Getting an uncooperative cat into the carrier

[Dilbertian]

I've got to get MrFattyCat into the carrier to take him to the vet tomorrow morning. He does not like being picked up and does not like being in a carrier.

When he lets me pick him up he doesn't struggle, but won't tolerate it for more than 10-20 seconds.

It's a top-loading carrier and I've been leaving treats in it and spraying it with Felliway. I've never actually tried putting him in the carrier before.

He is a big fat bloke - 7kg, and it's not all fat.

Any tips?

Throw a towel over, gather him up and plonk him in. He'll work his way out of the towel. Good luck!

Yup wrap in a towel snd plonk in as nice as possible, it won't look good but there's no other way in my experience 🤨

We gave up.

Bought a harness and lead.

Before vet, start casually shutting doors so you end up with cat and carrier in the smallest room preferably a bathroom or hallway with no furniture they can hide under. Make sure carrier is open
Grab cat by scruff of neck, deposit into carrier, slam shut. I get one chance at this so you have to be speedy. Usually from grabbing cat to carrier it's seconds
Failing that, throw towel over and bundle cat in

My carrier has the opening door on the side. I stand the carrier on its side with the door facing the ceiling (so like a tall, thin box). I then pick up DCat under his front legs and sort of dangle him in back legs first. Then I let go and slam the door shut. Sounds simple in theory and works......sometimes. However, if he sees the carrier I have to resort to a towel and an unholy fight!

Agree with towel—wrap and drop! Good luck!!!

Put him in backwards.

You already did the big part which is getting a top loader.

Tomorrow get the carrier open and ready and make sure you have him in a space he can’t get under any furniture. pick him up with a towel. Drop him in towel and all.

Now the catch is that if your cat is truly resistant, he will know what is about to happen and will start to struggle. If that towel slips even the tiniest bit, you are at risk of getting slashed by a demon. Well, that is what happens at my house, but my little demon has diagnosed mental health issues and I made the mistake of carrying her past the staircase. Not on the staircase, just past the staircase. Had to get medical attention llafter that one. So keep that towel wrapped well.

I used to work in a cattery, my trick is to towel around them, then spin them quickly around and put them in bum first ( does work best with front opening carrier rather than a top opening though. I didn’t always use a towel but I had 100% loading record lol 😂 tricky little monkeys ❤️

I pick them up. Hold back feet together and stuff them in then just give a shove to top of head!

Towel is the way to go.my little fatty hates the cat carrier. We scoop her up in a towel hold her tightly and pusher in head first. We normally have to push her bottom in as well.

I put it in the living room for at least a week beforehand so they get used to it and when the time comes I take the cat by surprise and pop him in before he realises what's happening.

We had to buy a small dog crate for one of ours - couldn't get him into a cat carrier without getting ourselves scratched. The dog crate has an opening in the top which is just about big enough to get him in.

It's going to have to be the towel. He's far too big to grab by the scruff of the neck.

My house is too cluttered to close him in a room without hiding places, and he's not gone into a bathroom yet to my knowledge.

I'm only going to have one chance at this!

Gardening gloves?

Here is the process in my house

1. Day before vet appointment (whilst cat is definitely outside) quietly extract cat basket from cupboard and place, opening uppermost, with door propped open, in corner of room (so supported on two sides) where cat doesn't go, and close door. Walk away whistling nonchalantly........

1. Day of appointment, ascertain location of cat and quietly LOCK THE CAT FLAP! Then recruit assistant, and pick up cat, stroke it and talk to it in stupid voice whilst walking to 'the room', assistant opens door quietly, continue stroking the cat in such a way that averts her vision from the basket (gently cover her eyes if necessary) still talking in silly voice and approach basket, assistant must then hold basket steady with door open whilst the hero gently lowers the cat, bum first, into the basket, until cat realises what's going on, at which point hero drops cat and attempts to stuff the rest of the cat inside the basket, whilst assistant attempts to close door.

1. Once door is closed and locked (double check this!) reposition cat basket with handle on top, ignore furious miaowing and clean scratches/apply antiseptic cream as necessary, mutter insults at cat, go to vets

Good luck OP

Failed.

He got anxious and suspicious as soon as I started closing doors (this seems to be normal for him anyway).

I am enjoying these descriptions!

My approach only works if you have a few days notice of vet visit: put cat carrier in most central position in house. Regularly place dreamies or other truly delicious treats inside (i.e. several times a day). Express absolutely no interest at all when cat goes into carrier.

Timing the positioning of treats inside carrier before vet visit takes some practice.

Neither does my little feral beastie, I grab her and stuff her in bum first or she does a star shape on me and won't go in.

@burninglikefire

I am enjoying these descriptions!

My approach only works if you have a few days notice of vet visit: put cat carrier in most central position in house. Regularly place dreamies or other truly delicious treats inside (i.e. several times a day). Express absolutely no interest at all when cat goes into carrier.

Timing the positioning of treats inside carrier before vet visit takes some practice.

I have been doing exactly this. And catnip in it. And felliway in it.

I'm going to buy an even bigger carrier and start putting his feeding bowl in it. FattyCat is such a big, suspicious beast that he won't go all the way into the carrier to scarf up the goodies in it. I'm going to get one that is so big he will have to go all the way in to eat. Even if it means I cannot pick it up and need help to get it into the car!

Mine HATES feliway spray and the plug-in thing! Vets will prescribe a sedative tablet you give them an hour or so before you need to get them in the basket if it's really necessary, I hate doing it as can't bear to watch her all drunk and feeble looking afterwards, but it's the only way they can examine my little poppet these days

I work in cat rescue and I’ve never had any trouble getting cat who can be handled into their boxes. The feral ones who are petrified of humans, and fight, are hard to get hold of in the first place but once you’ve caught them, you just put them in.

When scruff of the neck is suggested I don’t think it means grab just the scruff with one of your hands and lift the whole cat by it, but one hand gathering the spare skin at the scruff helps in three ways - it gives you something to hold, it keeps your hand away from the mouth and it stops them being able to move/bend their neck or front legs so takes out 2/4 paws and the bites mouth in one go. Then you just need to worry about the back legs, which they can often bring up to scratch at your hand clutching the scruff. If you can approach the cat and stroke it, then all you need to do is stroke, then gather all the scruff in one hand, pushing them into a crouch with your forearm along their spine. If they accept it you can scoop up the body with the rest of your other arm and put them in (be quick with the door). If they fight, you’ll need to grab the back legs with the other hand and hoik. It’s not glamourous but it only takes a second to do (and a lifetime to forgive).

And then when they are in they sing the song of their people all the way there and all the way back.

Vet told me to grab the cat under it’s front legs letting back legs dangle . She said that it’s very difficult for them in that position to do much with back legs. Do it very quickly and shove them in.
I always get mine in the utility room with the door closed before I get out the carrier box. Sadly my girl is so old now that she can’t put up much of a fight anymore

Yeah when I say grab by scruff. I have one hand there and one under his belly but I never ever let go of the hand on the scruff as it's the way to keep hold of him otherwise you end up trying to frantically grab random parts
He also kind of goes "uh oh" and all limp when I get his scruff which helps!