Relating to your question about getting the cat into the carrier...the best way I've found is to leave the carrier sitting out in the cats' room all the time. They get used to it. When I actually have to put them in the carrier, because they still DO NOT like going in there, I snag them and flip them around and put them in rear first. They don't have time to get their paws out to catch the edge of the carrier, and they can't scratch me if I'm fast enough. By the time they realize what's happened, I've shut the door and they're on the way to the car. I'm not popular for a couple of days after, but I suppose that's part of being owned by two very proud kitties.