Can I have the cat in the car without the cat carrier?

[StuntNun]

My cat has a vet appointment tomorrow and last time she had one I ended up cancelling because I couldn't get her to go in the cat carrier - she was scratching and trying to bite. It's literally three minutes in the car, can I just put her in the car without the carrier if I can't get her into it?

I realise there could be a problem at the vet if she isn't in a carrier so I'm going to do my best to get her into it, it's a just-in-case scenario.

We always put a tin of tuna in the cat carrier, still a battle but happy cat.

Is that to lure the cat in or to keep it quiet once it's in there? Also, doesn't it get a bit messy?

It's to lure the cat in -she is addicted to the tuna water and also to make up for her having to go in the carrier. She's not especially untidy with it.

It's to lure the cat in -she is addicted to the tuna water

I had one like that. A black Bombay with yellow eyes, she was also a tuna fiend. The sound of a tin (any tin) being opened in the kitchen would rouse her from a sound sleep on the other side of the house and pull her in like a furry bolt of lightening.

It was rather funny when she'd show up and it would just be a tin of tomato paste.

Last time mine managed to deliberately throw up on the motorway over me, the carrier, the car and himself
I arrived at the vet and one of the lovely staff took him off me while I cleaned the car. The cat then came to the front of the carrier and threw up on the vet
He was returned to me slightly damp and angrily thudding his tail where they had sat him on a puppy pad
They prescribed over the phone next time

Ozzy has been known to steal the kids' tuna sandwiches off the side and rip the cling film off before I can put them in their lunch boxes. 😳

Ozzy has been known to steal the kids' tuna sandwiches off the side and rip the cling film off

Toodles, my old Bombay, did the same thing on several occasions. I had to hide them in the refrigerator. It's like a demonic addiction they're born with.

After Toodles crossed the rainbow bridge I just stopped making tuna salad, to avoid the temptation and obsession for the other cats.

MissConductUS at tomato paste tin. Ours got super excited when we open a large tin of baked beans.

Normally our cat only shuffles sleeping positions round the bed, the only exercise she gets is racing to the sound of a tuna tin being opened. That and racing to the bath when there's lavender bath foam it for a drink and dipping her tail

I've just given him the tuna water, thanks to this thread. He is a very happy boy this morning!

NC4Now Glad to hear he's happy. I had to explain to my DH to leave the tuna water in as the cat was giving her best are you completely stupid look when he drained it. Cat now has DH trained to even refill water once first lot of tuna water has gone, nothing like fishy water.

The tuna water suggestion is brilliant. My cat can get very thirsty when it's hot as she only likes to drink out of puddles and won't drink from her water bowl. Tuna water could well help with that.

Our cat won't drink from a cat water bowl either.

She will drink running water from the tap or from a tall glass but clearly water tastes so much worse in a cat bowl.

She does prefer tuna water and refilling it is fine even with the tiniest bit of tuna and bath water especially lavender bath foam. We had a cat water fountain at one point which she drank from for about a year then refused to use.

Mine will only drink clean water, out a bowl. He also comes inside to use his litter tray, even for a wee. I think I got a broken one

Ollie is indeed special. They broke the mould, as they say.

I don't think they even made a mould
He was crying for cuddles this morning before he would eat

She will drink running water from the tap

I have one that does this too! We call it "sink drink". She'll leap up into the kitchen or bathroom sink and stare at you until you turn on the water very gently. Of course it goes all over her too.

She also drinks from a bowl at times, but much prefers sink drink. I'll have to see if I have a picture somewhere to post.

Glad it worked out well for you! I had to take my cat to the vet today. Scooped him up in a towel and put him in the up- ended cat carrier bottom first before he knew what was happening- I think we were both shocked at how easy it was! The first time I had to do it I decided to try and get him used to the carrier a few days in advance by having it in the house and putting treats in it. This worked well until the day I actually had to take him to the vet when he realised something was wrong and point blank refused to go in. It ended up with me in ski jacket/ ski gloves trying to manhandle cat into the carrier whilst he looked like a typical cartoon with all four legs refusing to bend and clinging on to anything in sight..... I'm hoping the stealth approach with a towel will continue to work in the future!

The result of the vets trip confirmed that he has a cut and puncture wound to the pad on one of his front paws. I've been given metacam which he gobbled up when I put it on some treats. I've also been advised to bath it twice a day in salty water.... easier said than done, myself and the kitchen are now bathed in salty water and the offending paw hasn't seen a drop of it ( even the vet had a wry smile on her face when she advised this!)
Does anyone have any tips on how to bath a very reluctant cats paw????

Tuna in a lot of brine. Half joking although our cat is so addicted she would go for that. That sounds challenging.

The tuna in brine worked well- in the cats favour..... he got a great snack and I still ended up covered in salty water again- he absolutely loved it though 😹.Thankfully his paw seems much better now- he's no longer holding up in a 'poor me' impression and is leaping about as normal 😬 The bright side is I have a new trick up my sleeve ( tuna) the next time he needs to go in 'the box' !!!

Glad to hear he's better and enjoyed the tuna. I'm sure you smell lovely to the cat with eau de thon.