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We all know that most cats aren’t huge fans of riding in cars, or going to the vets. There are exceptions to every rule, of course, but typically, cats don’t love being in carriers. Dr. Jane Brunt offers some tips for how to make cats more comfortable with carriers in her Podcast with AVMA.
Her first suggestion is to make sure that your carrier is appropriately sized for your cat. It should be large enough for your cat to stand up and turn around, but small enough that they feel secure. A carrier that is too big will make a cat feel less secure and can also be harmful during transportation to the vet. Her second piece of advice is to make sure that the cat is used to the carrier. The carrier shouldn’t be hidden away in the basement or garage, and only taken out when you’re headed to the vet. The carrier should be out and open in an area where the cat has full access to it at all times. This way, the cat doesn’t associate the carrier with being in the car or going to the vet. Having the carrier as a part of the cat’s environment will help the cat feel more comfortable at the vet because the carrier will be a place of comfort for them. Another way to help your cat feel more comfortable is to make sure that the carrier has something comfortable for the cat to lay on. This should be a bed or towel that smells like the cat, or you. This way your cat will be used to the carrier and will have something that smells familiar. Another tip is to actively work with your cat to make them comfortable with their carrier. Reward them with treats or food any time they go near or inside their carrier. You can use toys to entice them to use their carrier in the beginning, this will help them associate some of their favorite things with the carrier. The key is positive reinforcement! What should you do if your cat has already had a bad experience with a carrier? Start from scratch! Get a different type of carrier and leave it out. Plan ahead, too. Make sure that you get your cat their new carrier weeks before you actually have to use it. Once you pick out their new carrier, bring it home and put something that smells like them in the carrier and leave the carrier in a non-threatening area. Follow the advice above to help your feline friend get used to their new carrier! This will help your cat associate the new carrier with home, and a comfortable space, instead of a scary cage they have to be crammed into once a year to come to see the vet. The most important take away is to get your cat used to their carrier. Move their carrier to a place in your home where they can access it at all times. This will help them view their carrier as a hideout or bed, instead of something strange and scary. Make sure interaction with their carrier is frequent and positive. This will help ease their tension about coming to the vet!
11 Comments
12/10/2017 08:12:58 pm
I like that you mentioned how cats would feel safer in a carrier that is large enough for them stand and walk around while small enough to fit them perfectly. That would be great since I've been having a hard time to locate a good carrier for our cat so that I can bring him to an animal hospital. I'll be sure to have a well-suited carrier ready for him so that we can start looking for an animal hospital that would be perfect for him. Thanks! 3/12/2018 04:21:20 pm
A good friend of mine was telling me about trying to find a vet for her pet cat. She wants to make sure that it is not a negative experience for her pet feline. I will make sure that she knows to try and keep her cat comfortable in her carrier during the visit. 4/16/2018 04:50:12 pm
It's surprising to know that the carrier should be appropriately sized for the cat so that it will feel secure and avoid possible injuries if ever is a need to transport the cat. My wife's cat doesn't look like it's feeling great recently. I'll suggest that she takes it to the vet soon. I'll also encourage her to buy the right carrier to avoid further injuries to the pet. 5/8/2018 02:51:45 pm
My cat, Cecily, was recently in a big fight, and it really messed her up. I think that she'll need quite a bit of help and will need to go to an animal hospital multiple times. I want to find an animal hospital that I could start taking Cecily to quickly. Thanks for pointing out that you should actively reward the cat with food or treats whenever they go near or inside the carrier. 7/3/2018 05:58:17 pm
My sister has a cat and it's inactive and not eating for a day already. According to this, it will be better to make sure that the carrier that will be used to carry the cat to the hospital is appropriately sized for the cat. Furthermore, it's advisable to go to trusted animal hospitals for quality pet care. 7/10/2018 07:51:49 pm
Thanks for the tip about keeping the cat carrier accessible to the cat at all times so that it can get used to it and won't associate it with going in the car or to the vet. I just got a Calico and was trying to figure out how to make it easier to take her to the vet. I'll have to make sure that her carrier is in the open so she always has access to it, so that way once I find a veterinarian to take her to it will be easier to transport her. 8/20/2018 06:38:52 pm
I always worry about how stressed my cat gets when we have to go on car rides, so I have yet to take her to an animal hospital. Your advice to place a bed or a towel that smell like either the cat or the owner inside the carrier to make it a more inviting and familiar environment is wonderful. We'll be sure to do this and take our cat to a vet once she is comfortable in the carrier. 9/4/2018 05:43:54 am
My wife and I recently got a cat and are getting ready to visit the vet, so thanks for sharing this. I like your point about rewarding your cat while in the carrier. I'll do this so there is positive reinforcement for staying in the cage. 9/11/2018 10:34:52 am
I liked what you said about having the carrier as part of the environment will help the cat to associate it with a familiar environment. I'm worried that my cat will react like my other cats before her when we bring out the carrier, but I never thought to try something like this. I'll see if it helps her, but I have high hopes. Thank you for the suggestion! Leave a Reply. |
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