You may have experienced this scenario—you are at the reception area of a veterinary clinic with your cat sitting inside his/her carrier, waiting for the consultation to start. Just then, another client walks in, holding a cat in her arms. You might say to yourself, “Now that’s an amazing cat! I can’t believe she lets her owner carry her around like that!” or ”I wish my cat would let me carry her around.” However, veterinary clinic staff members may see this “cute image” as a big risk, highly susceptible to accidents.
Even while the cat lies calmly in its owner’s arms for the moment, it will take only a millisecond for it to get startled by anything and attempt to jump off, in which case it will most likely succeed. We all know that when a cat is trying to run away, nothing or no one can get in its way. So trust us when we say that your cat, who is sitting inside the carrier, is in much safer hands than a cat being carried in arms without protection, albeit the cute image you may still be considering.
All of our staff constantly advise clients of the importance of using carriers when transporting cats anywhere, even during the shortest of distances. 99% of the time, clients will provide us with the same reply: “My cat hates the carrier”, or “It is impossible to get my cat inside the carrier.” Yes, this is a valid concern, and we know it is shared by many fellow cat owners. The anxiety that some cats show in the presence of a cat carrier causes immediate issues for both cat and owner.
We also know that many cat owners will resort to physically forcing an already stressed cat into a narrow opening of a cat carrier. This simply escalates the anxiety and stress levels for both the cat and the owner, resulting in a mutually detrimental outcome.
So, how do you make your cat see the carrier as a safe place?
At The Cat Vet, we continuously strive to make the entire procedure of visiting us from beginning to end for both cats and owners a truly cat-friendly experience. However, the initial process of leaving your home will need to be done by you.
- Put the carrier where your cat can see and access it. Don’t put it in a dark corner and take it out only when you need to go to the vet. Make the carrier a part of your cat’s natural environment at home. Constant exposure to the carrier will be better for your cat to get accustomed to it.
- Make the inside of the carrier cat-friendly, and always leave the carrier door open. You may consider leaving your cat’s favourite blanket, comfortable bedding, towel, cushion or toy inside the carrier to make it more inviting. Catnip is also a good option.
- Additionally, constantly leave treats inside the carrier and sometimes even food. The objective is to remind your cat that the carrier is a safe area so he or she can associate it with positive thoughts.
- Preferably purchase a new carrier, not a used one. We all know how sensitive our feline friends are to smells. If you bring home a carrier which was previously used by another cat, your cat may refuse to enter it.
- The younger you start, the better! Training kittens early on to accept the carrier as a safe place will make any trip in the future so much easier for both of you.
- Use a calming spray on both the inside and outside of the carrier. We recommend Feliway Classic Spray
- Playing works wonders as well! Encourage your cat to play around the carrier by dragging a toy at the end of a pole toy around and on top of the carrier. Cats, when busy playing, will often run after their favourite toys and ping-pong balls into the carrier.
- If you are still unable to persuade your cat to change his/her opinion about the carrier, try taking it apart. Unfasten the top and turn the bottom half into a place where your cat can spend time. Once your cat becomes comfortable, slowly reassemble the carrier.
Patience and perseverance are key. Remember that every cat is different. Some may change their perception about carriers faster than others, while for some cats, it may take weeks or months.
For further assistance on cat carrier tips or to enquire about any of the above mentioned products, please feel free to contact The Cat Vet at 800CATVET!
