Cat carriers

[busyhouseof8]

Advice needed please.

Busycat hates going into a cat carrier. He cries and scrabbles to get out from the moment he gets in.

Result is that we put perfectly health looking cat into carrier but by the time we have driven 10 minutes to the vet for routine jab, he looks like he's gone 12 rounds with Mike Tyson. He scrapes all the skin off his nose so it's bleeding and his claws are shredded. Poor miserable boy.

Any suggestions on how to calm him/use better method of transport. We just have the usual Atlas carrier at the moment - I was thinking of getting a canvas one but a) petsathome only had a bright pink one and b) the zip looked like it would give way given how much effort he puts into escaping.

Thanks

[cozietoesie]

I have one of those - or a near relative - and it works fine with a big fluffy towel in the bottom. However, how big is the one you have? I had to get mine of sufficient size to meet airline transport specs so it's larger than most of the ones I see people with cats in at the vets. Just wondering if yours is a little small for him.

Sorry not to be more help.

[busyhouseof8]

Thanks Cozie. The Atlas is reasonably large but I'm sure they do bigger if that's the problem - hadn't occurred to me. I'll try the towel.

[cozietoesie]

Well airlines require a size (even for small cats) which allow the animal to stretch out and turn around while in transit. Most of the ones I see cats in at the vets are about a third of the size of mine. Worth checking out.

[tabulahrasa]

I leave mine lying about with a fleece blanket in it, so the cats go in it randomly of their own accord and use it as a bed, occasionally I hide treats in it - if you tried that and maybe sprayed some feliway in it - he'd hopefully regard it as his safe place when you take him out in it and be more mildly miffed rather than completely desperate to get out?

A bit like crate training a dog?

[cozietoesie]

Good idea!

[Cailleach]

I got my fabric cat carriers from a car boot sale and a charity shop (£5 each).

They are much much better than the plastic ones - lighter to carry and much nicer for the cat IMHO. Mine certainly prefer them.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Is it the struggle to get him in that winds him up? ours is calmer when you use it to get him trapped between the carrier opening and the wall (not as cruel as it sounds I promise) then when he realises he has to go into it I fasten the door.

He's a lot calmer with the whole process then.

[cozietoesie]

I've always found that tucking their back legs underneath them and quickly wheeching them in backwards works most quickly and peacefully. Horses for courses though. Whatever works best for your individual cat.

[busyhouseof8]

Thanks for all advice. Busycat goes into his carrier without too much protest (I always remember half way through operations that I meant to wear long sleeves), but once in and in the car he starts this terrible crying that just doesn't stop. He tries all different tones and volumes to see if that will work and then starts trying to bust out, which is when he hurts himself.

I shall try a fabric carrier and feliway and leaving the thing out and see if any/all makes any difference!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Get some zylkene tablets and mix it in his food the day before and the day of travelling.

It really chills them out.