Tips for Cats Who Are Difficult To Catch or Put In Carrier

Ideally you will leave cat carrier out in a comfortable part of your home to use it as a hang out space/bed and not associate it just with vet appointments.  We particularly like Sleepy Pod cat beds or cat beds with flip latches so the top can be removed to turn it into bed for just this reason.  You would be surprised what a big difference it makes if kitties have a carrier that is part of their life instead of just a part of car rides.

What Are The Best Carriers?

The brands of carriers we see cats most comfortable in are:

Sleepy Pod, Cat In Bag, SportPet Travel Master (get the largest size), and Richell Double Door.

SleepyPod	Cat in Bag
SportPet Travel Master Carrier	Richell Double Door

Note: when choosing carriers that aren’t Sleepy Pods please do not get carriers that have any screw bolts. We need to be able to take the top off the carrier and these bolts are very hard to take out and put back in. Also, if not choosing a Sleepy Pod, chose a carrier with top loading options at that is much less frightening for kitties to go in from the top then to face walking into the carrier.

 

Websites with other great tips to make getting to our clinic easier!

• https://catfriendly.com/cat-comfortable-with-the-carrier/
• https://icatcare.org/articles/taking-your-cat-to-the-vet
• https://catfriendly.com/be-a-cat-friendly-caregiver/cat-carriers/
• https://www.fearfreehappyhomes.com/teach-your-cat-to-go-into-a-carrier-without-a-struggle/
• https://www.fundamentallyfeline.com/train-your-cat-to-willingly-enter-and-exit-their-cat-carrier-using-a-target-stick/
• https://chirrupsandchatter.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Chirrups-and-Chatter-Happy-Vet-Visits.pdf

 

When You Don’t Have a Few Weeks For a Full Acclimation to the Carrier as a Bed Prior to Your Vet Visit

Important: you must follow these instructions (including food amounts) closely in order to be successful. Too much food and your pet can get car sick, visualizing the carrier and they’ll become suspicious. These tips are designed to make you successful so breathe and relax.  Cats are fantastic on picking up on human stress so if you trust the process and stay calm and confident, they’ll rely on you for cues and stay calmer as well.

You’ll want soft bedding that smells like home in the carrier, a small amount of treats in the carrier and it should be sprayed with Feliway pheromone spray.

• Up until your pet’s next appointment, feed all of his/her meals in a bathroom. This bathroom should have a shower in it that has the curtain closed or door shut. You’ll feed your pet on the floor or the sink, but a bit away from the bathroom door as your goal is to be able to get them comfortable eating in the bathroom with the door closed. Eventually you will hide the carrier in the shower but not right away. The first 1-2 meals don’t even shut the bathroom door, just act calmly and have your pet follow you in paying attention to the food.  After a few meals this way, put the food down and once your pet starts to eat close the door while you stay in the bathroom with your pet while they eat. You should pet him/her after the meal is finished and then leave the bathroom, making this bathroom a place that is not scary to hang out in.
• The night before your pet’s appointment, have someone spend time playing with him/her in a bedroom away from this bathroom or if the bathroom is in the bedroom then in the kitchen etc away from the bathroom. You don’t want your pet to see the carrier getting moved into the bathroom.  Because we don’t have time for your pet to get used to the carrier being part of the home then we have to hide it at all costs. While your pet is being occupied by play in another room, have a family member or friend take the carrier into the feeding bathroom, put the carrier in the shower and shut the curtain completely.
• The morning of the appointment, do not feed your pet breakfast, but do give him/her water.
• 90 minutes prior to needing to leave, give your pet Bonqat liquid with 1 tablespoon of his/her favorite canned food, tuna if he/she loves it, or 1/2 of a Churu squeeze treat in the bathroom with the door open.
• After giving your pet the Bonqat, go about your normal home business as if nothing special is happening.
• 15 minutes before you need to leave, prepare 1 tablespoon’s worth of your pet’s normal breakfast in his/her normal dish and have them follow you into the bathroom, then shut the door. Give your pet the breakfast food and let them eat it as a reward and to keep the routine the same.
• Then pick your pet up gently (kind of like a football) and put him/her in the carrier through the top load door, or if you don’t have a top loading , place your pet in butt first.
• Once the carrier is closed, drape a towel or thin blanket over the carrier and then pick it up and take it to the car. Carry the carrier like a box, not by the handle as carrying it by the handle causes swinging which doesn’t feel good to the kitty.
• Play soft classical or sleep music in the car and talk in normal voices to your pet.