We know that coming to the veterinary clinic can be extremely stressful for cats but also for their owners. This often means owners prolong visits to the vet not out of neglect but out of worry they will stress their cat. We want you to feel reassured that we are here to help you with this process as best as we can. Reducing your cats stress right from the start of their journey to the veterinary clinic helps vets and nurses carry out the necessary examinations as a calmer cat is much more open to being approached and handled by our veterinary team.
We would like to note that although many cats dislike their carriers, we never recommend bringing your cat to the clinic without a carrier for fear they could escape in our car park. It is much more useful to help build a harmonious relationship between your cat and its carrier. Once your cat is in its carrier it is more likely that they will feel more safe and secure than they would if they were in a wide-open space like a car. Please read the following on potential stressors for your cat, carriers and tips on getting to us safely with minimal stress.
Consider the following as potential stressors for your cat
- Pain and discomfort
- Lack of control
- Inability to escape (their carrier, consulting room)
- Unfamiliar noises
- Strangers
- Unfamiliar smells
- A previous negative experience
- Travelling
- Their carrier
What type of carrier should I purchase?
- Cat carriers should be made of hard plastic which will allow for easy cleaning if any accidents happen on the way to the vets
- The carrier should have a removeable top half. This allows the vet or nurse to examine your cat in its carrier if they do not want to come out voluntarily. This will allow them to feel safer and more at ease
- The front of the carrier should have a sturdy lockable door to ensure your cat does not escape
Why does my cat not like its carrier? Consider Size
Your cat should not be squashed into their carrier without being able to move. The carrier should be big enough so that your cat can stand up and turn around. This will be much more comfortable for them
Consider previous veterinary visits
Did a visit to another veterinary clinic lead to your cat being forced out of its carrier? If so, it would be advised to start the training process from the start. If this does not work, then it may be the case that your cat has negative associations about that particular carrier, and it may be time to invest in a new one.
Did a visit to another veterinary clinic lead to your cat being forced out of its carrier? If so, it would be advised to start the training process from the start. If this does not work, then it may be the case that your cat has negative associations about that particular carrier, and it may be time to invest in a new one.
Is it a shared carrier?
If your cat shares the carrier with another cat, make sure it is thoroughly cleaned after and before each cat leaves and enters the carrier. Cats communicate through chemical secretions which are secreted from many different locations on the body. Therefore, it may be distressing for your cat to come into contact with these smells.
Does your cat dislike traveling?
The issue may not be the carrier itself but rather the travelling process. If your cat feels nauseous or unwell during travelling, they could be associating the carrier with these negative feelings and this is why they do not want to go into it as it associates the carrier with feeling ill
Tips on improving your cat’s relationship with its carrier
- Keep the carrier open and on the floor in the cat’s environment all of the time. If they are finding the presence of the carrier stressful, take the door and the top off the carrier
- Place the carrier in a quiet and safe area in their environment where they normally like to be to help encourage them to enter the carrier
- Place some of your cat’s favourite toys and treats inside the carrier to make it seem more appealing
- Make the carrier comfortable with a blanket or piece of bedding your cat enjoys as a source of encouragement
- Use pheromone therapy to help your cat feel calm and at ease
- Cats love boxes! So, treat this carrier like a box and cover the top of it with a blanket to that it appears cosy and safe for your cat, encouraging entry
- Ideally, the aim is that the carrier becomes part of the furniture and a place your cat loves to hang out in not something that comes out every year when they need a vaccine or if they are ill.
- Start this process when the are kittens and they will have a more positive relationship with their carrier
Bringing your cat to Just Cats
- Once your cat is safely in their carrier, use a blanket to place over the carrier to help minimise stress and encourage calmness
- Place an absorbent cloth at the bottom of their carrier to help soak up any accidents that might occur
- Secure the carrier in the foot well of the car or use a seat belt to strap them in to minimise movement during the journey
- Drive slow and carefully
- Try to remain as calm as you can so that your cat does not pick up on any stress
If you wish to discuss any of the above with us before your visit, please do not hesitate to call us.
We would be delighted to help.