Kennels - fibreglass, stainless steel....?

Re: Kennels - fibreglass, stainless steel....?

Dippy — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:53:01 GMT

Interesting post as I'm in the process of researching costs, pros and cons of each type for the charity in Cyprus as that's what the sponsored skydive money will be going on, a block of kennels. I've always favoured the fibreglass ones, especially for cats, which is what I've told her but good to read everyone else's reasons for prefewrring each type in case there's anything I hadn't thought of!

Re: Kennels - fibreglass, stainless steel....?

Nicola Smith — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:29:15 GMT

We have white plastic looking not sure if fibreglass or not lol!! Very easy to keep clean, no cracks etc and surfaces still 100% white, also not cold, and less noisy. Have closures which turn rather than up and down as have known cats knock those ones up to let themselves out.

Re: Kennels - fibreglass, stainless steel....?

Selena Carnell — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:35:25 GMT

my only thought is would the fibre glass crack over time? Having seen alot of fibreglass things with star crazing all over them...

I prefer stainless.

Re: Kennels - fibreglass, stainless steel....?

Claire Cameron — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 11:48:56 GMT

for kitties - fibreglass is the way forward, less reflective, less cold and less noise for the kitties.

I've worked in practices to have stainless steel and fibreglass and cats much prefer the fibreglass kennels. I believe this is also what FAB recommend for cat friendly practices

Re: Kennels - fibreglass, stainless steel....?

thebeestingbutterfly — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 10:43:00 GMT

/we have both i think that the stainless are great but when you close the doors the metal on metal can be very frightening for scared kitties (especially when doors have been previously removed for disinfecting) - for some reason they just dont go back on as nicely!

However i find the fibreglass ones don't echo like the stainless which is alot nicer- vibrations from neighbouring kennels is also a problem with stainless!!

arg... that didnt help you much did it!!!!

Re: Kennels - fibreglass, stainless steel....?

Kim Buckley — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 09:47:26 GMT

I prefer stainless steel ones. Have worked where they had plastic ones and didn't find them as easy to keep clean. As long as you put lots of bedding in then the metal ones can be warm and cosy.

Re: Kennels - fibreglass, stainless steel....?

Jenny Cook RVN — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 22:08:53 GMT

Much prefer stainless steel, think cos easier to clean...

Although our dog kennels have a marbled effect to them and square corners where dirt can accumulate easily... (see the photo)

Our walk in dog kennels have the same marbled effect as above but the kennel door is made of same stainless steel as the cat ward is.

These are half of our cat ward kennels.

Re: Kennels - fibreglass, stainless steel....?

Sal the 1st — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 22:01:07 GMT

[quote user="Phrin SVN"]

A place I used to work many moons ago, with the kennels I like best!

http://www.woodcroftvets.com/practice/facilitiesservices/hospitalisation.shtml

Not sure where they got them from though.

[/quote]

I used to use kennels like those - they were made by HVE - I favour them over stainless for smaller animals, large dogs would always try and use stainless

another good fibreglass kennel manufacturer I used to really rate their kennels was Clark(e) cages - I think these may have been American and were excellent quality

Re: Kennels - fibreglass, stainless steel....?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:54:15 GMT

A place I used to work many moons ago, with the kennels I like best!

http://www.woodcroftvets.com/practice/facilitiesservices/hospitalisation.shtml

Not sure where they got them from though.

Re: Kennels - fibreglass, stainless steel....?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:52:36 GMT

Also make sure that they are properly erm.. integrated? or built? into the room, for want of a better word. At my current practice our kennels are freestanding, with no covering on the back - just the gaps between each kennel floor and roof, and let me tell you, it is HELL trying to pry a scared, escaped feral cat out from between the back of them!

Re: Kennels - fibreglass, stainless steel....?

Nick Shackleton — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:47:10 GMT

Steel all the way fair easier to clean.

Re: Kennels - fibreglass, stainless steel....?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:47:01 GMT

I have worked in a number of practices with varying styles of accomodation, and I must say that I much prefer the white plastic kennels with 'wired' fronting.

Stainless steel reverberates too much when the patient moves, and is very cold.

Plastiglass kennel fronts are good, and easy to clean, but you can't hang drip holders from them.

Granted the wired kennels are more difficult to clean, but not that much more difficult, and they don't get steamed up and form condensation with a stressed patient.

Good closing mechanisms are also very important!

Rounded corners for ease and efficacy of cleaning

I'm trying to find a pic of the kennels I mean - I think they are from shoreline