How on earth do I get this cat into a carrier

[TheHorneSection]

We have a rescue male tabby who, even after 6 months, is ridiculously skittish. He will accept strokes and cuddles if you sit next to him on the bed when he is comfy, but that's it. You can't bend down to stroke him when he is anywhere else, he'll run away. I've tried picking him up occasionally from when he is comfy next to me but he hates it and scratches like mad. I've tried throwing a blanket over him but he bolts. I've tried keeping him in a room where he has nowhere to hide so I might be able to get closer but that freaks him out (he spent 5 years shut alone in a room, so that's understandable), the one time I tried it in an attempt to get a groomer to cut his nails, he was terrified and had diarrhea for two days afterwards from the stress. He does love food, but so far any attempt to lay a trail of tempting food into a cat carrier hasn't worked either.

I really do need to get him to the vet to get checked out but have absolutely no idea how I can get him there. Any good ideas?

Photo as cat tax...

The greatest tip I found and it worked, was to angle the cat carrier in the kitchen sink. Doesn't matter how you pick them up, I picked our Bob up by the scruff of the neck, but supported his bottom. Load him into the carrier and close the door. They don't have enough time to scrabble upwards and out, with it being at an angle! It worked an absolute treat! Especially after a couple of weeks of trying to coax him in to getting used to it, sat there, open with treats in it, with no success! Good luck! Gratuitous photo of "Our Bob"! 😁

Our cat hates the carrier. The only way to get him in is to have the carrier sitting behind him between our feet. Bend down, grab him and push him in backwards then close the door. He doesn't see the carrier so doesn't object and the door has closed before he has too much time to react. Our vet laughed when we told him he would need to be put in backwards but when we picked him up later on he admitted we were right!
Even tipping the carrier on its side doesn't work because he just wriggles and squirms and scratches his way out of your hands.

With our ex-feral I borrow a trap cage from Cats Protection (no charge, but need to leave a refundable deposit).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hitchy-Carrier-Collapsible-Approved-Friendly/dp/B07KF6T9F7/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=cat+carrier&qid=1707938308&sr=8-7

This thermal white blanket in - calming spray or cat nip spray left around house for them to sit in most of the time. Last time difficult cat climbed in to sleep - and it was the new back pack carrier and easier cat that proved difficult.

Feliway/Beaphar plug ins - also help more generally as will playing with long string distance type toys - like Cat Feather Teasers - or red spot laser toys.

Though a mobile vet sounds ideal.

ask the vet for some gabapentin if all else fails,......if you can get him to take it.

One of my rescues was so terrified this was what we had to do for the first few visits. As she settled it became easier.

Apart from making the carrier the place for drugs cat nip and treats, there is also the giant spider method.

Amazon box flattened on floor. Cat sits on Amazon box (with or without added cat nip).

Cat carrier is placed over the top of cat like a big, furry spider. Amazon box is then used to tilt cat carrier 180 and door is sealed whilst cat/big furry spider attempts to launch itself into space but is repelled by the cardboard.

I had more trouble with the one who went in good as gold, wailed throughout the journey, came out at the other end good as gold - and then took advantage of the niceness of the staff and slunk away just fractionally faster than dashing human speed to take himself off into the back of the vets' to hide in the smallest space they had. He had them in stitches at how slow he moved at the same time as being so fast.

Finally dealt with him by attaching collar and then lead, as he lost the power of movement in his legs once a lead was attached and was then just dead weight. And they got their own back on him for the 25 minute hunting and capture around the sluice room by neatly clipping around both front paws in case of another escape during a bloodtest attempt, so it looked as though he was wearing wellie boots.

Poor thing, he spent most of his time at the vet being laughed at, especially when he was a model patient once they got hold of him and took himself back into the carrier, turned around and sat down watching them afterwards.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Greenies-Pill-Pockets-FELINE-Chicken/dp/B001FSJCPK?th=1

These pill pockets help sometimes with pills - if it does come to that.

I know your rescue boy doesn't like being picked up so that's another barrier but for other posters whose cats can be picked up but struggle with going in carriers I would like to offer the following tips.

