How to Get a Cat into a Carrier—Short-term and Long-term Solutions for Reducing Trauma
If you struggle with getting your cat in their carrier for veterinary visits or traveling, you’re not
alone. Many cat owners do. But it doesn’t have to be a stressful event. Here’s how you can get
your cat into the carrier with as little resistance and trauma as possible.
First, let’s look at why it’s important to get cats quickly and easily into their carriers.
We’ve had clients cancel appointments when their cat won the fight against carrier
transportation, and we’re not the only ones. This is not ideal. Cats need medical care: annual
wellness exams, vaccinations, dental cleanings. Cats are susceptible to several diseases as they
age. They’re also known for hiding pain. If owners can’t get their cats into their carrier, the cats
don’t get the care they need.
Industry studies and surveys over several years have shown large percentages of cats not
receiving routine care. One 2011 survey showed 40% of cat owners had not taken their cats to a
clinic in over a year. A 2022 survey showed 35% of owners hadn’t taken their cat to a
veterinarian in more than a year. One of the reasons stated is the stress, resistance, and
aggression experienced during transportation to veterinary clinics.
Even when owners are successful in wrangling their spicy cats and getting them into the carrier,
the event can be traumatic and even hurtful for some cats. This trauma can create a negative
association, increasing the fear and stress each time.
This stress can impact cats’ tolerance to travel or handling in various situations.
It’s also possible for stress in cats to hinder examinations and affect physiological parameters
(blood pressure, rectal temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate). It can also pose a risk to
veterinary teams when stress leads to aggression. While transport isn’t the only stressor a cat
faces when going to the veterinarian, it’s a significant one. Fortunately, fear and anxiety can be
reduced with some training and patience.
Begin as early as possible
Giving cats the opportunity to love their carrier from a young age is best. Of course, this isn’t
always possible, especially since cats can often come into our lives when they’re older.
Whatever age your cat is, begin the carrier training now. The sooner, the better. Older cats can
learn to tolerate their carrier.
Understand the resistance
Cats aren’t afraid of their carriers. They’re afraid of what happens when the carriers come out.
Loss of control, restraint, disruptions in routine, absence of familiarity, and extreme handling
are all uncomfortable, stressful events for cats. When cats fight and run to avoid their carrier,
they aren’t doing so out of spite or mischief; fear and anxiety are what drives them.
Get the right carrier and make it comfortable
A cat’s carrier should be spacious, clean, and personal. Ideally, each cat within a household
should have their own carrier, which can make the space feel more comforting and secure. It
should be large enough for them to lie down inside. Soft bedding or a small blanket provides
extra comfort. However, no matter how cozy and spacious a carrier is, if it’s soiled it’s
unpleasant. If they occur, immediately clean out any vomit, feces, urine, or food messes.
Leave the carrier out
Keeping a carrier out and part of the usual home environment helps make the carrier familiar
and less intimidating. Rather than stow it in a place your cat doesn’t frequent, place it within
reach. Not only will the carrier look familiar, it will smell familiar—like the rest of the house
instead of the garage, basement, or back porch. This also gives your cat opportunity to explore
the carrier. If you can’t leave the carrier out all the time, bring it out a day or two before you
need it.
Create a positive association with the carrier
Cats have several negative associations with their carriers: removal from their safe and familiar
space, restraint, loss of control, traveling, possible car sickness, veterinary visits, and forceful
handling. When these are the only associations cats have with their carrier, stress and anxiety
are inevitable. Make positive associations the norm and negative associations the exception.
Work to make the carrier safe and familiar most days of the year; and on the days you use it for
traveling and veterinarian visits you’ll likely encounter less stress and resistance. Here are some
ways to create positive associations with the carrier:
- Play with your cat near the open carrier for several minutes each day
- Place treats, catnip, and favorite toys inside the carrier and let them enter, exit, and
explore it freely - Use pheromone spray inside the carrier
- When putting your cat in the carrier, handle them as gently as possible
Once your cat is used to being around the carrier, you can further the positive association.
When your cat makes it in without assistance or force, shut the door, slowly carry them across
the room, give them a treat, and let them out. This will allow your cat to experience being
carried without a resulting traumatic event.
Be patient and play the long game
Getting your cat to tolerate, or even love, their carrier probably won’t happen immediately. It
could take several days or weeks of work for them to become brave and comfortable enough to
go inside their carrier on their own and to be less anxious when placed and transported in it.
The more consistent you are, the better the outcome will be.
Getting them in
Here are some tips for getting your cat into the carrier—useful for those who’ve had time to
work with their cat and for those who haven’t:
- Be gentle and calm—your stress will likely amplify their stress
- Give yourself plenty of time instead of rushing at the last minute
- Put a small familiar blanket or piece of clothing that smells like you in the carrier
- Spray inside the carrier with pheromone spray
- Use treats to entice or reward your cat if they’ll accept them
- Once your cat is inside, protect the carrier and handle with care
Remember the goal is to minimize anxiety and trauma each time. With your cat in the carrier,
handle them with extreme caution to avoid further stress or injury. Keep the carrier even and
avoid swinging it, tipping it, jostling it, bumping it into objects, holding doors with it, or
dropping it. Secure the carrier inside your vehicle, preventing it from rolling or from bouncing
excessively. Your cat may be more comfortable with a towel or blanket covering the carrier
partially or fully, allowing them to hide.
Reducing cats’ carrier-related anxiety is beneficial to cats, their humans, and to veterinary
professionals. All cats deserve routine care that will help them live their healthiest and happiest
lives. And you don’t have to choose between getting your cat to the clinic and avoiding a fight.
By taking some time to help your cat become comfortable with their carrier, you can decrease
trauma and anxiety for them and for you.
References
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