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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Tips to catch a cat

50 replies

Amichelle84 · 02/08/2022 15:41

We have to take our cat to the vet tonight and he's notoriously hard to catch to put in his travel cage. We usually have to cancel appointments for days and both get covered in scratches. Stressful for him and us.

We really need to get him to his appt as he has blood in his urine.

Does anyone have any tips and tricks to make this less stressful for him?

I've had the cage on the bed and have just been having a nice cuddle with him and given him a couple of treats. He had a little sniff of it and seems calm so far...

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 02/08/2022 15:43

Shut all exit doors. Put cage on its end. Pick cat up and insert into cage bum first. Shut door very quickly.

MrsElm · 02/08/2022 15:43

Try wrapping him up in a large towel and lowering him in?

Blueswedeshoes · 02/08/2022 15:46

Could you coax him in with some dreamies placed inside maybe?

Also, a vet once told me to put a towel over the top of the carrier (obviously so they can breathe) as it’s supposed to calm cats more if they can’t see where they’re going when travelling in the carrier.

Original poster
Amichelle84 · 02/08/2022 15:48

I've got dreamies at the ready. I tried to coax him in but he wasn't having it.

Also have a towel to put over him so he can't see what's going on and have a larger one to go over it once he's in.

OP posts:
Original poster
Amichelle84 · 02/08/2022 15:49

dementedpixie · 02/08/2022 15:43

Shut all exit doors. Put cage on its end. Pick cat up and insert into cage bum first. Shut door very quickly.

Thanks, will give that way round a go.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 02/08/2022 15:49

Mine refused to be coaxed in too. I use the back end first option mostly

sunsetsandsandybeaches · 02/08/2022 15:50

Ideally you need two people.

Have the cage ready and open - put it on its end and have one person holding the door ready to shut it as soon as the cat is inside.
Wrap towel or blanket around the cat, insert them in the cage bum first, shove door closed after - mind your fingers!

DessicatedWithering · 02/08/2022 15:53

Don't mention the V word. Don't even spell it out.

Don't look like you give a shiny shit that if you can't get him there you'll still have to pay for the appointment.

If he's already in the house, lock every window and door and don't let anyone else in or out of the house.

When it's almost time to go, but not so close you're panicking, make sure he's in the room with the basket. Then without showing a smidgeon of concern about it, grab the cat and shove it in the basket. Sometimes this is easier if the basket is vertical and you throw the cat in headfirst - but whatever you try is bound to be undignified for both of you and result in open wounds for you. Shut the basket door. Double check it's fixed shut.

Put ear plugs in.

Original poster
Amichelle84 · 02/08/2022 15:55

Partner on his way back from work with extra dreamies...

OP posts:
Original poster
Amichelle84 · 02/08/2022 15:56

DessicatedWithering · 02/08/2022 15:53

Don't mention the V word. Don't even spell it out.

Don't look like you give a shiny shit that if you can't get him there you'll still have to pay for the appointment.

If he's already in the house, lock every window and door and don't let anyone else in or out of the house.

When it's almost time to go, but not so close you're panicking, make sure he's in the room with the basket. Then without showing a smidgeon of concern about it, grab the cat and shove it in the basket. Sometimes this is easier if the basket is vertical and you throw the cat in headfirst - but whatever you try is bound to be undignified for both of you and result in open wounds for you. Shut the basket door. Double check it's fixed shut.

Put ear plugs in.

I love how you have wrote this...it's as dramatic as I feel it's going to be

OP posts:
VeryQuaintIrene · 02/08/2022 15:56

Might be too late, but having a cage that opens from the top has been a game-changer with ours!

isthatwhatyoureallywanted · 02/08/2022 15:59

We've realised that the easiest thing to do is to get the cat in the bathroom as it's the smallest room and with the least amount of hiding places. Grab at, grit teeth if scratched and shove in carrier. Do not let go of the cat until they are in the carrier. If you have enlisted anyone to assist in this, whether that person is a young child or, due to that going pear shaped, your DH who has confidently assured you that of course they know how to open/close the carrier, get them to demonstrate this before you touch the cat.

Blueswedeshoes · 02/08/2022 16:01

Put some thick gardening gloves on first aswell!

Mainfeature · 02/08/2022 16:03

Second the use of gravity. Put the cage on its end and drop the cat in.

Our previous cat used to do a ‘starfish’ impersonation and stick her legs out sideways. We overcame that by wrapping her in towel burrito-style and dropped her in that way.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 02/08/2022 16:05

Garden gloves, glasses and a thick long sleeved coat.
and a padlock for the cage. Must be a metal cage.
do not ask how I know.

Movinghouseatlast · 02/08/2022 16:09

Valium is the only thing that worked with ours! The vet prescribed it.

After about an hour I put Dreamies in the carrier and she walked in discombobulated.

KarrotKake · 02/08/2022 16:10

Decide on a room with minimal hiding places.
Have cage open, door on top (we have a cage with a door on the top) in room.
Get cat into room with dreamies. Shut door. Chase cat, grab cat, stuff in cage and shut door fast.

PloddingAlongHere · 02/08/2022 16:12

DessicatedWithering · 02/08/2022 15:53

Don't mention the V word. Don't even spell it out.

Don't look like you give a shiny shit that if you can't get him there you'll still have to pay for the appointment.

If he's already in the house, lock every window and door and don't let anyone else in or out of the house.

When it's almost time to go, but not so close you're panicking, make sure he's in the room with the basket. Then without showing a smidgeon of concern about it, grab the cat and shove it in the basket. Sometimes this is easier if the basket is vertical and you throw the cat in headfirst - but whatever you try is bound to be undignified for both of you and result in open wounds for you. Shut the basket door. Double check it's fixed shut.

Put ear plugs in.

Yes.... also deff go vertical with the cage! Good luck!

Original poster
Amichelle84 · 02/08/2022 16:26

1 caught kitty 🐱

OP posts:
Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 02/08/2022 16:27

Yeah, grab it by the scruff of the neck, place in vertical cage. Make sure in small room with no exit.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 02/08/2022 16:27

That face says that revenge will be taken….

IDrinkCoffee · 02/08/2022 16:29

Put some tuna fish in the cage! Never known a cat to turn down some free tuna. You can clean the cage out afterwards.

Original poster
Amichelle84 · 02/08/2022 16:30

I can't believe how quickly we managed to do it! Thanks for the tips.

We managed bum way in, cage upright. He's quite distressed now so feeding him lots of treats and have covered the cage

OP posts:
Original poster
Amichelle84 · 02/08/2022 16:30

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 02/08/2022 16:27

That face says that revenge will be taken….

He's had revenge on me ever since I took him for the snip!! Has never loved me the same since 😂

OP posts:
SwelegantParty · 02/08/2022 16:32

I had a cat who hated going in her carrier - she was softness itself until she saw it, then it took two of us to get her in and she howled the whole time. Eventually I got a harness and lead for her, and she was fine with that, but we weren't going to the vets - you could ask them if they'd be happy for you to bring him in that way instead. Of course you'd need two people in the car, if that's possible.

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