I would not bother lowering in, covering with a blanket or towel (both those are very distressing for the cat) or trying to tempt in with cat nip or treats etc.

Whilst the cat is not looking or listening, quietly get the cat carrier and open its door. Put the back of the cat carrier on the floor and with the back panel against a wall (to stop the carrier from moving backwards when the cat goes in). I reiterate, don't let the cat see or hear the carrier being prepared! If it hears you getting the carrier from its usual storage place it will already be stressed and start hiding etc. You have to be really quiet.

When the carrier is prepared, ie door open and with the back panel against a wall, pick up the cat, carry over to the carrier ideally without them seeing it until the last second (ie holding cat sideways on so they aren't watching it come into view) and only at the last second bend down and line up the cat's head and front body right with the open end of cage. You kind of feed them in very quickly. Be ready to close the door straight away. That's it.

The more a big deal is made with blankets and sprays and treats and so on, or if the cat sees or hears the carrier in advance, the more stressful and unsuccessful it will be.The element of surprise and efficient advance preparation of the carrier is key to getting a cat in a carrier without a fuss.

My cat is 14 and I can't get him in to the carrier anymore. He has the strength of the hulk when I try and bursts out of it and bites and scratches me. I've tried different carriers and even cardboard boxes because he seems to like these in other situations. I've cancelled so many vet appointments last minute because of this. I've given up now, if he gets seriously ill at any point I'll try again but I think for his mental health unless it's serious he's better off just staying at home.

Sedate him first. The vet will prescribe something.

We have two like this, both nervous with good reason. When it's vet time, we try to encourage them into a small room, making sure we have filled in any inaccessible gaps first. Both ours will tend to hide in a bookcase or in a corner as that's the best gap they feel they can hide in. Then it's get the carrier ready, get a big towel, drop the towel over cat and scoop up everything into the carrier. We always end up taking the towel with us in the carrier!

One does resign himself to the idea if he's in one room, but the other gets freaked out and I only ever get one shot at getting her.

Neither Feliway nor keeping the carrier out ever make a difference and I'm sure they sense me getting ready to do something which puts them on edge.

Oh, they always know!

Thanks for all the tips. I sadly can’t see a mobile vet near us so will bite the bullet, get some very thick gloves, and give it a try one day…

I love everyone confidently telling you how to do it as if what works for their cat will work for yours. Reminds me of every time we call the vet and speak to a different receptionist who tells us all the same tips and tricks ALL of which we've already tried! Some cats are particularly challenging. Been able to get all our previous cats in with a few tricks, no bother. I challenge anyone to try with our current cat! We do have a system now but it only works part of the time and it's a two person job. She is very fast, very anxious and skittish and also psychic.

This is our process:

1. On the day of the visit, move around the house nonchalantly and calmly. Do not think about impending vet visit. Definitely do not get out the cat basket OR lock the cat flap. Definitely do NOT move around the house in pairs.

1. Hope that cat has not gone out. If we lock the cat flap, the game is lost.

1. Just before time to leave, DH silently gets elbow length gauntlets out of cupboard. And locates cat. Hopefully she is chilling on a bed.

1. DH lays on bed to stroke her. She CANNOT see the gauntlets. Meanwhile I silently get cat box out of garage. I have to open it up in the garage and not let any part of it clang or make a noise. I wait at bottom of stairs.

1. When cat is relaxed, DH carefully without her seeing dons the gauntlets. And grabs cat and yells for me. I leg it up stairs and in one swift movement DH puts cat in cat box. If he's too slow. Or I'm too slow or he fluffs the "grab and stuff" the game's up.

1. Move quickly out of the house so she doesn't injure herself trying to get out.

Having done all of the shove sometimes she just KNOWS. How the fuck I don't know. Shell then be hiding under the bed in her "safe place" and there's no hope!

If we fail to get her to two appointments, the vet gives us tablets to sedate her. We've had to do that three times.

If I was on my own I'd have no hope and would have to sedate.

I love everyone confidently telling you how to do it as if what works for their cat will work for yours. Reminds me of every time we call the vet and speak to a different receptionist who tells us all the same tips and tricks ALL of which we've already tried!

