Lillycat has a problem getting her kitties into the carrier (and I am not just referring to their girth!)...and found the top loading soft sided carriers a far cry easier to deal with, I don't know why.

And, I agree with the post that talked about getting the kitty into a room first, then bringing out the carrier. Just like us, once we are already panicky, we just get worse! Make it QUICK~~ good luck.