Help! Can’t get cat into carrier for her appointment this morning!

[Maggiethecat]

Unusually difficult today!

Can you not keep the carrier in a different room, so the cat can't see. Then catch he/she, wrap in a blanket if needed, then carry them to the room with the carrier and put them inside it?

@CherryMyBrandy Cats are psychic.

Dh was listening to a podcast once about how shoplifters will stop if a security guard is watching them on cctv and the security industry accept it that people know their being watched intently through a camera and the researchers had cats so they had spoken about cats vanishing before the vets.

They rang 60 odd vets in the city who all bar one reported massive cancellations because the cat had figured they had an appt and vanished. The other vet practice said we don't make appts for cats anymore, if the owner can get it to the clinic we'll see them.

I completely failed one day and the cat shot off round the garden. I had to ring and cancel the appointment and I got the impression from the person at the vets that it was quite common!

learn to do a purrito. Lifesaver!

I agree with previous posters, scruffing is the way forward, and lowering them in backwards helps. I also sprinkle some catnip in the carrier to keep them chilled out.

Catnip is a cool idea! It’s occurred to me to put a favourite toy in with them but I haven’t because I feel it would make them associate the toy with fear. Catnip is probably just going to get them a bit high.

Ours was a rescue and wary, no idea what she went through but won't sit on laps or allow anyone to pick her up. She velcros to carpet with claws.

So have to do starve/food in basket/ close basket door in a 1 second move otherwise she folds in two and is out of there like greased lightning.

DH has the skills so it has become his job. We take her regularly for nail trims. Yes I did buy clippers, but it takes 2 people and she takes one look at us and is off!!

Make sure she can't get out of the room so nowhere to hide

I managed to get mine successfully in this week. She starfished but I managed to pry her claws away from the sides of the carrier and get the lid down. The outraged yowling on the way to the vet was horrendous but hopefully it's now over for another year.

@Saverage - well done! You probably needed a lie down afterwards 😂

When in the vet waiting room I kept saying 'good girl! Not long now!' In a shrill panicked voice. The other cat in the waiting room was completely chill and mute while mine screamed.

Was so glad to get back in the house. 😅

Vets waiting rooms always have;

An overly sociable dog owner who sits right next to a cat person.
A Rottweiler that weighs more than you.
A well behaved cat owned by a very neat woman in sensible knitwear.
You, with your demonstrably upset cat.

This was my favourite foster cat, he loved the carrier, often slept in it. All the others ranged from difficult to nightmare when it came to getting them into carriers.