Erm I think the whole point of this post was exactly for that purpose! Didn't stop you sharing your experience though, which wouldn't necessarily work for someone else either! Strange comment!

I couldn't get my cat into normal cat carriers, she refuses to be picked up and is very aggressive.

I bought a large top-opening cat carrier like this one - https://www.amazon.co.uk/MDC-Cat-Carrying-Basket-White/dp/B01DYNN9BQ

I put the carrier in the kitchen (where there's nowhere for my cat to run or hide) and open the lid. I lure the cat into the kitchen with dreamies and close the door. When I'm behind the cat I pick her up under her armpits and very quickly drop her in and shut the lid. It's much easier than conventional cat carriers as the opening is so wide and it isn't the same as trying to pick her up and manoevre her into a small opening, she's only held by me for a few seconds.

Good luck!

My Tortie was sedated and was still impossible to get in cat carrier. I ended up getting a home visit to pick her up and get her to the vets. £ 45 well spent ( plus vets fee obvs )

Ps Gabapentin was used for sedation. She was still like a Tasmanian devil in the carrier 😳

@Didshejustsaythatoutloud

@Didshejustsaythatoutloud Is the sedative for you or the cat?! 😀

This made me genuinely 😂

It was the confidence of the replies I was referring to, not sharing the tips!

And tbh I wasn't sharing our process as a tip. It was more about how bloody difficult it can be with some very challenging cats! I think the OP is trying to do it on her own so our method won't work.

Absolutely ask your vet to prescribe some gabapentin to collect in advance. It's used a lot for cats who get very stressed going to the vet. There's hopefully no need for it to be such a traumatic experience that he is affected for days.

@WhatNoUsername Apologies for the mix up, it didn't read like that to me, but now I've read it again, I see where you were coming from. Again, apologies 💐

I had a giggle at the top loading box, mine would be out of that like Zebedee and up on the ceiling before I had the door shut!!! 🤣

This is why I have always loved cats, they have their own personalities and if they don't want to do it, there's no way on earth they will! 🤣

Haha @WhatNoUsername ! My cat is the same. I swear he hears my thoughts that there is going to be a vet visit later in the day before I've even got the carrier out, and hides under my bed.
It's usually not a massive struggle to get him in the carrier but the annoying thing is, once at the vet's he tries to hide in the carrier if it is left on the examination table. He also invariably throws up on the way home.

@TheHorneSection My boy is a rescue and loves being stroked and will often cuddle up beside you but hates sitting on laps. He's ok-ish being picked up if you are standing up but will struggle to get off if you then sit down. I have found recently that if I kind of scoop him up quickly and put him so he is lying on his side on my lap he will stay for ages if you fuss him. Cat's are weird....

Honestly, I really think all cat owners should get a top opening cat carrier. We have something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Transparent-Cat-Carriers-Portable-Training/dp/B07ZTR7T7W/ref=sr_1_15?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TSdhrQNqOYCZd2SX6fqGkb4JQ4AJ_tiQgaCKVdHZtO1v8x5ctlm9tr1g_dQqjB4QW11fK_VqdNh4N--u1d6qhqOR_CgTo6a7xXvc1plKY6a7AJx8Bdpuks4AI_kqbnTrbuUp9AfjkjyBTfWaHRlp-xcdQHzXDTBBLXFpSZeYn076AAPh12lQJ6qBz9AauiDGFJ6C7k2yKwAxXazZuzH5qlSXxBdRADv1B1vd39jKqnjUtdYHghGYFg-8lqHqatyl5TBjOF93QUb0OCupOFd6_qjxL2yPK_Zmk32p6kBLDMk.mKxPvrmu80EojfpoL6cwNWK16YZCO13441eIR51H_5k&dib_tag=se&keywords=top+opening+cat+carrier&qid=1707996438&sr=8-15
It's a game changer. I once spent 45 minutes trying to get my cat in to a standard cat carrier. By the end of it, my cat was traumatised, I was in tears and we'd missed our appointment.
With a top opening carrier you open the top, drop them in and quickly close it. It's never taken us more than 3 seconds to get him in.

I think it's worth trying before the event, and then you may be able to increase the dose if necessary. Doesn't work for all though.