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

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 Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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 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.

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 Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.