My kitty is pure perfection, she is a rescued cat that has never missed the litterbox and has lots of energy to play whenever you feel like it. But whenever we put her in her carrier to go to the vet or anywhere she defecates. If we put her in her carrier for 2 seconds she defecates. It is so embarrasing, she wasn't like this before, the problem started when a vet was really rough with her and hurt her bu t t, he had to take a stool sample and hurt her really bad. We just took her to the cat hotel and the people there told us she defecated all over her carrier. IT IS SO EMBARRASING!. Any advice on why she does it and how to train her to not do it?
2006-09-01 10:00:14 · 11 answers · asked by L M 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
Oh yeah, you guys, I wanted to sue that doctor for malpractice but it is hard to do it. I changed vets in a heart beat!.
2006-09-01 10:24:57 · update #1
well, this bad experience at the vet's has obviously traumatised her and thus she now shows a classic shock reaction to being put into the carrier - defecating can be caused by stress, y'know. you might be able to retrain her by trying to make the carrier a positive experience for her. put in toys, give her something nice to nibble on, stroke her when she's in there etc. if she manages not to defecate, reward her with a really special treat. good luck!
2006-09-01 10:09:00 · answer #1 · answered by nerdyhermione 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Each time the cat goes into the cat carrier, she knows she is going to the vets and have an unhappy time. Cats are not dumb! Our cats never have been out of the house except for going to the vet and if they even see the cat carrier, they run like hell!
Our solution is to get the cat carrier out a few days in advance and leave it open. Our cats have then seen it's not dangerous at the moment and even went inside to investigate it.
Our one cat used to urinate in it and cry in the car all the way to the vet. (three blocks)
Our vet told us to put a piece of towel or something else that the cat has made a bed on,
in the carrier, with one of the cat's toys.
It's still hard to catch the cat and put him into the carrier, but the familiarity of the small towel
or rug he has slept on and the cat toy has made the cat feel more at home and the problem was solved.
If I had a vet get rough with my cat, I'd change vets!
2006-09-01 17:17:30 · answer #2 · answered by cab veteran 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I hope you reported that vet! I wouldn't be embarrassed about her problem, because vets are entirely used to this. Place some really soft old towel in the bottom of her carrier and take another clean one with you. Most of the time they will even help you clean out the carrier.
You can try to get her used to traveling in the carrier or maybe get her a new one. Put it in the kitchen and let her inspect it for a few days so she gets used to the sight. Make sure you have a really gentle vet now.
2006-09-01 17:28:14 · answer #3 · answered by Zelda Hunter 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She does this because she's afraid. To get her to associate the carrier with good things, clean it out really well, use the zero odor stuff, to get all the bad odors out.
Then, put the carrier in a room where you are, and where she is. Leave the door open. Put in assorted toys, a blankie, and let her investigate the carrier. When she sees you putting stuff in it, she will get curious. DO NOT FORCE HER IN!! Gradually, let her get used to the carrier. It may take days, or weeks. There will come a time when you can let her be inside the carrier with the door open. You will eventually be able to close the door, but stay by her and reassure her. You may actually have to get a different carrier, depending on the cat's amount of trauma.
I let my momma cat have her kittens in the carrier, and they think it's a play toy. They do not mind when I zip it up, and I practice carrying it around the house, with them in it. That way, we all know what to expect. It is a collapsible carrier, with zippers and mesh, and the cats love it. They hate the hard plastic one. Good luck.
2006-09-01 17:26:37 · answer #4 · answered by Debra S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try removing the carrier box and instead use a harness on her when transporting her. Make a loop on the lead and then you can buckle her up in the backseat of the car when traveling. So she can not jump on the driver and distract them. My cat is hysterically scared when put in a carrier box, but happy as when transported in harness so I don't see the need to use a box now.
My other advice would be to start getting her used to the carrier box, put her in it for a minute, and praise her the whole time, then take her out again.Make sure the experience is always positive then gradually increase the time, then start lifting her out into the car (in the box) but not going anywhere, then increase that to just driving around the block. Slowly but surely being in the box would be fun not scary.
2006-09-01 17:12:02 · answer #5 · answered by atlantisflicka 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My cat used to do this all the time - except she used to wait until we got to the vet's, jump off the table and poop right at his feet.
You can count on cats to send a very clear message.
She also used to do this in the car all the time - as soon as we'd head out on a trip, she would poop on the floor in the back seat. Eventually, when we were travelling, we'd put a small litter pan in the back and that solved it. For a cat carrier - well. All I can think of is providing lots of reassurance. Eventually, my cat seemed to get a little better about it, I think because we tried to make it as comfy an experience as we could. It realy reassured us that she would use the littler box in the back - I don't think she could help herself, but I think she was relieved to be able to use the box.
2006-09-01 17:54:51 · answer #6 · answered by ceekryt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry about it! I understand it is upsetting- but seriously we deal with so much worse than some feces in a carrier. So long as the carrier is easy to clean and your cat will let you clean her up if/when she gets any on her, don't worry. In regards to the lodging facility mentioning it- I would say "Yes and ...?" Sh*t happens! As a vet- getting a stool sample from a carrier is much preferable than getting it from the animal directly- you are actually helping us out! If you are really concerned about it- the only thing I can think of is to get two carriers. Let her mess one up, then transfer her to the other one. Just inform the vet and lodging facilites about her issue and let them deal with it. The only other thing I want to say is- be glad it is just feces and not urine!
2006-09-01 17:27:49 · answer #7 · answered by Pook 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It seems to me that it is her nerves. You said it started when you took her to the vet in the carrier. He was rough with her. So now she associates the carrier with that experience. I would talk with a different vet and explain all that you wrote and maybe the vet can give you advice on how to help her stop this.
2006-09-01 17:08:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like the vet did something to her that probably can't be "trained" away...especially if this started right after being handled roughly. I don't really know what to tell you except find a new vet that can help your kitty instead of hurt her. Just a guess, but maybe the vet damaged the sphincter muscles or something that helps with control. Get a new vet.
2006-09-01 17:09:49 · answer #9 · answered by . 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
She is nervous, she associates the carrier with the vet and the vet with getting her little butt hurt so she poops because she is scared.
2006-09-01 17:23:47 · answer #10 · answered by HappyCat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