Cat carrier considerations

A black and white cat relaxes on the bed

It can be a stressful experience travelling in a carrier that knocks around and the car travel too can be intense. There are a lot of elements in car travel which include:

Smells, noise, loud music, movement, beeping and going over different surfaces. Many cat guardians explain that they find going to the vets a stressful experience and sometimes delay going. Cats sometimes hide behind the sofa at the sight of the carrier coming out and stretch all four paws to avoid going in.

Many people adhere to the out of sight and out of mind ideology and place their cats carrier under the bed or in a cupboard and only take it out when it’s time to go to the vets. It’s a more sensible idea to leave the carrier out so your cat becomes habituated to it rather that it always being a cue that it’s time for the vets.

What do you need to consider when buying a carrier

There are a LOT of carriers on the market which sometimes makes purchasing one a tricky task to say the least!

Here are some options you may want to avoid (with reasons)

Back pack carriers – these are likely to be scary for your cat as they will bob up and down as you walk, they are likely to feel unsteady and scared. Cats are a prey and predator species which means that they feel safe with all four paws flat on the ground.

Carriers which allow cats to look our may seem appealing but it also means that others can look in! Dilated pupils and big eyes can feel intimidating to a cat (whereas slow blinking and soft eyes) can be reassuring. If your cat is in the vets then having other animals staring at them such as other cats and dogs can feel intimidating.

I recently saw a ‘carrier’ bag where a cats bottom legs are placed in and they sit there. This is likely to be extremely uncomfortable – there tail will be knocking against a persons body and can be painful for them. This really made me sad to see and the cat is likely to feel very trapped.

Here are some options to go for:

Have a carrier that is made of a material that can be easily cleaned is important incase your cat gets sick or pees or poos.

Having vents so that your cat can receive treats and get fresh air is also important.

Having a door that can easily be opened is important.

A top opening carrier means that your cat (in some circumstances) can stay in the carrier while being examined and that can help them feel safer.

Placing a blanket over your cats carrier will help them feel safer as people can not look in on them.

Ensure the carrier is sturdy enough for your cats weight. Baby scales to keep an eye on your cats weight is a good idea.

What other things can you do?

A blanket and vet bed to place inside that that has been pre – sprayed with feliway (this needs to be done 1 hour before as it contains alcohol and you want to ensure that this is not aversive to your cat (the opposite of what you would like!)

Give your cat some treats when they sit inside the carrier  (when they have gone in on their own accord) so that they think good things happen when they are there.

Leaving the vet bed out that goes inside the carrier and giving your cat a very tasty treat while they are on it will help build up positive associations.

When you’re in the vets

You can always call the vets and ask them to ring you when they are ready to see you to avoid staying in the waiting room. Some cats will feel safer inside the car.

Placing your cats carrier up on a high surface will avoid dogs coming to sniff them and they won’t hear all the noise and clattering.