My cats are terrified of the vets. What do you find best for calming them down?

[LadyMisty]

So both my cats went to the vets today. Both in separate carriers, and both shit and pissed all over themselves through fright. I got covered in shit and piss, the vet got covered in shit and piss and during bathing them when we got home, knobcat bit me. Hard. I deserved it, he was stressed and I was holding him in water to try and clean the crap off him.

The vets recommended a few things, Calmex, and Pet Remedy spray were two they told me about. What are your recommendations?

Please and thank you.

Mine are terrified of being trapped & confined, and hate being picked up. I left the carrier out in the living toom for a few weeks beforehand & scattered treats in it on a regular basis. I then ( on vets recommendation) used a Feliway plug in and put them on Zylkene for a few days before they were due to go, and that seemed to work pretty well.

Zylkene can be bought from chemists, pet suppliers & on line, and is a white powder that comes in capsules. You can pull the capsules apart & scatter the powder over the food, and mine seem to really enjoy the taste

I always ask for the first morning or afternoon appointment, so we don't have to sit in the waiting room with lots of other animals. Also, I put a cover over the carrier so she can't see out and feels more secure. I can't say it's entirely successful, but at least this way my cat isn't growling before we even go in to see the vet!

My vet supplied a tablet which I'd pick up the day before and give to the cat half an hour before we left.she was sleepy but not out of it and she was able to be inoculated and back home in her bed with no upset.

Thank you all. They're both used to going in and out of the carrier, and I cover it too, it was more the car journey (it's only 5mins away) that stressed them out, but that 5minutes there and back was hell for them. The vets is always really quiet, only one vet, so there's never loads of other animals waiting. They got themselves into such an awful state!!

Home visit?
Spray a towel with feliway and cover the carrier?
Bigger single crate? So they can escape it if they do mess? Always line the box with newspaper or similar.

We went yesterday £400 lighter

I have found putting the carrier at waist height, on the dining table worked to get mine in. I picked her up for a 'cuddle' then managed to get her straight in the carrier.

I did use a plug in leading up to it though.

She came home with a shaved tummy, neck and leg and also a bright green bandage which she pulled off with her teeth