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Ten Tips on Getting Your Cat Into a Carrier
We have all had a difficult time getting a cat into a carrier at some time or another. Here are some tips (some or all may be needed) on how to alleviate the stress caused by trying to get your pet into the carrier, deal with the car ride and arrive safely at the vet's office.
- First, place your cat in a small room where he cannot hide or get out. (a bathroom works well)
- Try keeping the pet carrier out for days or weeks beforehand so it is not a sudden, unpleasant surprise when she sees it. If she sees it all of the time in the den, she will be less afraid of it. You can also try to put treats or catnip in the carrier to entice her to visit it before a trip to the vet.
- Place the carrier on a waist-level surface to make it easier on yourself. Extend his front legs forward with one hand over his eyes and quickly ease him inside. Once his shoulders are past the entrance, it is too awkward to easily back out*Put him in a pillowcase (only works for cats that like to hide in things), and then the pillowcase in the carrier. Once in the carrier, slowly pull out the pillowcase.
- You can use Feliway spray inside the carrier, a synthetic pheromone product that reduces anxiety Feliway is very effective in reducing stress because it imitates the familiar and comforting facial pheromones that cats deposit on surfaces when they rub their faces on them. These pheromones tell the cat that their surroundings are “okay”.
- Put soft material inside the carrier to make it cozy. A warm towel fresh from the dryer is very comforting in cold weather and can absorb urine (it is not unusual for cats to urinate on the trip because of anxiety)
- No food right before the trip, to avoid an upset stomach
- Discard a carrier that is falling apart or was associated with a bad prior experience (the same scent can bring that fear right back).
- Two cats in one carrier may relax both but it also may cause more anxiety. If in doubt, keep them separate.
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