How to Take Your Cat on a Bike Ride
Have you thought about taking your cat bike riding?
It’s possible! Just like kayaking with your cat may seem unique, you can also go biking with your cat.
After all, sometimes it is easier getting around on a bike rather than in the car.
What to think about when taking your cat on a bike
Are you comfortable riding a bike?
Before you take your cat on a bike ride, make sure that you are comfortable riding a bike.
If you are still using your training wheels, struggle to get your balance and feel nervous on a bicycle, it is probably not a great idea to go on a bike with your cat. It’s likely that your cat will pick up on your nervousness and they in turn will feel nervous.
Is your cat suited for travelling on a bike?
As with any type of catexploring, we recommend that you harness train your cat before riding a bike with them.
Make sure your cat is comfortable with being outside and exploring the world with you as riding a bike will be something very different for them.
It is important to remember that not all cats love riding on bikes. Some love the feeling of the wind on their whiskers while others really do not enjoy it. Always start small and stop or pull back if your cat is not enjoying it.
The law in your area
It is a great idea to check what the law in your area states about animals on bikes.
Sometimes areas even have laws that state that a bicycle rider must not lead an animal on a leash (even when tethered) while the bike is moving.
Being aware of these requirements may help save you from an unwanted fine.
How to take your cat on a bicycle
There are a few ways to take your cat on a bicycle:
In their cat backpack either worn on your back, attached to the front of your bike, or on a rack
In a specially made carrier that is attached to the front of your bicycle.
There is also the option to use a specially made dog trailer for bikes. However, this is not popular with cats. As it may be difficult to communicate with your cat we aren’t huge fans of this option.
Taking your cat in a cat backpack on a bike
Before taking your cat in their backpack on a bike, always backpack train them first. Start with a few walks in the backpack before graduating to the bike. This will help ensure that your cat is used to riding in the backpack.
Using a front-facing bike carrier for your cat
There are quite a few types of front-facing carriers that have been specially built for pets. Typically these are attached to the handlebars of your bike and the carrier is on top of the front wheel.
What to think about when choosing a bike carrier for your cat
Your bike
As bikes may vary in size, prior to purchasing a carrier, make sure it can fit on your bike and on the handlebars.
This will also help you decide if the carrier will slide around on your bike handles. A sliding carrier will not be comfortable for your kitty and may cause motion sickness – not fun!
Steering
As these carriers are often placed on the front of the bike, it does add additional weight. This may make it harder for you to steer the bike, especially with your cat in the carrier.
Materials
As with any type of pet carrier, carriers for bikes are made out of different materials. Ones made with lightweight materials may be great for steering, but they may sag when your cat is in the carrier. Others made from materials like wood or steel may be heavy but they will not sag over your front wheel.
The material inside the carrier will impact your cat’s comfort levels. Soft material will provide more cushioning, but may not be waterproof if it gets dirty.
Your cat’s size
Often carriers are advertised with the weight that they are rated to. We recommend also checking that your cat will physically fit in the carrier, as some bike carriers are small.
Design
Many bike pet carriers are like baskets, where they are open at the top. If you are concerned about your cat jumping out of the carrier while you are riding or if you are planning to ride in areas with a lot of traffic, we recommend using a carrier that is covered or can be covered.
For your cat’s safety, choose a carrier with a tether that can be attached to their harness.
Front facing bike pet carriers
Travelin’ K9 Pet Pilot Dog Bike Basket
Pros
Has a steel frame, which means the basket won’t sag on your front wheel
Has floor padding, for your kitty’s comfort
Reflective sides for riding in low visibility
Pockets for those treats
Mesh ventilation for warm days
Easy to install
Adjusts to fit your bike
Cons
Open at the top, which may encourage your cat to jump out even when tethered
Petsafe Solvit Tagalong Bicycle Basket
Pros
Made from wood which prevents sagging over the front wheel
Has a soft faux sheepskin liner for your kitty’s comfort
Comes with a sunshade/rain guard
Faux sheepskin liner can be removed and washed
Cons
May be difficult to install. But might be easier to install at your bike shop. However, it is easy to take on and off once installed.
Basket is heavy which may make balancing and steering difficult
Pros
Easy to install
Cons
Leash tether is not the best
Open at the top, which may encourage your cat to jump out even when tethered
Pros
It is one of the biggest bicycle carriers
Interior is water resistant
Easy to install on bike and remove when not needed
Has a rain cover & a mesh dome cover
Has side pockets for those treats
Cons
Is more expensive than others
How to train your cat to ride on a bike
Prior to training your cat to ride on a bike, make sure they are harness and backpack trained. The latter is particularly important is you will be using the backpack as your cat’s carrier while on the bike.
Training to use a new front-facing carrier on the bike
If you are using a new carrier instead of the cat backpack, follow the backpack training process to acclimatise your cat to the new carrier.
Start small
Once your cat is used to being in the new carrier or their cat backpack choose a quiet location where you can ride around on your bike with your cat in their carrier. This could be in your driveway, or a very quiet street (without cars or people).
Start riding for a few minutes and gauge their reaction. If they are loving it, over the next few days start increasing the length of time you spend on the bike with them in this quiet location. Perhaps initially start at 1 minute, then 3 minutes and make your way up to 15 minutes.
During this time, you will also learn how your cat likes to ride on the bike. Perhaps they will love sticking their head out or they prefer to sit up in the basket. Start riding very slowly and as they become more comfortable slowly increase your speed.
Find places with more stimuli
As your cat becomes more comfortable on the bike, start taking them on rides to areas with a bit more noises, people, animals and movements. To make sure you don’t startle them, choose locations that are only slightly louder or busier than the last.
Be prepared to take a step back
If your cat becomes anxious, be prepared to take a step back. This isn’t a setback, it just means that your cat might need some extra time adjusting.
Be realistic about the catexploring you can do on a bike
Not all types of bike riding will be appropriate for your cat. Imagine being in a backpack or a carrier during mountain biking on a rough trail – it won’t be very pleasant, especially with all that bumping around. With this in mind choose locations that have smooth trails or paths that aren’t too bumpy.
Similarly, some cats will not like travelling at fast speeds. If you find your cat is like this, stick to taking them on leisurely rides.
Sometimes you may need to bike through areas that have a lot of traffic. In these situations, we recommend that you close your cat’s backpack or carrier so that it reduces their ability to jump out. Just bear in mind, your cat may feel anxious while riding in traffic. As such, this is only something you should do, when they are advanced bike riders.
Just like us, our cats get tired in hot weather or on long rides. So keep this in mind while planning your catexploring bike rides. And make sure you have packed everything you need.
Leaving your cat in the carrier
You’ve pulled up at your local café on your bike. Normally, you would lock your bike to a pole and run in and grab a coffee.
As tempting as it might be to leave your cat in their carrier on the bike, this will impact its balance and the bike may fall over. So always take your cat out of the carrier or take the carrier with you when you aren’t riding the bike.
And the last bit?
Have fun catexploring!
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