How to get a cat into a carrier

[Puffinity]

Any suggestions? She clocked onto what was happening immediately and is now hiding behind the sofa. Can't blame her, the previous times she had to go in it were all to go to a new house. Appointment at the vets is at 3.10...

Set the carrier out with door open, put cat in (backwards), shut door, drape coverlet and go to phone cab. (Ignoring any displays of temperament.) Works for me also.

One of mine just walks in and looks at me to say 'let's go'.... ( not helpful I know )

I have two cats. The girl one goes in no problem, usually backwards as she likes to see me, the devil boy cat, he goes in with the cat carrier on its back, so the door is in the air and he gets dropped in after a load of catnip.

My technique (with variable results):
Close all exits to outside before getting out cat carrier.
If possible get them into a small room with few hiding places.
Put carrier in corner and attempt to corner cat into it OR stand carrier on end and push cat in OR unclip the top and hold dcat in place while someone else clips carrier back together.
Keep trying variations on the above three methods until one works. Always put cat in backwards.

Finally breathe a sigh of relief, apologise to dcat and apply soap to scratches.

Then try to prise them out the other end!

Glad you managed to get it sorted, though.

Weird, at t'other end, open box and tip so door is downwards (not totally, though). It should encourage them to come out if they're reluctant.
Maybe I'm too mean, but I don't ask my cat, he just has to do it although I do get 'angry legs' coming out of the front of the carrier on the journey.

But if you out the cat in backwards, doesn't that mean the teeth and claws are facing you?!

(Am still traumatised from last time)

In theory, Yes, I suppose but it seems to discombobulate them - they don't use them in my experience. (And you've usually got paws sort of folded up when they're inserted as well.)

I look like I've had a wrestling match with a packet of razor blades when it's time for my cat bitch to go in her carrier
I have to turn the carrier up on end so the door is pointing to the ceiling, wrestle her into my grasp, dump her in and shut the door as quick as possible before she springs from it again like a furious Jack in The Box

For anyone getting a new cat I would suggest not putting the carrier away. Ours is tucked down the side of the sofa in the living room.
Cat has always used it as her bed and goes into it for naps during the day. She doesn't see it as the scary place that only comes out when she has to go to the V.E.T
Quiet often I only have to shut the door when she's already in there.

Sorry, not helpful for anyone with an existing cat.

Top loader is much better. May be worth reinvesting if you have the cash. BB is a big cat and we just grab by the scruff and lower him in asap. DH has a particular talent in this area.

When BB lost his manhood, I took him to vets on the morning. Nurse took him out, did pre op checks, put him back in carrier and carted him off to do the deed.

Took him for post op checkup. He went in fine at home. When we arrived at the surgery he was very clear that getting OUT of the carrier was not an option

Last time I tried to take my cat to the vet he clocked the arrival of the carrier, hid under our very big bed and refused to come out. Every time I moved the bed he moved with it. I eventually grabbed a piece of him and dragged him out, it was a right old scuffle. Wouldn't mind but he loves our vet!

A few years ago I was taking our very small puppy to the vet, so put her in a car carrier for safety in the car

I got to the vet, took her out and put her on the table for the vet to check her over, and the vet's assistant started asking about the cat. I live in Portugal, so there's always the chance of mistranslation but I knew the Portuguese for dog, puppy, cat, kitten, so very patronisingly laughed and said 'she's a puppy'. She nodded, and then said, what about the cat? At this point I thought she'd lost the plot, until she pointed into the cat carrier, and one of our (black) cats was sitting right in the back, she must have crawled in when I put the box down to pick up the puppy! I did think she must have put on weight as the box was a bit heavier than I expected

I then had to put the puppy back in to get home - fortunately they were fine together!

You've probably gone down in history at that practice!

Oh yes, I'm famous for all sorts of reasons up there . My (very lovely) vet calls me the cat mother and used to ring up for advice on toileting very young kittens - but I think she's got the hang of it now