Cat Won’t Get Into Her Carrier?

I can’t count how many veterinarian appointments I’ve been late to over the years and even had to cancel last-minute because my cat would run and hide as soon as I brought out the carrier. Murphy’s Law very reliably dictated that, if I had scheduled an appointment, kitty would hide herself away until we missed it. And, even when I was fortunate enough to retrieve her from under the couch, I couldn’t begin to stuff her into the carrier without being shredded. She was not having it, end of discussion.

Frustration, as it turns out, became the mother of invention for me. I was forced to come up with a way to successfully transport my kitty without her freaking out and me getting shredded, and maybe even be on time.

Let Her Think The Crate Is Her Idea.

I stumbled stupidly onto this theory and, sure enough, that’s all it took. It eventually dawned on me that I had to let her think getting into the carrier was her very own smart little idea. And turns out it was pretty darned easy to convince her. I started leaving her carrier out in the house 24/7 for her to start feeling comfortable with. I put catnip in it, her favorite toy, a really plush blanket for her to cuddle up on. The fact that the crate was available to her day in and day out to play in and nap in made it less threatening, and allowed her to become overall at ease with it. She could get in and out of it at her own choosing, which was important to her. She was no longer afraid of it.

Safe Space.

Eventually the carrier became her safe space. Once she started napping in it every day, that was it – all fear was gone. So now, when it comes time to take her to the vet, all I have to do is close the carrier door and go. The beauty of it feeling like a safe haven is it helps to calm her when we ultimately end up in the car. She doesn’t cry anymore; she just sits quietly. Still nervous, of course, but not panicked. It is such a relief for me to know my cat isn’t going to have a coronary, and she gets through the whole event with minimal trauma.

When we return home after the vet, I always set the carrier back in its usual spot familiar to her, then open the door for her to come out, and I leave it in that same spot so she can continue her naps and playtime in it just as she’s come to enjoy. She knows now that the carrier is still her safe space, and it always brings her back home again too.

What a simple fix! Give it a try – put your carrier out for kitty to start “bonding with” so that your next transport is no longer a nightmare. You’ll both be grateful for the new calm.

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.