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Cats, Carriers and Vets
Tips on making it
easier to get your cat to the vet
By Dr. Ariana Anderson
Many cats are fearful of car rides and veterinary visits, which makes
it harder for us to give them good medical care. It also makes it difficult
for cat owners to decide to take their nervous cats to the veterinarian
for routine care and may delay an examination for an illness.
Cats can
be trained to be much more comfortable with their carriers, cars, and
the veterinary clinic. It takes a little preparation and
patience, but will greatly improve your cat’s comfort level and
your veterinarian’s ability to care for your pet. Here are some
tips and links that will help you to help your cat!
The steps to improved
carrier behavior:
- Start carrier training as young
as possible. Starting when they are kittens teaches your pet that
the carrier is just another fun hiding
place or play area rather than a confined punishment space. Carriers
that load from the top or especially those that come apart in the
middle are helpful, as veterinarians can then take the top off and
start their
examination with the cat comfortably sitting in the bottom. Put the
carrier in a room that the cat likes to be in, perhaps in a sunny location,
with
a soft piece of bedding, to encourage exploration and voluntary use.
- Encourage
daily entry. Every day, put a piece of kibble or a treat in the carrier.
When the cat eats it, calmly praise or pet him, and give
him a few more treats. If the cat doesn’t take the treat right
away, just walk away; if you try to persuade him, he will become
suspicious! It may take a few days, but he should start to eat the
treats, although
maybe when you are not watching.
- Gradually close the door. Once the cat
happily goes into the carrier when you are around, gently close
the door, give a treat, and open
the door so that the cat does not feel trapped.
- Extend the door-closure
period. After several days of this, leave the door closed and walk
out of the room for a few seconds before returning
and giving another treat. Gradually work up to carrying the carrier
to a different place in the house.
- Begin car rides. Over days to weeks,
move on to placing the carrier in the car, then short car rides,
then a ride to your veterinary clinic
for a treat and petting from staff, if your cat is comfortable
with petting. If at any point your cat becomes nervous and you see
crouching,
ears back, etc., go back a step and give treats until your cat
is more comfortable with that level.
- Cover the carrier when traveling.
When you start taking the carrier in the car, place a towel over
it; cats
usually feel safer this way.
- Add toys,
treats or bedding into the carrier. If your cat has favorite toys,
treats, bedding, or brushes, bring them to the clinic when you
visit (both for training visits and an actual exam). This will
give your cat more familiar things that he associates with good feelings.
- Consider
using Feliway, a pheromonal anti-anxiety spray, just before traveling.
When the time for the examination arrives, the routine will
be familiar and your cat will be much more comfortable. With especially
nervous or suspicious cats, Feliway can help with the initial training
period as well.
Some cats, despite your best efforts, still become scared
of confinement or travel. In such instances, additional anti-anxiety
medications might
be prescribed by your veterinarian to help alleviate the stress.
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