Taking Your Cat to the Vet

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Taking Your Cat to the Vet 

Many times, cats do not get enough veterinary care. One of the reasons for this is the difficulty with getting cats to the vet. Cats don’t like to be put in their carrier and, therefore, people don’t like the process of getting their cat to the vet.  There are a couple solutions to this. First is to teach your cat to enjoy going into their carrier (see our guide!). Second, is to practice! 

Practice is the key to helping animals with a lot of difficult behaviors. And one of the secrets is to make sure that the first time something new happens for the animal, it’s as much fun as possible! You want your cat to have a positive association with things like their carrier, the car, the car ride, and the vet’s office.  

If you have NO time to train your cat to go to the vet in their carrier (1-3 days), do the following:

Put the carrier out ASAP in a small, uncluttered room in your house (the bathroom works well). Pick up any towels or blankets lying around and close any cupboards. Put the carrier up on a counter and place a towel or blanket over the carrier so it feels secure and safe. Make the carrier the most comfortable and safe-feeling place in the room. Put comfy blankets out and spray Feliway on a blanket in the carrier. Place your cat’s favorite treats in the carrier. Place the cat’s meals in the carrier. 

Feed the cat their meals in the back of the carrier and when the cat goes in the room, shut the cat in and confine your cat to this room until it is time for the vet visit. 

When it is time to get your cat into the crate, lure the cat into the carrier or shut the cat in when they choose to hide or eat in the carrier. Or, use a towel and “purr-ito” the cat into the carrier, gently but swiftly. Lower the cat in head first. The following video demonstrates these techniques.

If you don’t have time to completely train your cat to go to the vet in their carrier, do follow these guidelines: 

• Leave your cat’s carrier out in a comfortable place in the home. 
• Hide treats in the back and occasionally lure your cat to the carrier for a special treat, followed by a play session. 

• When carrying the carrier, lift from the bottom (to reduce the scary amusement park ride type rocking motion that many cats find distressing) and carry slowly and steadily. 
• When putting the carrier down, put it on a car seat, counter, or your lap, rather than the floor. Many cats find being on the floor scarier than having a view from above.  
• Do practice having your cat go into the carrier for short periods of time when nothing scary is going to happen (so that going to the vet isn’t the ONLY time the carrier is used). 
• Do practice taking your cat in the carrier into the car—so that the vet isn’t the ONLY time the cat goes into the car. 

 

Carrier to Vet Training

If you have time to try a slow, incremental plan to help your cat to go to the vet happily, here’s a place to start: 

Step one: You’ve carrier trained your cat. Afterwards, you leave the carrier out in an attractive space (for the cat—up high, lots of comfy blankets) and continue to build your cat’s positive feelings about the carrier – i.e., you occasionally hide treats in the back of the carrier and sometimes lure the cat in and feed them a Churu (or similar treat) in the carrier. Ideally, this is now a place your cat chooses to hang out and sometimes sleep in.  

Step two: Weeks before your vet visit, practice luring your cat into the carrier. Close the door. Gently lift the carrier. Set it back down. Open the door. Reward the cat with Churu. Follow with a play session. 

Step three: Weeks before your vet visit, practice luring your cat into the carrier. Close the door. Gently lift the carrier. Walk around the room. Open the door. Reward the cat with Churu. Follow with a play session. 

Step four: Weeks before your vet visit, practice luring your cat into the carrier. Close the door. Gently lift the carrier. Place the carrier in the car. Reward the cat with Churu. Return carrier to the house. Open the door. Follow with a play session. 

Step five: Weeks before your vet visit, practice luring your cat into the carrier. Close the door. Gently lift the carrier. Place the carrier in the car. Drive around the block. Reward the cat with Churu. Return carrier to the house. Open the door. Follow with a play session. 

Step six: Weeks before your vet visit, practice luring your cat into the carrier. Close the door. Gently lift the carrier. Place the carrier in the car. Drive around the block. Reward the cat with Churu. Return carrier to the house. Open the door. Follow with a play session. 

Step seven: Weeks before your vet visit, practice luring your cat into the carrier. Close the door. Gently lift the carrier. Place the carrier in the car. Drive to the vet ‘s office. Bring into the lobby. Reward the cat with churu. Return carrier to the house. Open the door. Follow with a play session.