How to take cat and baby to the vets?

[JoannaStayton]

Just that really - how do you take a cat and an 8 month old baby to the vets? We drive there and can usually park fairly nearby. I'm just not sure how to get them both in as I can't carry them both with or without pushchair. Anyone else got experience of this?

Will a vet come out to the car and carry your cat into the surgery? Seems a bit of an ask for the vet but I'm not sure how else to do it and obviously don't want to leave my baby unattended for a moment.

Thanks if anyone has any experience of this! x

I could carry our cat in its carrier in one hand if it wasn't far, then have baby in other arm. But if your cat's too heavy, baby in sling, so both hands free and cat in carrier? Or get one of these cat carrier back packs?

Assuming the cats in a carrier I'd pop baby in a baby carrier leaving both hands free if the cat carrier wouldn't fit under the pram.

Alternatively cat backpack, solely because they are adorable.

Baby in baby carrier, cat in cat carrier.

Baby in pushchair, cat in cat carrier, push with one hand carry with the other. If doing both simultaneously is totally unfeasable, push the pushchair forward 5 metres and park it, then go back for the cat carrier, then push the chair forward another 5m, repeat as needed to get into the vets. I literally used to do this to get my shopping home from the supermarket

Take the baby into the vets reception first then pop out for the cat.

Put the cat on a lead and walk it into the vets, baby in any combo of carrier or pushchair you like.

I had 3 cats and a baby and no car at one point, I used to put two in the same big carrier and carry them in, or have one in carrier and one on lead, but never had an appointment for all three at the same time. Only one of them would reliably be on lead so depended on which combination of cats needed to go.

Or take a friend.

Park up and call to let them know you have arrived and to ask for someone to meet you and take the cat in.

I just carry baby in one arm, cat in other ( and go back for second cat). When tiny I would use sling.
Have sling now for 1 year old on back, so if I needed to park further would sling baby and car carrier in each hand

Just put the baby in a sling? Or pram Why would this be an issues? How heavy is the cat 😂 or carry baby and put cat in the cat box on the pram?? I use to carry my baby all the time and push the pram with one hand.

I was a vet nurse for 15 years.
If you're nearby just call and ask for a hand. Someone will help you don't worry.

You may end up waiting if they're on the phone or with an emergency etc but someone should be able to help you providing you are close by!

I would just ask for help when you arrive. I had to do that when my back was bad and I couldn't carry the cat carriers.

I rang ahead and asked if help would be available and then rang once I got there and someone came out to help.

I would take baby into reception and then go back out for the cat. Then reverse on the way out.

I took my 6 month old DS and our house rabbit (in a carrier) on two trains and the London Underground once 😂 Also a large suitcase and I was 4/5 months pregnant 😂

I honestly wonder how some people on MN manage to function sometimes! 🤦🏻

@RedCandyApple agree . Baby in car seat / sling / buggy / hands .. cat in carrier ! Presuming you have two hands .

Honestly just call the vet when you get there

I mean to be fair mine still has covid restrictions anyway so the cat gets collected from the car

Have you tried? I've definitely got a pushchair with baby, toddler and 7yo into the vets while lugging a cat carrier. The vets I go to has two doors at different angles, so getting the pushchair in is always tricky, but doable.

Or just carry the baby in one arm and hold the cat carrier in the other?

I always put the baby in the slinh (at 8m you can back carry to make it easier) and carried the cat in the carrier. However, I can also easily push the pram 1 handed? I also have an uppababy vista with a huge basket and could probably fit the cat carrier in there 😂

Lol @RedCandyApple

This was me. Chunky baby, flighty toddler and car-hating cat in a carrier - that was a fun day 😹

But I called ahead to warn them, and again when I’d arrived and parked up and someone came to help. I think they carried the baby in (in the car seat) and I brought the cat and toddler in!

Wasn’t actually as awful as I’d anticipated- just give yourself lots of time to get sorted. It’ll be ok 👍

Thanks everyone who replied, I spoke to the vets and they said it’s no trouble to come get the cat from the car. So we’ll do that, good to know it’s no big deal for them.

And if anyone is reading this in future with a similar query don’t take any notice of the likes of @RedCandyApple making snarky remarks about how someone may or may not be functioning because they asked for some advice. I know sometimes people are struggling with things, particularly new Mums who had their baby in a lockdown and may not have much support. It doesn’t make you in any way weak to ask for help or to ask a question of others.

Be kind, eh. x

I know what you mean OP
It’s a long time since I had a baby but I remember how things just seemed so complicated to figure out with a baby in tow
Hope the cat is ok

I took my three all together last time, I drive but had to walk from car park.
The receptionists said "you've got your hands full" as I had a carrier in each hand so I turned round and showed them the third cat in a sports holdall type carrier that was on my back with the strap across my body
One of those carriers might be useful depending on the cat obviously

Baby in one arm, cat carrier the other. How do you think parents of twins manage

Sling

I took dog on lead (who was very skittish and a bit of a handful) and DD in a baby carrier and it worked out fine. Think pushchair would have been much harder. Glad it's sorted!

I spend much time in various vets waiting rooms as an animal rescue volunteer. I would absolutely not mind being asked to watch a squishy baby or alternatively a squishy cat.

It doesn't seem like a problem to me, can't you balance the cat carrier on the pushchair hood? How heavy isthe cat? If you don't want to do that, take the baby in forst then go back for the cta.

Just make sure that you pass the correct one to the vet!