- Use your tape measure to measure from the floor to the top of their head or the highest point of their ears, whichever is higher. Using string? Capture their length, then measure that portion of the string’s length. You’ll do this for their length measurement, too.
- Add at least 1 to 2 inches for clearance in the carrier.
Step 3: Measure Your Pet’s Length
Now, you’ll measure their length. This is the measurement from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail. Measure along their spine for the most accurate measurement!
Again, you should add 1 to 2 inches for clearance and comfort.
Get Their Pet Carrier
Now that you know how to measure your dog or cat, you can find their perfect carrier size at Katziela! Make sure your carrier’s dimensions are at least your pet’s measurements. If they’re between sizes, go up.
Worried about sizes? No need to be! Katziela offers easy returns for hassle-free shopping.
FAQs
Use a tape measure or a string and ruler to measure your pet’s length (tip of the nose to base of the tail) and height (floor to the top of their head or ears). Don’t forget to weigh them, too!
Dogs and pets should be able to sit, lie down, and turn around in their carrier comfortably. Take your pet’s length and height measurements, and then add a couple of inches to ensure they have enough room.
Yes! Excess space can make your pet slide around, increasing their stress.