Help! How Can I Get the Cat to Sit in the Carrier?

[Mercurial123]

I'm overseas and have just fostered a cat who will be relocated to either the USA or Canada to be adopted at a rescue centre. I need to get a photo of her sitting in the carrier to forward to the relocation organiser.

Unfortunately, she was dumped in a carrier, and I couldn't get her in there to sit down. I've tried putting treats in there, but she gets anxious. I have a couple of weeks to get the photo, but if anyone has any ideas, that would be great. Have tried putting a towel over the carrier, but that's not working.

TIA

If she doesn’t like a carrier then putting her in one and making her travel for miles to another country will be traumatic. Can’t she just be rehomed nearer to where you are now? I’d rather my poor traumatised cat was pts kindly than made to go through that tbh.

That aside, why does the photo have to be taken with her in the carrier? I’m struggling to understand why a photo of her sitting outside the carrier isn’t acceptable.

If it's some sort of identity thing, wouldn't micro-chipping be more sensible?

Who looks after the cats during these long journeys? Are you advised about reducing stress?

Thanks, I'm looking for ideas, not judgement.

The only way I can get mine in the carrier is to stand it on its end, with the door open at the top, and drop the cat in the shut the door amd set it flat

I have to set the carrier up in a separate room though so he can't see it, but when picked up he's pretty biddable with the process. Putting it normally with treats just didn't work at all.

It's not judgement though, it's a reasonable question and I would have asked the same thing if someone else hadn't already asked.

Can the poor cat really not be homed in the country she's in already?

If that's absolutely impossible then I'd just get a decent photo of her sitting down anywhere with a fairly plan background. Surely it can't matter where she sits for the photo?

The only way I can get mine in a carrier is to put it up on its end and lower the cat in arse first. Whilst wearing long sleeves and possibly gloves.

I'm sorry, but I have to agree with the other posters.
Can you imagine that poor cat dumped in a carrier initially, then back into it for a possible long flight/ travel.
I often wonder if flying can damage their delicate hearing.It's loud enough for us.
Not judging you at all, you're doing an amazing job fostering, but I would be worried and uneasy about this.
Saying that my cat was impossible to get into a carrier.
I bought a wire mesh cage and he's brilliant in it.
I appreciate that a travel crate might be different.

Rescues in the USA and Canada surely aren’t lacking in cats who need adopting?

Similar to others, I have to lower my cats in arse first! But they wouldn’t then sit for a nice photo.

Brilliant, thanks. I will try that once she's more settled.

Why does a photo have to be in a carrier? My cats love a box. Could you get a photo of her in a box?

I'm not judging-you're obviously doing what you've been advised. But I do think you might be wrong.....

Why are cats being rehomed to other countries? Is there no-one in your own country who wants it? Or, rather, does the person adopting it not have access to homeless cats on their own country? 🫤

Leave the cat where they are and have it adopted locally. Shipping cats around the world is ridiculous.

More than a million cats are euthanised in shelters in the US every year. They don’t need to import more.

How this photo of Penelope was taken is an absolute mystery to me. She is a nightmare to get in her carrier!

Shipping cats (and dogs) around the world as some sort of 'rescue' operation is bonkers, quite frankly. The costs involved would surely be better used for intensive and extensive TNR programmes alongside supporting and educating about early neutering/spaying.

Putting a cat in a carrier can be a two person job.

The element of surprise is key- don’t let the cat see the carrier before you attempt to put them in it. And yes, standing the carrier on its end helps a lot. As do long sleeves and/or oven gloves.

That aside, I also think flying cats overseas to be adopted is a mad idea. I suspect flying is pretty stressful and frightening for animals.

I absolutely agree, it's madness