Custom Cardboard Pet Carriers With Air Vents

Choosing the Right Size

Size the carrier for the animal it will hold. It should be large enough for the animal to turn round and lie down comfortably, but not so large that it slides around when the carrier is carried. Small carriers suit hamsters, gerbils, mice and small birds. Medium carriers suit guinea pigs, young rabbits and kittens. Large carriers suit adult rabbits, small cats and puppies of toy breeds.

Many businesses stock two or three sizes. If you mainly handle one type of animal, a single size printed with tips specific to that animal works well. Tell us which animals you send home and we will recommend sizes. Remember to allow height for the animal to sit up as well as floor space.

Puppies and kittens grow quickly, so a breeder sending home young animals should size for the animal on collection day rather than its adult size. A carrier that is too roomy lets a small animal slide about on corners. If you are unsure, the measuring guide for awkward shapes covers how to measure something that will not sit still.

Board, Vents and Strength

Pet carriers are usually made from corrugated board. Lighter carriers for small rodents and birds use a single wall board, while carriers for rabbits, kittens and small dogs use a heavier grade that resists chewing and scratching for the length of a journey. The vent holes are die-cut and their size and spacing are chosen to give airflow without weakening the walls.

A small determined animal can scratch or chew at card, which is why these carriers are for short trips only. For animals known to chew, such as rabbits, a heavier board and smaller vent holes help.

Vent placement matters for birds and reptiles in particular. Birds need airflow at perch height, while small reptiles are usually carried in a secure tub inside the carrier, with the carrier itself providing shade and a stable base. Board grades and flute sizes are compared in plain terms in the board and card types guide.

Printing Care Tips and Contact Details

The outside of the carrier is a great place for information new owners need. Pet shops print feeding tips, bedding suggestions and a reminder to bring the animal for a first health check. Vets print their practice name, phone number and opening hours. Breeders and rescue centres print the animal's name, a space for notes and their contact details for follow-up questions.

Print on the carrier also reassures people who see it. A clearly branded carrier carried through a car park or on a bus tells passers-by that the animal came from a responsible source. One or two colour print on brown kraft is economical; full-colour print on white board looks bright and friendly.

Some vets print a simple checklist on the side panel: vaccinations due, worming dates and a space for the next appointment. Owners often keep the carrier for the first check-up, so the checklist comes back to the practice with them.

Pet shops can use the end panels to promote the essentials a new owner needs, such as food, bedding and a proper long-term carrier, which nudges a useful follow-up sale. Food sold at the same counter can carry the same care message on printed dog product boxes.

Tips for Using Cardboard Carriers

Line the base with a layer of bedding, shredded paper or a small towel. It absorbs accidents, cushions the animal and gives it something familiar to smell. Close the top fully and check the locking tabs before lifting. Carry the carrier by the handle with a hand under the base for heavier animals, and keep it level and out of direct sun in the car.

Do not leave an animal in a cardboard carrier for long periods or unattended. Transfer it to its permanent home as soon as you arrive. These simple notes can be printed on the carrier itself, which many businesses find saves time explaining them at the counter. For small birds, the bird seed cartons show how fine vent patterns are cut without weakening the board.

Size the Carrier From the Animal's Length, Not Its Weight

A rescue centre's first instinct is to pick a carrier by the animal's weight, but length is what matters. Measure the animal from nose to rump when it is sitting, add 50 mm at each end, and make that the internal length. Height should let it sit upright without its ears touching the roof. A carrier that is too big lets the animal slide on corners, which frightens it more than a snug box.

With the internal size, the board grade, the vent layout you prefer and your design, we send a quote by email within one working day. The free proof shows vent positions and the handle so you can check nothing lands where a paw could reach. Carriers are produced in 4 to 7 working days after approval, delivered by tracked courier at no charge to UK mainland addresses, and print or crush faults reported within 10 days are reprinted or refunded. Centres that sell food and toys at the desk often print cat product boxes in the same colours so the counter reads as one brand.