On the red carpet of “Argylle – The Super Spy” he stood out alongside Claudia Schiffer. In a backpack from which only his big yellow eyes could be seen (but not his tail). We're talking about Chip, the cat of the German top model, 53 years old, in London for the world premiere of her husband Matthew Vaughn's new film (where he plays the cat Alfie, the cat of one of the protagonists, the writer). Elly Conway). It is not the first time that Chip has been talked about: he actually has several photo shoots, an illustrated book and an Instagram page with thousands of followers, like Choupette, the cat of Karl Lagerfeld, the famous late designer in 2019.
What must he have thought in this vehicle? “Cats are habitual and territorial animals. Of course, the behavior of the individual must be assessed and it is not enough to just look at a photo,” explains Nicoletta Lucherini, cat advisor at the National Animal Protection Agency, to Corriere della Sera. In general, however, “I would like to remind you that staying in a different environment can arouse their curiosity, as in the case of a trip.” However, it is important not to relocate them too much and, if necessary, to get them used to new areas early on , to minimize separation.” For example: “On a vacation of several days, it is better to call someone at home to look after our cat than to send it on a trip.” And again: “The kitten must be accustomed to initially travel short distances by car and not just go to the vet, so as not to confuse the two environments.” In the case of carriers, Lucherini clarifies: “They must be stable and not swinging and safe.” When cats flee out of fear, it can be difficult to recover. Here, too, the cats have to get used to entering them without stress, and not just when they are needed for transport. In some cases, the carrier can be covered with a sheet to make the cat feel more protected. Let us always remember that totes and backpacks are intended to be used by their owners, not as accessories for showing off or as fashion objects.”
Carrying cats in a transport box “is absolutely not recommended and destabilizing, not only due to behavioral and physical stress, but also for the muscles and joints of our animals,” explains Meir Levy, veterinarian at Enpa. “To feel comfortable, a cat must stay in an environment that it knows: in a backpack, in addition to the vibrations to which it is exposed (e.g. its owner's footsteps), it has no outlet, its best weapon to use.” : As they say, fight or flee (fight or flight) when he feels threatened. To be honest, I find the photo a provocation. And not only that: while the cat’s body is in the dark, its head is exposed to light and endless stimuli, like people on the catwalk.”
The lives of our cats “could be much richer and more dynamic than we are used to within the four walls of the house.” Even if cities are not built to be cat-friendly, there are numerous cats that are equipped with a harness – a means of dressing they need to be trusted at home while playing to gain self-confidence – and going out on a leash for daily walks: once we get used to it, we must not abandon this practice, but give it continuity. In short, the issue of habit is fundamental from a young age when they come home,” explains Sabrina Giussani, veterinary behaviorist at ENVF (Ecole Nationale Française). In the case of the carrier/backpack in the photo, “it must be used gradually and always bought in the right size, preferably closed.” “The cat in question, a Scottish Fold, in the picture is perplexed but not frightened: Her pupil would be dilated and she would squat down,” he points out, recalling how his participation in the film made him more confident than others. An advice? “Never take anything for granted, but learn to observe our animals’ behavior and understand what they want to do rather than what we like to do.”