Redirect without special characters - Joomla! Forum - community, help and support

i want redirect inside page. logic when category in virtuemart has 1 child redirect child.

code: select all

if( count($this->category->children) == 1){
   $category = $this->category->children[0];
   $caturl = jroute::_ ( 'index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=category&virtuemart_category_id=' . $category->virtuemart_category_id );
   jfactory::getapplication()->redirect($caturl );
}


but in address bar url is:
http://localhost/mysite/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=category&virtuemart_category_id=6&itemid=119

how can rid of & , replace them &?
thanks in advance.

code: select all

$caturl = jroute::_ ( 'index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=category&virtuemart_category_id=' . $category->virtuemart_category_id, null, null, false );