How To Stuff A Cat Into A Carrier

[Kailani]

I leave the carrier in the room for awhile and give them treats, praise and pets when they approach or go in. I also put their fav blankets and toys in and give treats as traveling with soft music and lots of praise. The vets sometimes have cardboard carriers too. I would leave the carrier out after the vet and put a blanket on it cuz they may want to sit on it and getting used to it with treats may make the next excursion to the vet easier. Hope it goes great.

 

[corvidae]

@hodge have you heard of the "cat music" that's supposed to calm them while they're riding in the car? i think it's bird songs and other interesting, uh, cat noise things...some folks say it makes their cats ride quiet/quieter.

 

[hodge]

Oh, good idea, @corvidae! I will have to see if I can find a cassette of that. Our car is a '97 and only has a cassette player :-(

 

[corvidae]

you might be able to stream some if it on your phone via youtube if you can't find a cassette, @hodge

 

[hodge]

Lol, I also have a primitive phone and can't do that. But thanks for the ideas, @corvidae!

 

[corvidae]

ah, oh no! @hodge i will have to find you some soothing muzak for the kittehs. perhaps everyone here can assist! (i just got a rather low-end smartphone so i understand re: primitive phone.)

 

[hodge]

Aww, that's such a kind gesture, @corvidae! I've been sitting here trying to figure out if I have a way to record something onto a blank cassette if I can find one. I used to have a tape recorder somewhere, but I can't think of where it might be or if I even still have it. I've been going on about three hours of sleep a night for the last several days, and my brain just can't get there right now :-). I still have some time before our Woody cat is due for his checkup, though. And it's surprising sometimes what a person can find on Amazon.

 

[corvidae]

oooh, @hodge i've got it! you need a DUCK CALL! that way you can ride down the road and just sound the call whenever the cats start meowing; they'll either be enormously entertained or terrified into silence! and low tech wins the day! :D

 

[hodge]

LOL, @corvidae!! That might be a good distraction for them. They do love watching birds from our windows. I'd feel like an idiot sitting in the car using a duck call, but, hey, it's worth a try, haha. And we only have a two-lane highway to our vet, so it's not like anyone's gonna be driving next to us and really see me, lol.

 

[ShodokanJenn]

Love all the ideas. SO basically, we are going to tip the carrier on end so the opening points toward the ceiling. Hubby will pick kitty up under the arms and I'll help guide back feet into the carrier. As hubby drops him in, I'll shut the door. Looks good on paper. Not so sure how it will look after we've attempted to add in the writhing beast, but I'll be sure to let all of you know. And who knows, maybe we'll get a duck call, too.

 

[hodge]

Sounds like a plan, @ShodokanJenn. Would probably be good to wear some thick gloves, too. Some people have had to be hospitalized for bad cat scratches.

 

[ShodokanJenn]

Thanks @hodge . Gloves are a given when trying to coerce and/or force our kitties into something they aren't thrilled about.