Ahh! 😪 Your cat’s monthly vet appointment day arrived, and as always, your cat is not coming in to your hand so that you can put him in the carrier box. Putting him inside the carrier is the most uncomfortable thing for your mischievous cat and yourself too, right?
Do not stress out; I, Kyle Miller, “Cat Queen of Shelburne,” will help you get your cat in the carrier box. How? Leave it on me.
Well, have you ever noticed that whenever your cat sees the carrier, they hide under the sofa or vanish like a magician?
I don’t know how, but somehow, cats recognize that something is going to happen to them. Now, because of the aura that we create before going somewhere, cats do have some natural powers But all I know is they go to know.
One of my friends said this: “If your cat is scared of the carrier, it’s your fault if you don’t get comfortable with the carrier.”. Well, don’t worry. To solve this issue, I have written a nice guide along with my 5 years of tips and tricks that I have used and am still using.
Best Ways to Get a Cat into a Carrier
Creating Cozy and Comfortable Carrier
- Turn the carrier into a bed: You can make the carrier just like their bed or another cozy place. Apart from the soft carrier, almost all the carrier’s tops come out. You can put something very attractive to him/her, like their doughnut bed or maybe one of your sweatshirts that will smell like you, and they get great comfort from being around your scent.
- Place the Carrier in the Cat’s Social Area: You can put the carrier where your cat likes to go, sit, and relax. So maybe you want to set it up near the couch or near your bed, or it can be near their scratch post.
- Treat Method: The Always Working Method: The 100% working method is used in the case of any pet, whether you want to train them or behave appropriately. Giving treats to them as a reward always works. Make sure they will only get it when they sit inside the carrier and try to make this thing a daily ritual. Only then will it show the desired results.
- Put the Lid/Door Back On: This step tends to be a little problematic and this can be a real trigger for them because when a cat sees that he is locked up in the little cage, he will become anxious and stressed out, trying to come out, and suddenly you will see cat 4 legs have become 6, just wanting to escape from there if you show some leniency. It is very easy for cats to pop out from the carrier if they get a little space. So, try to have someone who can zip the carrier or lock the door before he comes outside.
Remember:
- Some cats may take a couple of hours to understand this whole process. They will see it as a bed, a bed with a top on it.
- You can help them by taking their one paw over the line to the den.
Sedation: Calming Medicine
Sedating means giving medicine to calm somebody. In the cat’s case, the vet recommends gabapentin.
Before you use Gabapentin, let me explain a little:
Gabapentin basically helps in calming down the cat’s anxiety and stress and chronic pain. It is generally used by cat parents before visiting a vet. It should only be in use when the vet recommends it and what amount of dose you should give to cats.
I give this to my cat 2 hours before the visit. I mix the powder in her food so the vet can examine her in the best way, and it is helpful for me as well. Then she comes home, gets the munchies, and sleeps it off.
The Bad Cat Method
If your cat is not coming in your hand, running here and there.
- Get a towel or blanket and grab him with that so he can’t escape.
- Now, try to hold him with the scruff. Just like a mom cat would do to a baby cat.
- Then you’re going to give them support, lift them from the bottom like his little back feet are blocked. So, they can’t do anything.
- Now, once you hold him by the bottom of the butt, do not hold him with his neck, but you also should have control of his neck.
Tips & Tricks: That I Use and I Suggest to Everyone
- Before you put the lid back on the carrier, keep making it a positive place.
- If your cat is going inside the carrier 100 times, out of 100, only one time they are going to the vet. By doing this, we want to convey that the carrier is the safest place to go. Cats should not feel she is going somewhere every time when the door is locked.
- Just as we have rules for litter boxes, we have applied the same rules for carriers. 3 cats—3 carrier boxes.
- Randomly, you can put your cat’s favorite food inside the carrier, like cooked chicken or canned tuna. He will remember this place for a good reason.
- Put some familiar smells in the carrier that the kitty knows, like your clothes or their blanket.
- You can put the cat in the carrier box while she is sleeping; before she can understand what happened or react, you have already done the job.
FAQs
Q1. Why do cats hate carriers?
Ans. Your cats hate the carrier because every time they get into the carrier, they’re going to a place where they don’t want to go, such as vets, trips, or unfamiliar places, etc. Additionally, the carrier’s confined space and unfamiliar smells can trigger stress and anxiety.
Q2. When should I start training my cat for this?
Ans. You can start training him when your cat is young, probably 3-4 months. You can even start this when your cat is 2 months old. The earlier you start, the more she will learn.
Q3. How to calm a cat in a carrier?
Ans. Try placing treats, catnip, and pheromone spray. These are the things that could work.
Q4. How do I make my cat comfortable in a carrier?
Ans. There are 2-3 things that you can do to make her comfortable in their carrier box.
- First, put something that has a familiar smell.
- Try to make them feel like it’s their other sleeping place or eating place.
For more, you can read the above tips.
Q5. What’s the easiest way to get a cat in a carrier?
Ans. The easiest way to put a cat in a carrier box is to give them Gabapentin. Simple and easiest.
Q6. How many types of carriers are available in the market?
Ans. There are certain types of carrier boxes available.
- Top load
- Front load
- Soft carrier
Every carrier bag has its own pros and cons.
Final Words
Your cat isn’t supposed to get scared from the carrier. It should be safe to go to places. Give them as bad experiences as you can. Whenever they see a carrier bag or box, or whatever you have, they should always feel something good is going to happen to them.
Gabapentin, putting cats in the carrier box while sleeping, or holding them from their scruff are the options that I like for cats who are skittish, unwilling to go to the vet, or refuse to enter the carrier.
I have shared all the tactics that I know, and I would love to know some of your tips and tricks. In case I have missed out, the comment section is open for you guys. Go and let me know your thoughts and feedback; I’m open to it.