What is the best way to get my cat in her carrier when she is flipping out and scratching everyone.?

Question

What is the best way to get my cat in her carrier when she is flipping out and scratching everyone.?

Answer 1

we tried to find an easy solution for years-my cat is insane and i swear the vet dreads having her come lol

what we do now (and works really good and also helps the cat feel less scared) is just make it a 2 person job-one to drive the car, and the other to hold the cat-no cage, just maybe a towel or blanket on your lap for the cat to sit on

shes less crazy when she can see out and around and isnt locked inside something

also you can pet the cat to calm it

Answer 2

The reason your cat freaks out when you try to put him/her in the carrier is that they usually ONLY go in the carrier when they are going to the vet!  So, you should try to keep the carrier out and let the cat go in and out at will - try keeping a couple of cat toys or treats in the carrier to tempt kitty.  Or, put a blanket or pillow in the carrier that has your cat's scent on it (or your scent- rub the item on your skin for your cat to track).  

Dr.'s Foster and Smith suggest the following to get kitty into the carrier:

Start placing absolutely wonderful treats just inside the carrier. If the cat is too afraid to get that close to the carrier, place the treats as close to the carrier as you can without making the cat afraid. You can do this several times a day. Start using a word such as 'inside' as you place the treats in the carrier. Let the cat eat the treats and then leave on his own. Slowly move the treats farther and farther into the carrier so now your cat will go into the carrier to get the treat. Do not close the door on the cat. Now you can start feeding his regular meals in the carrier. Continue to use the word 'inside' or whatever word you choose, when you put the food in the carrier. He will now be associating the carrier and the word and action of going 'inside' with good things happening. When he is comfortable going in and out of the carrier, start shutting the door for very short periods of time (seconds) and then longer and longer periods so being enclosed in the carrier becomes commonplace. Also put a soft blanket or towel in the carrier to make it more hospitable. Now when you need him to go in the carrier, he will probably do so willingly.

or. . . this seems to be a good way to acclimate your cat to being in a carrier which would make trips to the vet less stressful for all in the future:  

First off, before you even begin, wash the carrier out well with hot water and vinegar. Let it air dry for at least 24 hours.

Bring the carrier inside, and start feeding your cat inside of the carrier. Leave the door propped open, and place a bowl of tasty canned food at the very back. If the cat doesn't go in on her own free will, don't force her to. Simply leave the food in place for 10-15 minutes, then remove it and store it so it won't spoil. Try again later. Do not feed her in-between times anywhere but in the carrier.

Sprinkle catnip on the bottom of the carrier, and toss a few toys inside. Ping pong balls or golf balls work well. They make a wonderful sound when batted about the floor of the carrier.

Spray the inside of the carrier with Feliway Spray, saturate it well, put some nice padding inside to make a comfy bed, and see if kitty will go in and curl up. You can either leave the door propped open, or take it off completely.

Once the cat is comfortable about going inside the carrier, close the door for about 5 minutes, than release your cat. Give kitty a nice treat like Kitty Kaviar or kippered herring. Do this about twice a week. Increase her time of confinement, but never more than 10 minutes.

Answer 3

try throwing a towel over her.

Answer 4

Place the carrier on the floor with the opening at the top.  Now pick up kitty under her front legs and facing away from you (you are less likely to be scratched).  Moving as fast as you can lower her back legs into the carrier.  The rest of her body will slide right in.

It sounds awkward, but works like a charm.  We have a large Maine Coon who quickly turns to jelly and it's tricky just to scoop him up.  Once we have him as soon as he knows it's time to go in the carrier he turns into supercat with muscles of steel.  This is the only way for this boy!

Good Luck!

Answer 5

Hold her under her front arms... with hind legs / tail hanging. (or you can hold her hind legs with the other hand)

Have the box sitting on it's end below her

lower her inside have someone else close it as soon as she is most of the way inside.

Another what BEFORE HAND... is to leave it open in the living room and then put her treats inside it... throw them in and leave her alone.  Then when you want to put her in the carrier for a serious reason she won't mind going in (because THAT is where the treats are put!)

good luck  

Answer 6

Hold her by the scruff (back of neck) turn carrier so opening is facing up and drop her in, close door and set carrier the right way so you can take it by the handle.

Answer 7

Put her favorite type of treat in her carrier so she won't be able to resist

Answer 8

The treat thing will work if you don't need to get the cat into the carrier right now. My cat will go into her carrier and sleep in it. But once I go to put her in it, all h**l breaks loose.

To handle a fractious cat, you need a very HEAVY towel or blanket. The heavier it is the less likely to get her claws through it and scratch someone. If this is happening every time you need to go to the vet, I would ask your vet for tranquilizers to be given before the visit. I always recommended that the owner give the tranquilizers about 2 hours BEFORE the appointment. Do not bring out the carrier until it is time to put the cat into it. And put the cat in a bathroom or someplace where the cat cannot elude capture. If you make this a surgically precise mission, your cat will be less stressed because you have everything controlled by being prepared beforehand. You are not giving the cat time to fight.