How To Get Your Cat Into A Cat Carrier Part two

 A pheromone spray, such as Feliway, used 15 minutes prior to your cat entering the carrier can also help your cat feel calmer about being transported. A word about types of carriers; a carrier that has a top and/ or side entry will be easier to use than one that only has one entry. If you can open the top and lower your cat in, most cats will reach to get down, and voila, they’re in the carrier. If you are dealing with a one-entry carrier, try backing your cat in. This confuses most cats and they can’t figure out how to avoid going in. Another trick with the one-entry carrier is to tip it up so entry is pointing up and lower your cat in, hind end first.
Wrapping your cat in a towel prior to placing in the carrier may help.  Speaking of towels, putting a small towel or absorbent pad in the carrier will be very helpful if your kitty has an “accident” on the way to the vet’s office.  A recent development for helping a cat, who is very anxious about carriers and trips to the vet is gabapentin, a commonly prescribed human drug for nerve pain.  If your vet approves, 100mg given two to three hours before a vet visit, will make getting your cat into the carrier much easier, and your cat will be more relaxed.  This works really well for cats who tend to be fearful at the vets.  We’ve been able to avoid sedating some cats for their exams, whose extreme fear in the past had caused them to act out.  A win for everyone! If nothing works, call and see if your vet offers house calls. At my office, we do a limited number of house calls for difficult to transport cats, so they can get their all-important annual preventative exam. Every cat deserves an exam every year, even if they are strictly indoors.
To make an appointment, please call The Cat Doctor & Friends, 661-259-5288.