My cat won't go in the carrier for the vet. How can I train her?

Hello, I'd recommend making the cat carrier a positive experience over time. You can do this by keeping the carrier out in the open and using treats and toys to reward Cotton for being near or inside the carrier. This does take time, practice, and patience. Call your vet to discuss possible sedation for being able to put him in a carrier for his vaccines this year. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.

I would take the door off of the carrier for now and leave it out at all times. Put treats and eventually feed her in the carrier. It may take weeks to get her used to it. Then put the door back on and keep feeding her in there. Eventually you should be able to close the carrier to take her to the vet. Also you may talk to her vet about some sedation or anxiety medication that could be given prior to her appointment time. Good luck. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.

You could consider having a veterinarian come to your house to do her exam and vaccines, if there's anyone in your area who offers this service - many cats do much better with house calls than appointments in the clinic! If you're not sure, try googling "house call vet (your city/state)" or call some local clinics to ask if they know of anyone who does home visits. If this isn't possible, then I would work on teaching her to go into her carrier voluntarily. This is quite easy to do for most cats, but it does require some time and planning ahead. Start by leaving the carrier out with the door propped open. She may be anxious and hide when you first bring it out, which is fine. Just leave it out with the door open, and put some tasty cat treats nearby. She will explore and find the treats when she gets curious, which may take a few days. Once she's happy to approach the carrier and eat treats from the floor nearby, start putting some treats just inside the door. When she's c

You can try wrapping him in a thick towel first then placing him the the carrier. You can also try a non-conventional carrier, such as a large hamper with a lid wired to the top. A housecall veterinary service is also an option.

Poor Puss! I know vet visits can be a challenge with some anxious kitties. As far as calming aids that you can get over the counter, you could try a calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure along with Feliway spray in the carrier - these are generally quite safe, and can be purchased at pet stores or ordered online without a prescription. Effects are usually pretty mild, though, so if he's extremely fearful this may not be enough to make a difference. If you have a regular vet who has seen Puss before, you could call them to discuss your concerns. There are some great prescription medications like gabapentin or trazodone that can be very effective at calming anxious kitties prior to a vet visit - but you would need a prior veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) with a vet in order to get prescription meds before the exam. If the visit isn't urgent, you can try placing the carrier out with the door open in an area where Puss spends a lot of time to let him investigate i

Hi, it’s understandable that Bagheera was worried at the vets visit. He hadn’t been through this experience before and in general cats don’t cope well with novelty. In general, there are lots of things that you can do from positive reinforcement and sensitisation. I would suggest to read this invaluable book the trainable cat by Bradshaw and S. Ellis. Have a look at clicker training for cats, it’s fun and they can learn lots of things ! Is there any chance you could have a restricted area to the outdoors ? Hope this helps

Thank you for trying to help this lady out. Anytime a cat is not eating or drinking this is reason for concern and an immediate visit to the vet is warranted. I recommend using Feliway pheromone spray (you can pick this up at PetCo) and spraying it on a towel that you place in the carrier. Hopefully this will entice the cat into the carrier. Good luck!

Hello. I would purchase a medium sized storage tote & coax Minka in. Or, you can place the tote over her, slip the lid underneath & carefully turn the tote right side up. Tape or secure the lid. It you have more than a 10 minute trip to your vet, make sure the tote has ventilation holes punched into it. Once you get to the vet, they should be able to handle her. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.

Poor Rosie! Behavioral changes, especially sudden ones, in cats can definitely indicate an underlying illness or pain. If you can, trying to coax her into the carrier and then placing a towel over it may make it less stressful for her. You can also use something smelly and enticing if she is still eating, such as a little fried chicken or warmed up cat food just to get her in the carrier so you can close it and bring her to the vet. If you can't get her inside one at all, seeing if there is a veterinary housecall service near you that can come to you is another possible option.

You can try Feliway spray and also NaturVet Quiet Moments Calm Treats with Melatonin for cats which can be found at your local Petco. I hope this helps and makes for a stress free visit to the veterinarian! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.