Are you one of the majority of cat parents who dreads taking their cat to the vet? Most of us know when our cats are stressed, which is stressful for us too.
A good vet visit starts well before arrival, so things will go more smoothly if you consider your cat’s emotional state ahead of time. These tips might even help with your own!
The worst thing you can do to your cats before a vet visit is to chase them around trying to get them in the carrier! Planning ahead is key.
Make the carrier a safe place
Luring them into the carrier rather than forcing them in will get your vet visit off to a much better start. Making the carrier part of their everyday landscape is the first step.
Find a room to leave the carrier out, if you can. Covering the carrier is very important and serves two purposes. It camouflages the carrier while at home and it helps your cats feel safer when traveling. Cats like to hide when they are stressed and this helps them do that.
You can make an easy carrier cover by getting a piece of fleece in a pattern or color you like. Cut it into a 24” x 18” rectangle and put a slit in the center along the short side for the handle. This cover won’t ravel and you can wash it as needed. Or you can use your favorite cat fabric to sew two pieces together to make a lined cover, like this.
Reward them for going in
Then start placing their favorite treats inside the carrier. Break them into small pieces so you don’t add too much to their regular diet. Save their most favorite treats just for the carrier.
While you’re training them to go into the carrier, you can either remove the gate or clip it open by placing a large black clip on top of the open gate, close to the carrier itself.
You may need to make a Hansel-&-Gretel trail with treats into the carrier at first. Once they know that’s the place to get a few treats, they should become more comfortable with going in there regularly. Do this every few days to keep the carrier a happy place.
Soft sides or hard?
There are lots of different kinds of carriers available and many people prefer the soft sided ones. They can be very cute but can have some disadvantages.
If your cats are fearful of the carrier like many cats are, you’ll need the advantage of stealth and speed to close them into it. It’s nearly impossible to quickly zip a cat into a fabric carrier and even a small opening may allow them to push back out. This can make them more afraid of the carrier and set you back even further.
Many soft sided carriers have poor quality framing to keep them upright. They can flatten after just a few outings and if that happens, please do not force your cats into a carrier that will collapse on them.
For shy cats, a hard sided carrier is usually a better choice. They can hear it when you toss treats toward the back and it can become their safe space. We know cats who sleep in their carriers between vet visits because they feel cozy and welcome!
Stealth & speed
When it’s time to go to the vet, toss in treats and wait quietly within reach of the door. When your cat is at least halfway in, gently—but firmly and quickly—close the door, making sure the tail doesn’t get caught.
If their most favorite treat is a soft squeezable one, you can still make a trail into the carrier with dots of treats, but may need to clean it regularly. Pro tip: put that last dot on the inside back wall of the carrier to lure them all the way in to lick it off!
Top opening carriers
If your carrier has a top opening, wire it open with a pipe cleaner during the training phase. That way, they can hop in and out from the top as well as go in through the door. That gives you two options for getting them into it when it’s time for the vet visit.
A top-opening carrier also gives your vet a way to examine your cats without having to remove them from the carrier, if they decide it’s too scary to come out. Unless they need a procedure, most of the examination can be done with them safe in the carrier.
Bubble carriers & backpacks
Carriers and backpacks with bubble windows may look cute but they go against a cat’s natural instinct to hide when afraid. Instead, they force cats to be directly exposed to all the scary sights and sounds they experience while getting to your veterinarian. Unless your cat backpack is extra large, your cat won’t be able to lie down, and that can be stressful too.
You can tell this young cat is stressed by the way its eyes are squinting (compare it to the simple diagrams in the Feline Grimace Scale here). The base isn’t even big enough for it to sit upright properly as you can see by its paws on the front. It’s shoved into an upright position and has nowhere to turn away or hide from scary sights and sounds.
Cat bag terrors
Even worse are bags made to transport cats with their bodies trapped and their heads sticking out. This is the complete opposite of what a fearful cat needs. Imagine being trapped in a straight jacket while being forced to do something that terrifies you and you’ll get a sense of what these misguided attempts at a carrier do to our feline friends.
Notice the dilated pupils and whites of this cat’s eyes. This was likely a cat who had been conditioned to tolerate this device and the best photo they could get!
Whichever carrier you use, please double check the latches or zippers before you leave the house. Having a carrier break or a cat get out in an unfamiliar place can be a tragedy for everyone.
Fear Free & Cat Friendly
Once you’re at the clinic, your veterinarian and the technicians should continue to make your cat’s experience as low stress as possible. If you are just now choosing a vet, look for those with Fear Free or Cat Friendly certification.
These clinics are usually set up on entry to minimize sounds and smells that are scary for cats, like barking dogs or busy checkout areas. They can also advise you about medications and supplements to calm your cats well before trying to get them in the carrier.
One bad experience with a clumsy veterinarian or technician can set up your cat for a lifetime of veterinary fear. Fear Free or Cat Friendly staff are the best trained to handle your cats with respect for their body language and minimal force, which we all know our feline friends appreciate!
Sara Ferguson is the Director of Happy Cats Haven, a feline rescue and adoption center in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and .
