How Do You Get Your Cat To Go To The Cat Carrier?

[Former User]

First of all, I'd like to thank Randi for giving me the idea for this thread, so Thank You Randi!

Randi, I hope you will tell your way to get Fister on the carrier here too, I read it on another post, and thought it was brilliant! So, please share it here too!

What comes to Casper and Kitty, we lift the carrier out about 10 minutes before we have to go, they usually go and sniff what's in there, and we can lock one of them there. Then it's just easy to pick the other one, since they don't really combine the idea that going in the carrier means going to the vet. And the cat carrier is out here everyday, they can be there anytime they want to, so I guess they don't think it as something to be afraid of. But I'm sure the time will come when they realise that cat carrier = vet visits.

[Randi]

Thanks Niina! John just said an hour ago. Make a thread about getting cats into a carrier. Well, I thought that it had been done quite a few times already, so ....

Anyway, the very first time Fister had to go in the box was in dec. 1998. We were going to Dom. Rep. for 2 weeks and he was going to a cat pension in the country. We had checked the place out beforehand - it was a farm owned by a woman vet - beautiful place. He had a huge cage and he could walk in and out as he pleased. Great, apart from it was more than an hours drive away and the day we took him there, a storm broke out.

At the time it was even harder to get to lift him than it is now, but John managed with a few scratches.

Since then, we've realized, that if we wanted to make sure he got in the box without too much hazzle, we've had to drug him. We've tried Diazepam, which relaxes him quite well and we've tried Plegicil, which has quite an effect within half an hour. The only problem is to make him eat food with that in (he can smell or taste it) But, we've found that a half of those is enough.

The last couple of times, we have done it this way:
Hours before we have to get Fister in the box we are nervous wrecks - it's always a drama. But, we've found a cunning plan - John goes down to the cellar and get the box while Fister relax as usual. As soon as he become aware of the danger, he immediately rushes under the bed. Then I take the hoover out and start in the bedroom. Fister runs out into the kitchen where John is waiting with the box!! A little easier!

Good luck to everyone who has to do it!

[Edwina's Secretary]

Oh, oh....Randi! First using the vacuum/hoover to get poor Fister into his carrier and now the picture of a cat pension in the country. I'm picturing a lake with the fjords in the background, green meadows filled with wild flowers, and all these cats in long dresses with cinched waists and top hats and walking sticks -- all strolling about. Too many Merchant/Ivory movies!

Getting Edwina in her carrier requires the element of surprise. Bring it out from the basement, set it on end and at the same time pick her and feet first she goes into the carrier. No time for discussion or histrionics.

We let her out in the car on the way home. It stops the "cat in heat" howling.

[Fuzzy317]

For the cats, we use a carrier with a front door and a door on the top. Some cats, we simply gently push in the front, but some cats we use the top door to pick them up and set them in.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

I have trouble getting them OUT of the carrier. They like to sleep in it so when I need to borrow it they get crankie. When we get to the vets, they get scared and don't want to come out either. Leonardo spreads his hind feet out and hangs on the the inside by his toes. We've had to take the carrier apart to get him out. Luckily, it's made to come apart easily.

[Randi]

Well, we use a box where he has to go in from the top - the vet recommended that! Before we got that one, I had bought one where he went in from the front - like Casper & Kitty's I think, but John thought I was being very naive thinking he would stay in that, so we actually never used it for transport. I had put it in the corridor with a blanket in, and Fister went in and made himself comfortable. Now, since we've transported Fister several times, I believe he probably would have torn it apart before the first traffic sign!

The first pension he went to was a real pretty place, I have found a link to it, so you can what it looks like: Hope this works!

Fister's first catpension

I'm aware that you can't read the text, but it's very spacious with a good view to ducks, goats, horses and other animals - and best of all, the owner is a vet!

There's a another place, we would like to use next time, but unfortunately, that's also 1 and 1/2 hour away. That's really a 5* with heated floors, classical music and - you name it!

Exclusive catpension


If you click on the bottom link, you'll see pictures from this place.

Edwina's secretary! I fully agree! The best way to handle it, is speed and surprize!!

[Former User]

Believe it or not, but with my little language skills, I managed to understand quite a lot... and this picture of the place (the more expencive one) is brilliant! Looks so nice over there!

[Former User]

Here's a pic of our carrier (well sort of), it's open from the front and from the top, very easy and handy!

[Randi]

Oh, Niina! They're SO CUTE!!! How I would love to hug them!

Yes, the box looks the one I first bought - expensive enough I think, but it wouldn't hold Fister!

I found the picture, let's see if this works:

[AmberLee]

I keep the carriers out and open (cat caves) most of the time. Livvy is more apt to use them as retreats than Cassy. Note: I believe she uses them as a retreat FROM Cassy when he's off-the-wall weird, but it's hard to tell with cats...

The tilting it to "face the ceiling" and lowering cat into it is about the only method I've been able to use in quite a while. The 'special treat in the carrier' trick only worked when they were very little kittens.

We occasionally go 'outies' to drive-throughs and get bacon or a plain shreaded beef sandwich (spoiled fur-kids? no!....) which makes the carrier a LITTLE less obnoxious.

Ejecting the kids at the vets is a struggle and I've had cause to bless that the carriers disassemble.

[Randi]

Originally posted by AmberLee
The tilting it to "face the ceiling" and lowering cat into it is about the only method I've been able to use in quite a while. The 'special treat in the carrier' trick only worked when they were very little kittens.
Ejecting the kids at the vets is a struggle and I've had cause to bless that the carriers disassemble.

LOL! LOL! I bet you're getting used to it!

[Pam]

Our latest method is to pick the cats up one-at-a-time and carry them into the bathroom where the carriers are hiding. This is a good room to catch them in because there's nowhere to hide. Once we have one of our 'victims' we do what AmberLee does...

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AmberLee
[B]The tilting it to "face the ceiling" and lowering cat into it is about the only method I've been able to use in quite a while.


The vet had mentioned that some people have reported to him that they use a pillowcase. First kitty goes into the pillowcase and then it is lowered through the up-ended carrier. We haven't had to use that yet fortunately and it does sound like it might be a little traumatic for them.

Once at the vet's they don't want to come out. If we can't successfully 'dump' them onto the table we just take the lid off.

[Pam]

I posted this once before, but I think it fits in perfectly with this topic! LOL!

[AmberLee]

[Nomilynn]

I guess I'm lucky, because both Bassett and Tilly like to go in the carrier. As soon as I open it, they walk right in. Bassett has travelled in the car from a very young age, and I'm trying to get Tilly used to it too because I drive down to Oregon in the Summers. While in the car, I just let them roam around. Bassett usually sleeps in it anyway. However, at the vet, they both have to be dumped out onto the table