Do you dread it when you need to take your cat to the vet? Is it a nightmare every time they need to go? Are you regularly canceling vet appointments at the last minute? I have been there as well, and understand how frustrating and also concerning this can be, especially when your cats are not well. Does your cat disappear as soon as the cat carrier is brought into their space? If you manage to entice them into the room once more, does your cat panic with the result that it then becomes impossible to place them into the carrier?
Some of the possible reasons your cat may have negative associations with the carrier are:
- The carrier is kept out of sight and is only brought out for trips to the vet. If your cat perceives the vet as a stressful experience, they will avoid the carrier as soon as it appears and possibly disappear through the cat flap regardless of the weather.
- Is the cat carrier large enough for your cat to be able to stand up and turn around? Having the choice to do this is helpful
- Have you placed 2 cats in the carrier at the same time? Even cats with a close bond could find this stressful as they cannot escape from one another. This could put them off being placed or going into the carrier in the future.
- Has a different cat been in the carrier and felt stressed? They may have left pheromones indicating this through the various scent glands in their body. This could deter another cat if this scent has not been removed.
Here are 5 Ways to help your cat begin to perceive the carrier as a good thing
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Location
Keep the carrier out at all times in a room where your cat enjoys sleeping and resting. This may begin the process of helping to create positive associations with the carrier or to help change previous negative memories.
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Creating positive relationships with the carrier
Introduce the carrier in stages with cats who have had previous negative experiences. Start without the lid and the blanket or mat for the carrier outside the carrier and a few feet away from the open carrier. Make it a fun game and place treats on the mat and also off the mat so your cat can choose where to be. When they choose to return to the mat when they have treats both on and off the mat, that is a sign they’re beginning to feel that is also a safe space. Repeat this game a couple of times a day if your cat is willing. When you observe your cat settling regularly on the blanket, you can move it closer to the carrier when your cat is busy elsewhere, or if you feel your cat is confident enough, right inside the open carrier. Continue the games as previously and once your cat is happy to lie down and relax inside the bottom part of the carrier, you can reinstate the top half when your cat is again busy elsewhere. When your cat is comfortable with this, you can replace the door and keep it open.
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An additional safe and fun place to rest or sleep:
Make the carrier both a fun and restful place to spend time in by making it comfortable by including a variety of treats and toys to discover. Ensure there is access to treats and toys outside of the carrier so when they do go inside it, it is very clear they are choosing to do so because the carrier itself is a good place.
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Using scent:
use either your cat’s pheromones if your cat enjoys being stroked, by gently rubbing a soft cloth around your cat’s face or chin and spreading this scent on the corners and internal rooftop of the carrier so it feels familiar and safe. Or use a product such as Feliway spray which mimics this or Pet Remedy spray which can have a calming effect.
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Staying in the carrier
Once your cat is happy to settle in the carrier, start asking her to go in and demonstrate that being lifted up and eventually moved to different rooms in your home can be fun. Start off with a few inches off the ground before placing the carrier down gently and proceed from there. Always open the door at any sign of distress and try again another day. Only continue with any stage when your cat is relaxed and content to be on the blanket and in the carrier.
By incorporating this into your daily life, taking your cat to the vet will hopefully be far less stressful and the carrier may become an extra safe place.
If you prefer to work with me 1-2-1, I offer online support or at home depending on your location.
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