I have a female cat who is scared of my cat carrier. What can I do to make her not be afraid of it anymore?

Question

It's a fight to take her to the vet. She runs when she sees it and she doesn't like being picked up either.

Answer 1

I would keep the carrier out in the living room with treats in it when you are not taking her to the vet so that she know the case doesn't hurt her...right now her association with the carrier is "that thing takes me to the place that hurts me" so change her association with it. That is what I did with my cat... now they go in with no problems though getting them out no always as easy....lol

Answer 2

My best suggestion is to first of all not scare her or force her into the carrier. Cats are smarter than they look, some know that carrier=vet! For starters, make sure its the thought of the carrier that is scaring her not the actuall carrier itself...what I mean is, make sure the carrier is not too small, tight, smelly or harmful. Next a couple days before the vet visit, put the carrier out in the living room or somewhere she goes often. Don't put it next to her litter box or food because its not right to scare someone to death while she's eating or going! Imagine having to eat or go while a highly poisonious snake is glaring at you, and you'll understand why fear is not the way to go. Try a couple of these techniques - put a treat in the carrier and make sure you make a scene in front of your cat about putting the treat in! Sprinkle cat nip in the carrier. Make the carrier homey, add her favorite toy or blanket in the carrier so she realizes that if her toy can live...she'll be alright. If the cat doesn't like to be picked up then let her naturally walk in. However if it is time for you to leave to the vet and she still won't go in, make a trail of cat treats (but not too many!!! Maybe use only 3) or put a cat treat infront of her nose and make her follow it into the carrier. Respect her wishes to not be picked up. If the cat is also unhappy in the car and the vets office is withing walking distance, just walk! You'll get more exersise (lol) and your cat won't be as scared. For example, I always go walking to the vets office because it is just down the street a bit but I make sure not to rock or move the carrier too much! Some more ideas would be to get her to realize that carrier doesn't have to mean a trip to the vet. Is there a park near by you cat would like to go to? If she is the type of cat who likes leashes, take her via carrier to the park or somewhere so she is more comfortable in it! So, that is basically all I have! Its long but I hope you and kitty can settle the cat carrier problem!!
P.S: If not matter what you do the cat doesnt go in, ask a vet or better yet hire one of those vets who make house calls!! LOL!

Answer 3

I used to go through the same fight with mine. What I do now is take the carriers out two to three days before the vet visit and let them sit out. Mine hide for a little while until they figure out they're not going anywhere. When it's finally time to take them to the vet, they won't run from the carrier because they've gotten used to it being out.

Answer 4

My cat loves his carrier. I leave it open in an out of the way place and I catch him napping in it from time to time. Just leave the carrier out and let him see that it is not a threat. Maybe put a treat inside or some catnip.

Answer 5

Just leave the carrier out with the door open. Put some toys, treats and maybe a blanket inside so your cat knows it isn't a scary place.

Answer 6

Leave the carrier out and door open your cat will get curious and find out its not a bad little box after all. put some catnip in it. How old is your cat, some are just finicky and want to be left alone

Answer 7

Leave the carrier open, in a room she frequently is in. Put a blanket inside, maybe one she normally lays on. See if she won't adjust to it, and maybe even sleep in it. Let her realize that the carrier doesn't always lead to the vet clinic. Let her realize that sometimes it will not close on her, and she can feel comfortable sleeping in it.

Plus, it'll make it easier to transfer her, if she's able to trust the carrier enough to walk in without force.

Answer 8

put her food in the carrier and dont feed her anywhere else. even if it takes a couple of days for her to enter and eat happily it wont hurt her to be slightly hungry as most domestic pets are overfed. when she enters comfortably via the food option you can put her favourite blankie in there. do not shut the door at all during this process. do not place her in the carrier during this process. it has to be her decision to enter it and she must be able to leave it when she wants during this time. when she is comfortable entering it - should take about a week - you can then place her in it (with her favourite blankie or toy), shut it and carry it somewhere but only for a few minutes. make this process of putting her in it and taking her somewhere a little longer next time, and so on.

Answer 9

Leave it sitting out in your home with the door open. Curiousity will probably get the better of your cat, and she'll check it out from time to time and hopefully feel comfortable enough to take a nap there.

My deceased cat was the same. I had to shut her up in the bathroom and then get the carrier out otherwise she would hide.

Answer 10

my girlfriend leaves her cat carrier out all the time, and leaves it open. on occasion she'll put treats in there so that the cats will go in it. they associate the carrier with a reward. once they're at they vet, they dont want to go back in, but they're getting better at using it.

Answer 11

Cats get tramatized very easily. They will freak out over nothing. There is nothing you can really do to calm the cat down. They aren't as trusting as dogs are.

Can you hold the cat in your lap instead of putting her in the cage? If not, you will have to force her in there. I hope it's a short ride to the vet...lol

Have a good day!