Cat Carrier Training
Choosing the right carrier:
- Large enough so that your cat can sit up and turn around and lie comfortably. If you have a kitten bear in mind their size will increase as they grow.
- Made of plastic material – easy to clean and sturdy.
- A door at the front so that the cat can enter and exit voluntarily.
- Door on the top so that the cat can be removed easily if they don’t come out voluntarily and/or the top half of the carrier can be dismantled and removed easily.
- Slits on the carrier so that the cat can see out but still feels secure.
- Comfortable blanket/towel that smells of home inside the carrier. Spray with Feliway (half an hour before letting cat enter so that alcohol has time to evaporate and will not irritate cat’s eyes/nose), and/or pet remedy.
- Cover the carrier with a blanket/towel sprayed with pet remedy and/or Feliway.
- Each cat should have their own carrier to travel in – being placed in the carrier together can be stressful.
- Encouraging your cat to enjoy the carrier:
- Leave the carrier out in a common area of the home where the cat often stays, so that it is not a strange item that only appears to capture the cat and take them to an unfamiliar place. If you are unable to have the carrier out all the time, bring it out often for your cat to familiarise themselves with it.
- Throw treats and toys into the carrier to encourage the cat to go in voluntarily.
- If you have space, the carrier can be placed somewhere in the house where the cat can use it as a bed or hiding spot where it will begin to feel safe.
Handling the carrier:
- Arms on bottom of carrier, against chest, so cat feels secure and they are not moved around too much in the box.
- Don’t carry the carrier like a bag, avoid putting the strap over your shoulder!
- Place on secure, raised surfaces eg table, cat shelf, not on floor – cats feel safer higher up.
- Move slowly, reassure the cat with voice, and have treats in the carrier.
Travel:
- Place the carrier on the floor behind the passenger seat so that the cat feels secure.
- Don’t have strong smelling scents in the car.
- Play calming music like classical, reggae, or music created especially for cats.
- Pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals can be used to help your cat feel calm during travel/vet visits, if appropriate – please discuss with our team.
- Do not remove the cat from the carrier in the car, or in the reception at the vets.
- Wait in the designated cat area at reception, or in the car until the vet is ready to prevent unnecessary stress from seeing/hearing dogs etc.
For further information and videos on how to help your cat feel more comfortable with being in the carrier, please refer to the videos and links below on the ISFM website –
Putting your cat in a carrier (video) –
https://icatcare.org/advice/putting-your-cat-in-a-cat-carrier-video/
Getting your cat used to travel (video) –
https://icatcare.org/advice/getting-your-cat-used-to-travel-video/
Encouraging your cat to be happy in the carrier (video) –
https://icatcare.org/advice/encouraging-your-cat-to-be-happy-in-a-cat-carrier-video/
Travelling with your cat –
