It’s not surprising that most cats learn to fear the cat carrier. It always seems to be associated with a trip in the car, and that car trip often ends at the vet clinic. The following tips may help make the whole experience less stressful for you and your cat.

What are they really worried about?
Cats like their routine and do not like to be taken away from their territory. Car travel upsets their delicate sense of balance. Who would like whizzing along with that sensation of movement, while staying stationary yourself? A car and a vet clinic can also be very noisy and smell of strange dogs and other cats.

Smell tips
Remember that cats are very smell oriented. Find the cat carrier and give it a good rinse and scrub in hot water (do not use any cleaning products), as it still probably smells of vet from the last trip.

LRAHC uses Feliway® in the waiting room, consultation rooms, hospital and boarding areas to help calm anxious cats. Feliway® is an analogue of the feline facial pheromone that cats transfer to their environment by rubbing their faces on objects. This make their surroundings smell familiar and serves to reassure your cat. You can utilise a similar effect by placing something inside the cat carrier that smells like your cat. Most cats will sleep on a towel if it is left lying on the bed, so you can pop this into the carrier with your cat for the trip.

You can also purchase Feliway® to spray into the carrier prior to placing your cat inside. Those cats that like catnip could also like a fresh catnip toy placed in the carrier as well.

Desensitising your cat to the carrier
Prior to your planned trip, leave the cat carrier out so puss can explore the carrier in his/her own time. Place a towel in there and perhaps even a toy. Cats are naturally curious, so often explore new objects in the home. If you put treats in there or even feed your cat inside the carrier you can enhance that positive association. This is all best done weeks in advance.

I don’t have time for desensitisation
Read the above smell tips, and consider placing something in the carrier that smells like you or your cat, or some Feliway® or catnip.

To place your cat in the carrier, it may be a good idea to throw a towel over puss and place this and puss into the carrier. This can avoid scratches.

Generally placing cats in carriers is much easier if you face him/her away from the carrier and back him/her in.

General transport tips
Ensure the carrier is lined with newspaper and/or an old towel, as there may be accidents and no cat likes to get his/her feet wet. If accidents happen we are happy to do a towel/paper change on arrival, so just notify reception.

Avoid feeding your pet for at least an hour prior to travel to reduce the risk of nausea and travel sickness.

Cover the carrier with a towel, so your cat can’t see things zipping past as the carrier moves. And certainly seeing a dog in the waiting area will upset even the most stoic cat.

Try to avoid placing your cat carrier on the ground when there are dogs around. If there is room, simply place the cat carrier up on the couch next to you.

If your pet is particularly stressed by dogs and noise, avoid peak times such as evenings and consider a daytime appointment.

Car travel
You can desensitise your cat to the car trip by taking a couple of very short trips (perhaps even just up the driveway), that result in coming back home immediately, rather than ending up at the vet clinic. This is particularly useful if you forsee frequent trips in the car such as for boarding. It is worth putting the time in early on to reduce stress, as many cats will get worse each time they travel, eventually requiring sedation.

First desensitise him/her to the carrier as described above. Then take him/her out to the car and let them sit in the car for a minute without going anywhere. The next time just take a short trip up the driveway, gradually increasing the length of the car trips and always stopping before your cat shows signs of stress such as vocalisation.

Buying a new carrier
If you are buying a new carrier, consider using one that can be opened from the top as well as from the front. Some carriers split in half, so that the top comes off, which can be excellent for those cats that refuse to come out once they arrive at the vet. Your cat may actually be more comfortable being examined within the carrier, and some carriers that come right apart allow this.

If you have any questions, or would like any assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

© Eloise Cotton, Livingstone Road Animal Health Centre