how do i get my cat into a pet carrier?

Question

my cat used to go into the pet carrier with no problems but since i took her to the vet in it she won't go in it anymore. She got really distressed when i tried to put her in it to carry her to a relatives house. how do i get her to stop associating the pet carrier with going to the vets

Answer 1

Here are a few different resolutions to your problem. My cats had the same problem as well I tried these things and it worked really well - good luck!

1. Put a blanket or pillow that your cat likes to sleep on in the
carrier.
2. Just leave it open in the middle of your living room for a few
days and your cat will most likely go inside it for a nap.
3. Make your cat think it's a toy - play with your cat and a toy
around the carrier it will make your cat more relaxed when
it's around it.
4. tempt it with food

Answer 2

There are a few ways you can "trick" her into getting into the carrier. Tried and true methods include putting her food in the carrier. If you give her wet food, open the can, put it in a bowl, then put it in the carrier. She may set aside her fear to get to that food.

Also, what I've seen that also works is a certain type of carrier. We got ours at Petsmart, but I'm sure you can get it at any pet supply store... it has a gate in the front and also on the top. That way you don't deal with their paws stretched out at the front, you can just drop them in from the top.

I've never tried this way-- but my mother-in-law swears that when they had cats, they would put them in the carrier and ride them around- to the gas station, etc- with them so that they would get used to the car rides. Apparently they loved it, however, I'm not sure if that is an exclusive phenomenon!

Good luck!

Answer 3

cats will almost always associate the carrier with the vet, once it has happened to them, I put mine in backwards, butt first, but if they are bieng particularly naughty and they havnt got an injury I put the carrier on its end so the door is at the top, drop them in, shut the door and lower it to the ground slowly they are not usually in there for long so dont worry too much about a blanket or anything, or it will just get tangled in the cat, food may work on some cats, but most just give you that "pfft" look and ignore it, just look at it this way if the cat is fit enough to fight you about the carrier, does it really need the vet!

Answer 4

This is what I do. I put in a fav. toy or food inside and if it doesnt work than I pick up my cat and get a family member to hold the carrier at a 45 degree angle so it's facing upward (a bit). Then I just place my cat in and close the door. After I do that I give him a treat. It works and it shows your cat whose boss. The treat rewards him and shows him that its a good thing he cooperated and going in to the carrier is a good thing.

Also, if you dont like my method, keep it in plain view and put him in occasionally and dont drive to the vet, maybe drive to the petstore, the grocery store, the mall...etc so your cat doesnt know where he's going and hes thinking "Oh when I go in the carrier I get to go anywheere! INCLUDING MY FAV PET SHOP!..etc"

So ..Good luck.

God Bless you, your cat and your family.

Answer 5

If you cat really doesnt want to get in it. They do sell carriers with a opening on top of the carrier. Its little easier to put you cat inside.

Answer 6

You can leave it open for a while with a favorite toy or blanket. She might eventually be de-sensitized to it. If all else fails, my vet taught me to stand the carrier on end and drop the cat in feet first (it's hard with an 18 pound Norwegian Forest cat who really, really hates the carrier but it does work).

Answer 7

My cat hates her carrier... My most successful method is to get her in a spare room so she can't hide under the bed, and then lower her in tail first with the carrier on its end. The vet also used a method where he wrapped her up in a towel so she couldn't kick and scratch, then lowered her in. She won't fall for that with me, however.

Answer 8

Intice her in with food. Then when shes in the cat carrier, treat her like royalty. Give her treats and give her a lovely pillow to sit on while shes in it. That way, your cat wont be scared of the carrier.

Answer 9

Leave the pet carrier out somewhere that she can always see it, and leave the door open. Put a pillow inside as well. You will find that while you are gone, and eventually while you are there, she will begin to investigate it. She'll smell it a lot, circle it, stare at it...and eventually she'll go inside of it. Once she is comfortable with it being a part of her space, she won't be afraid of it anymore.

Answer 10

it ought to be worth attempting right here with a front-establishing catbox: place the field, door open, on a floor with the open end overlooking the sting. So in case you have been sorting out from the open end, there could be no longer something yet skinny air! %. up the kitty and carry him in front of the open door. He could have not got any-the place to pass however the field. Be mushy with him - it ought to be worth putting some treats at the back of the field to charm to him in. and then, as quickly as the cat is in, close the door making optimistic you do no longer close any bits of the cat in the door on an analogous time. with any luck once you get him fixed he will quiet down somewhat. good success.