Taking cats to vet and am panicking about getting them into the carry cases!

[Sunshine49]

Hi everyone!

My two have to go to the vet for the first time on Friday, as they need to see them before prescribing their recommended wormer.

I’m absolutely terrified about getting them into the carry cases, especially as they’re very nervous rescue cats.

Has anyone got any tips on the most effective way to do this? I was hoping just to put Dreamies in the cases and then shut them in, but will they see through that cunning plan?

Having looked at previous threads on here, I can see a few people have recommended turning the case on its end and then lowering them in back legs first.

Basically I need to get it right first time as if I spook them, that will be the end of the trip to the vet!

Also, the cats are brother and sister and are very close. Would you put them in one case together or two separate? They will be travelling about 20 minutes in the car.

Any advice much appreciated as always!

[ScreamingValenta]

Get the cases out a couple of days before you need to use them and leave them where the cats can see them and get used to them. Do this every time you have advance notice of a need to take the cats somewhere - this avoids having cats that zoom off and hide at the first sound of a rattling cage.

I usually lower in, back legs first.

I wouldn't try to put two in the same box - the first one will be trying to get out while number two is being put in, and if they lash out they might accidentally scratch each other. Put the boxes facing each other during the journey so the two can talk if they want to.

[HeGotManFlu]

Put something soft in the carrier for them to sit on, something they are familiar with. Open the door days before, they might go in the box to have a nosey anyway, especially if you put a few dreamies in. Our cat used to sit in the carrier outside in the garden. Try and keep calm, just pick them up if you need to, push them gently into the box, lots of encouraging noises, expect a few paws to come out clawing at the latch, they will get used to it.

[headinhands]

I have a very nervous rescue and she cried when I put her in. I just talked to her the whole time and had her carrier strapped in next to me so she could hear me in the car. Also put something that smells of home in with her. She'd taken to napping on a certain throw so put that in the carrier before I put her in. She was so nervous she did a mahoosive shit on the table at the vets. God, she stank the whole place out!

A few weeks later we had to go for follow up jabs and I made the appt at a time when one of my daughters could come with me with the idea she could have the carrier on her lap but cat was fine the second time!

[viccat]

Approach the task with confidence and it will be much easier!
Separate carriers or you'll have one in, one out, one in, one out...

Covering them with a towel and kind of bundling them up works well for skittish cats. Or if you are confident to do it, scruffing works very well.

Try to shut them into a small room that doesn't have hiding places (i.e. no large bed to go under), that way there's nowhere to escape.

[NC4Now]

My boy's an oddball in that he loves his carrier. It's a nice comfy one like this.

As soon as I get it out, he jumps in and starts purring. Hates going anywhere in it, mind.

I don't know if it's the carrier he likes or if he's just a funny cat!

[Wolfiefan]

Shut them in a room. The smaller the better. You are unlikely to tempt them in. Cats are smarter than that!
Grab cat and back it into carrier. Ensure door is open and ready. Or ICE stand carrier on the end and gently lower cat into it. Never try and put a cat in head on. They will literally dog their heels in!

[firsttimemother1244]

We leave our cat carriers around the house like beds, so when they need to go to the vets they don’t see the carrier as the scary thing that takes them to the unknown lol. You could try leave it out with the cats favourite blankets inside and see if that helps.

[wanderings]

Put the carrier on a table, so the open door is in line with the edge of the table. That way there is no surface in front of the carrier for them to push against. I have found this to be quite effective. When you're carrying the cat, they will look for a surface to put their paws on - this will be inside the carrier.

It's easier to put a cat into a bigger carrier - there's less for them to push against.

@Wolfiefan After eleven years of having a cat, I'd never thought of putting the cat in rear end first - I'll try that!

[Frosty66612]

My cat is very anxious and as soon as he sees his carrier he runs away. I have to trap him in a room and then pick him up and shove him in whilst closing the lid down on top of him at the same time. It’s very stressful but I have to be incredibly firm with him because if I drop him it will be ten times harder on the second attempt. He absolutely hates it and will curl into a ball in his basket and tremble like crazy. I’ve tried everything - feliway sprays, leaving the carrier out for a few days, even cat anxiety medication that the vet gave me.
I always put a towel over the carrier so he can’t really see what’s going on. And I make sure he gets extra treats and cuddles once we get home as I always feel so awful about putting him through such an ordeal

[Scrutler]

If we need to trap ours in a room to get them into carrier, give meds etc, find the bathroom is best as fewest places for them to hide if escape!

[Frosty66612]

@scrutler yes the bathroom or kitchen work best for me too. Used to try the bedroom but be would just hide under the bed and I’d end up having to move the whole bed to try and scare him out from underneath it. I’d be a nervous wreck By the end of it

[Wallywobbles]

Put the box on its narrow bottom so the opening is at the top. Back legs in. Shut lid put on its real bottom.

At the vets leave carrier on table if possible. After treatment they will probably scuttle straight in as the feel safe in there.

[Theknitwitch]

Agree with previous posts on small room. We also put DH old tshirts in both cages for the journey.

[auntiebasil]

I put a hot water bottle in the carrier and take it out just before I put my overlord in. Or rather just before I go and fetch my overlord. It might be cold by the time I put to overlord in. You'll find a knack that works for you.

[TimeIhadaNameChange]

Usually mine is a nightmare to get in. Risk of loss of fingers!

Last time I put the box in the lounge the day before and, when I wanted her to go in it I through Dreamies nearer and nearer, until they were at the back of the box and she had to go in to get them. Was gobsmacked it worked, and fear it never will again, but who knows?

If I had to start again I think I'd leave the carry case out somewhere, however unseemly it was, and make sure treats were always given in there.

[Sunshine49]

Thanks for the tips everyone! I'm pleased to say that we got both cats into the carriers really easily this morning. We brought the carriers downstairs last night and popped a couple of Dreamies into the back, so they went in to eat them and then came back out again. We did the same thing again this morning, but while they were munching their treats, we managed to close the doors of the carriers and shut them in.

It was heartbreaking to see how upset they were when they saw they were trapped - they were clawing at the cages and miaowing in the car all the way to the vets. It really upset me to see how scared they were and to know that I was the cause of it

They were really good at the vet though and perfectly well behaved on the way back in the car - I think they knew they were coming home.