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How to calm my skittish cat for vet visits and get him in the carrier?
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 5 years and 7 months old | 15 lbs
what type of mediciane is there to calm cats who are very skittish? Also any tips on how to get a cat who wont let you near him in a create to take to vet? And worried about how he will handle the vet once we get there. We love him very much but just dont no what to do. we are going to try the feliway but worried it wont work. It has been 2 days since his fight with his brother and he is still mad. any tips would be nice. also he has a patch on his side of missing hair il add a picture. thanks
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Published on February 26th, 2018
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 it and get comfortable on his own. By dropping treats in the carrier and letting him go in when he's comfortable, it can be much easier to get him in for his visit. If he needs to be seen right away, then you can use a blanket or towel to put over him, pick him up, and put him in the carrier without being scratched or bitten.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpfulRelated Answers from Veterinarians
Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Published on December 11th, 2016
Feliway is a great start. You may also want to try a natural calming supplement such as Zylkene or Composure - these can be given daily, and additional doses can be given prior to stressful events such as vet visits. If these don't help much, you can also talk to your vet about a daily prescription medication like Prozac to help with his anxiety.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on May 21st, 2019
I am so sorry to hear that Felix gets so stressed! There are several things we can do for nervous cats. A pheremone spray in the cat carrier such as Feliway https://www.feliway.com/us/Products/FELIWAY-CLASSIC-Spray . A calming supplement such as Zylkene https://www.vetoquinolusa.com/content/zylkene can also help. If your cat has a vet, we now often prescribe a medication called Gabapentin for cats who are nervous for owners to give them before they come in to give them a much less stressful experience!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Laura Johnson VMD
Veterinarian
Published on September 19th, 2017
Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Pucci!
I recommend calling a Vet to ask for a sedative you can give to him before his visit. There are many options now: acepromazine, trazadone, etc. The hope would be that the medications will calm him enough he could be muzzled or sedated for an exam.
I hope this helps and good luck!1Pet Parents found this answer helpful