The wonderful time of year when you take your sweet, little kitty to the vet.   BUT somehow your sweet, little kitty turns into a man-eating tiger.  After several hours and many band aids you are off to the vet.  Does it really have to be this way?  We don’t think so.  

Let’s start with a very important piece of equipment, the carrier.  Don’t get a front-loading carrier that you have to reach into to get your cat out.  Unless of course you have stock in band aids.  Looking into a carrier that opens on the top or the top can come completely off.  There are carriers that slide out and the cat can stay in those as well.  Some vets will do the exam while your kitty is in the carrier.  It gives them a sense of security to stay in their carrier surrounded by their smells.

Leave the carrier out.  Leave it out until your kitty likes it.  Put in a place where they hang out, perhaps by a window where the sun comes in.  Put it in their favorite room.  If you put it away and only pull it out for the scary ride to the place that smells of scared animals and cleaning solution where they get poked with needles, they may not be crazy about going in it.

Pets love fleece, they love the softness of it but who doesn’t.  After you pick your carrier, get some fleece and put it in the carrier, make it comfy for your kitty.  You want the carrier to be warm and inviting, someplace they want to hang out in.  

Spray the carrier with Feliway (a synthetic pheromone for cats) to help associate the carrier with nice things.  You don’t have to continuously spray just enough for the kitty to get used to the carrier.  

Throw some treats in the carrier.  The goal is to make this carrier the best place in the world.  Again, you don’t have to have treats in it all day long every day, just until they love the carrier.  You can put treats in the carrier randomly after they like it, just for fun.  

Start this today.  Even if your cat is 18 years old, it will take the stress out of bringing your kitty to the vet.  The less stressed the better for everyone involved.  It may take a while, or it could take a day, but it is worth it.  Most people don’t take their cats to get preventive medical care because it’s hard to do.  In the long run you will be happy you took the time. 

Now it’s time to close the door on it.  Literally, after kitty loves their new room it’s time to shut the door for 10 seconds then open.  Set the carrier up with a nice warm fleece blanket, a little Feliway, and some yummy treats.  When your kitty goes in, close the door, slide the bottom or close the top gently.  Give more treats, the high value kind when the door is shut.  Wait 10-12 seconds then open it so the kitty doesn’t feel trapped.  You want to build the time up to keep the carrier closed for 30 minutes or however long it takes to get to the vet.  

Don’t rush the process.  If your kitty gets really upset at having the door shut, start over from the beginning.  Leave the carrier out with a fleece blanket, an occasional squirt of Feliway and some treats.  Let them get acclimated to the carrier again.  You want your kitty to be part of the process, let them decide to go in, let them feel comfortable.  If your kitty doesn't seem to mind, try the same process again.  After a couple of days try longer using the same process until your kitty is able to hang out for whatever timeframe you need.  At any point if your kitty gets upset start over and move slow.  You may find that you can move through the steps quick or you may need to take extra time.

It will be worth it.  In the end it will be worth all the time spent acclimating your kitty to the carrier.  You won’t feel like a horrible pet parent for putting your kitty in a carrier they hate.  You won’t have to hear the heart wrecking howls that let the entire county know your kitty is going to the vet.  You will also be able to take your kitty to those much-needed yearly checkups.  The ones where they can diagnose illness and help your kitty live longer and healthier.  Also, it may help your kitty be in less pain if the doctor notices something and there are such great advancements in pain management.  No one wants to see their kitty sick or in pain.

Please don’t beat yourself up.  We must ask ourselves, have we really domesticated the cat. If you have a hard time with this process or keep having to start over, don’t beat yourself up.  Kitties are wonderful creatures but can be challenging to train.   We expect them to train like dogs, but they don’t.  So be patient with yourself and your kitty, make this process fun and relax.  The more you relax the more your kitty will relax, and you will see better results.

After you’ve mastered the carrier it’s time for the vet. If your kitty is scared of the waiting room, ask if you can check out in the exam room or over the phone (perhaps you can set up payment before the visit).  Try to get as many answers and directions in the exam room as possible, minimizing time spent in the waiting room.

Maybe the vet does the examination in your kitty’s carrier and all you have to do is put the top on and be on your way.  If not, hopefully you’ve planned and brought along tasty treats and Feliway, get the treat and put it in the carrier to allow your kitty to go in on their own, remember you want the kitty to associate the carrier with good things.  Always be thinking the kitty needs to see this as a great thing.  When your kitty is in the carrier, pick up the carrier with both hands and do not let it swing around.  (This is very scary for your kitty to be swinging around by the handle.)  Hold the carrier close to your body with both arms under the carrier to minimize movement.  Think of it this way: would you want someone to stick you in a box and swing you around.  You may get nauseous on top of being scared.  

Take your kitty to the car and have nice soothing music, classic or reggae music playing when you turn on the car.  Spray the Feliway on the spot that your kitty will be placed.  Buckle up your kitty for safe travel.  If the carrier is tilted on the seat perhaps you could get a towel to make it even. Think what would make your kitty comfortable and feel as safe as possible.

If you have multiple cats at home, before you go to the vet get a face cloth and rub it on the kitties that are staying at home.  Make sure you get around their face for the scent then put the face cloth in a plastic bag.  When you get home or at the vet office rub your kitty down with the face cloth.  Cats are very sensitive to smells and if your kitty comes home smelling of other animals and the vet office it could cause some trouble.  By rubbing your kitty down with your other kitties’ scent, it will cause less stress and remind them that this one belongs here.

Cats need annual vet visits to keep healthy and stay healthy.   Annual visits can potentially find problems that can easily be treated rather than down the road making hard decisions.   Please find what works for you and your kitty to help them get to the vet with the least amount of stress.  

Joni Sullivan

Joan of Ark Pet Sitting

Dedicated NAPPS Volunteer