I have a very nice one-year-old cat. Last time we went to the vet, she was very easy to get into the carrier because she was sick. Now that she's better, how early should I start trying to get her into the carrier? The receptionist said they want to get a urine sample there, so I should crate her early so she can't use the litter box -- otherwise we'd be at the vet's for a while waiting for her to pee. Two hours seems like a long time to put my poor kitty in a carrier. From experience, what do you recommend? Thanks in advance!
2006-08-17 06:26:50 · 8 answers · asked by Anna C. 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Thanks for all of the answers so far! My carrier has been on my floor and open since the first vet trip 3 weeks ago. I've been putting treats in there and playing around it, but I haven't closed the door yet, so I'll try that tonight. She has a couple of balls in there, too. Sounds like I'm not as bad off as I thought I was!
2006-08-17 06:59:26 · update #1
Hmmm...well if you are observant, you may already know when your cat uses the litterbox. They are fairly "regular" if you know what I mean. My cats go right after their dinner and right before their breakfast it seems. If your cat has had a nice long nap, chances are her bladder will be full. I think 2 hours is excessive. Maybe you can just cuddle with her on your bed for those 2 hours instead. And then put her in the carrier just before you are ready to leave. If you're worried that your cat may not go into the carrier at all here's another approach. I always take the carrier out several days before and leave it around with the door open. Naturally curious, most cats will go right inside to inspect it. This way they don't fear the carrier. Then get her favorite treat and give it to her right outside the carrier. Then put it way in the back of the carrier and let her go in and get it. Let her come out and give her a final treat. Later on, do this same thing again, but this time close the door after she goes inside. Give her the same final treat with the door closed. Then let her out. Now she has associated the carrier with a reward and she knows that the closed door will open again. When it's time to go. Put the treat in the back of the carrier and let her go in. Close the door and give her another treat. She will hope you open the door again, but you can comfort her verbally and let her know you'll open the door later. When you get home from the vet. put the carrier back on the floor in the same place as before. Open the door and give her a treat! Good luck.
2006-08-17 06:39:09 · answer #1 · answered by Alleycat 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Days ago! :-)
Trying to get a urinalysis from a cat is challenging, but sometimes necessary to diagnose a problem. Although she will certainly be annoyed with you, it's important to keep her in the carrier if the vet needs the sample.
Alleycat had a good answer. Mine is too, though more for general use. It teaches your cat to enjoy the carrier.
I had posted this to "why do cats hate carriers".
Cats only hate carriers if they have (accidentally) been *trained* to hate them. In other words, any time they get in them something bad happens to them.
Mine love them.
Especially as kittens (but even as adults), I just set the carrier on the floor. Pretty soon two or three of them will be inside checking it out. Toys and a nice matt help..
We raise Ragdolls, and when a kitten is about to go home, I put their little receiving blanket in the crate while the owners & I finish the paperwork and instructions. All the cats wander in and out, and often the kitten itself. The smells are those they are familiar with. A toy helps. :-) By the time the kitten is ready to go home, it has all the great smells of Mom, the littermates and other kitty household members.
If you put your carrier on the floor as described, and your cat associates it with all these good things, she'll decide this is a GREAT place to go. An added bonus is that when you DO take them to the vet, they seek refuge in the cage after the exam. It's such a simple way to train them!
Smiles and good luck!
2006-08-17 13:52:20 · answer #2 · answered by Ragdoll Kitty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put the carrier out as soon as possible so she can get used to it. She may go in there all by herself. Carriers tend to spook cats, so no matter what is done, she is not going to have a great experience. Put her in the carrier about 1/2 before you walk out the door. That will give her time to get used to the thing and keep her from the litter box. The vet is going to get a urine sample no matter what, so don't worry about keeping her from her box for an extended period of time.
2006-08-17 14:02:37 · answer #3 · answered by Stephanie S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good luch with the urine sample at the vets how is that suppose to work? Never had to bring in cat samples I can remember but do it for the dogs sometims and they give you something to catch it at home.
As far as getting the cat in the box here is a quick trick. Open the carrier and up it on end open side up. Catch you catch in a towel. Carefully "drop" cat into the carrier. Towel will keep the cat from clawing you or catching the sides of the crate when you go to put her in.
2006-08-17 13:34:52 · answer #4 · answered by SoccerClipCincy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put her in quite early if you want that urine sample. Plus you don't want to be searching the house for her 15 minutes before the appointment. I have outdoor cats and have to crate them very early to make sure they don't take off for the day when they have to go to the vet. Being in a crate does not harm your cat, some actually enjoy the feeling of being cocooned.
2006-08-17 13:35:37 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know what it has to do with getting a urine sample, the vet can squeeze it out of them, right down from the kidneys to the bladder and out, it sometimes takes 10 minutes but it can be done lol
Try to get her in the carrier about 20 minutes before you go. Leave yourself enough time in case she decides to hide
2006-08-17 14:04:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
those darn vets are usually good at making pets pee all over anyway. just make her as comfortable as possible. if you gotta spend a little extra time at the vet, do it. Cats can be so loving and great. you chose to have her, so treat her like a child. put her in the carrier right before you leave. if the vet complains, just say you love her too much. they won't have an answer to that.
enjoy
2006-08-17 13:34:48 · answer #7 · answered by towelboy70 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cat is very good about using the litter box, so we just closed the door so she couldn't use it. She meowed quite a bit, but she didn't go anywhere else.
And two hours in a carrier would annoy the heck out of my cat, but your cat might just take it as a chance to nap.
2006-08-17 13:33:32 · answer #8 · answered by mikah_smiles 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