Getting a cat in its carrier

[SPOCKED]

^That's a good suggestion. Grabbing them by their scruff triggers a freeze response.

If I ever tried that with my cat there is a very good chance that my body might never be found

The few times I've taken him to the vet I sort of corral him into a back bedroom where the carrier is standing on end and wide open. After that it's usually mayhem. He's incredibly strong and can manage to get his paws everywhere he needs them to prevent entry. But I always win, sometimes with scratches

 

[bigdaddy]

Put the cat in ass first. If they don't see what they are going into, they wont struggle. The Vet gave me that tip.

Then you have some pretty stupid cats.

Get less aggressive cats. Mine happily go into carriers if you put a blanket and some food in there.

I have had dozens of cats and NONE of them would willingly go.

 

[RoJoHen]

^That's a good suggestion. Grabbing them by their scruff triggers a freeze response.

If I ever tried that with my cat there is a very good chance that my body might never be found

I honestly don't understand HOW to grab a cat there. I've tried. Either my hands are too big, or my cat doesn't have enough fat around her neck, but I cannot get a hold of anything.

And I actually wasn't taking my cat to the vet. My apartment was having some goofy safety inspection, and they required all pets to either be gone or locked in a cage. Since the inspection could occur anytime between 9-5, and I didn't feel like locking my cat up the whole day, I just decided to send her to my parents' house for the night.

So she wasn't even going to the vet! She was going to nice comfy house.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

The cat we have now is like most of the cats you guys are describing--VERY reluctant to get in her carrier.

But the one we had before her was just plain WEIRD. We had to be careful not to exploit this, but we used to take her frequently on trips to my grandparents'. I'm not quite sure HOW this came about, but it got to where we could simply say, "Wanna go to Grandma and Grandpa's?" and this cat would actually run to get into her carrier! When she got old and deaf, she would just assume that's where we were headed, and get into her carrier regardless.

 

[Finn]

The cat we have now is like most of the cats you guys are describing--VERY reluctant to get in her carrier.

But the one we had before her was just plain WEIRD. We had to be careful not to exploit this, but we used to take her frequently on trips to my grandparents'. I'm not quite sure HOW this came about, but it got to where we could simply say, "Wanna go to Grandma and Grandpa's?" and this cat would actually run to get into her carrier! When she got old and deaf, she would just assume that's where we were headed, and get into her carrier regardless.

Nice


Yeah. It should help if one uses the carrier to places the cat likes. Like how some dogs are terrified of getting in the car if their owner only does it for the annual vet visit. But it's easier if one takes the dog in the car frequently like I did with my dog.

That reminds me. I was told a story about someone whose dog couldn't wait to get to the vet to the point where it was difficult for the owner to grasp the leash when they got out of the car in the parking lot.

 

[John Picard]

I'm a bit late to this thread, but when I got my cat carrier I left it in the living room with the door open. Little Miss "I Have to Examine EVERYTHING" could then explore it, hide in it, and sleep in it at her leisure. That way, she's not afraid of it and thinks it's like every other empty box that occasionally finds its way to the floor that she HAS TO EXPLORE.

Perhaps you should make it a practice to just leave the carrier in a corner of the room. Then, the cat can examine it at his leisure and realize it isn't a *threat* that makes an appearance only for the purpose of imprisoning him.

 

[RoJoHen]

I'm a bit late to this thread, but when I got my cat carrier I left it in the living room with the door open. Little Miss "I Have to Examine EVERYTHING" could then explore it, hide in it, and sleep in it at her leisure. That way, she's not afraid of it and thinks it's like every other empty box that occasionally finds its way to the floor that she HAS TO EXPLORE.

Perhaps you should make it a practice to just leave the carrier in a corner of the room. Then, the cat can examine it at his leisure and realize it isn't a *threat* that makes an appearance only for the purpose of imprisoning him.

Keep in mind, I bought my cat a bed 1.5 years ago, and she has never once gone near it (and in fact fought me when I tried to introduce it to her). I bought a scratching post for her, and she has never once gone near it. I bought her cat toys, and she never touches them

I'm pretty sure she is just generally opposed to things that are intended for her.

 

[John Picard]

I'm a bit late to this thread, but when I got my cat carrier I left it in the living room with the door open. Little Miss "I Have to Examine EVERYTHING" could then explore it, hide in it, and sleep in it at her leisure. That way, she's not afraid of it and thinks it's like every other empty box that occasionally finds its way to the floor that she HAS TO EXPLORE.

Perhaps you should make it a practice to just leave the carrier in a corner of the room. Then, the cat can examine it at his leisure and realize it isn't a *threat* that makes an appearance only for the purpose of imprisoning him.

Keep in mind, I bought my cat a bed 1.5 years ago, and she has never once gone near it (and in fact fought me when I tried to introduce it to her). I bought a scratching post for her, and she has never once gone near it. I bought her cat toys, and she never touches them

I'm pretty sure she is just generally opposed to things that are intended for her.

True. Cats like to think everything else in their view is "theirs".

 

[Alpha_Geek]

Make the carrier part of routine life for your cat, and things will be easier. Keep the carrier out someplace in the house. Insert comfy lounging surface inside carrier, bribe cat with treats. A cat carrier isn't all that different from the designer cat lounges and the like from a cats perspective, it's the change and stress in the break from routine that gets them all edgy on you.

If leaving it out permanently is impractical, bring the carrier out days before you actually intend to transport the kitty and follow the above bribery techniques.


When the time comes to move your feline friend, things should go mush easier than the tasmanian devil wrestling many have previously described in the thread.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

...I bought a scratching post for her, and she has never once gone near it. I bought her cat toys, and she never touches them...

Many scratching posts don't work as well as the cat needs, often due to the pretty side of the carpet being exposed instead of the under-surface.

Cats claw in order to keep their tiny talons trimmed down to a good working length. Often, the pretty shag carper or sisal rope doesn't afford a surface in which the claw can engage.

I bought my own luck in this arena. I watched what kind of surfaces my cat was going for, and then hit the home improvement store. For about 50 bucks worth of material including a plywood base, an 8" diameter Sonex tube (that's a cardboard tube used to pour concrete pilings and the like), some cut 2x4s and a carpet runner of material that most closely matched where kitty likes scratching, I built a 4 foot tall cat tree that Pet Smart would like to sell for about 200. All it took was a little time, staples, and a few screws.

My kitty loves the thing.

 

[nevermore]

Get less aggressive cats. Mine happily go into carriers if you put a blanket and some food in there.

I have had dozens of cats and NONE of them would willingly go.

I have three (enormous) cats, none of whom give me the slightest problem getting into the carriers. I can even stick two of them in one in an emergency. I just put the carrier on the floor and nudge them in. I've had to evacuate for fires and even with the commotion, they go right in. I can even shove one of them into a backpack so I can carry them all at once. *shrug*

...I bought a scratching post for her, and she has never once gone near it. I bought her cat toys, and she never touches them...

Many scratching posts don't work as well as the cat needs, often due to the pretty side of the carpet being exposed instead of the under-surface.

Yeah, you also have to show them that it's for them and encourage them to use it, or, in the case of toys, you often have to actually play with them. Especially if there aren't any other cats around to play with.

Cats claw in order to keep their tiny talons trimmed down to a good working length. Often, the pretty shag carper or sisal rope doesn't afford a surface in which the claw can engage.

Scratching is also an important part of keeping the hind legs in shape. Be sure you're providing something the cat can either get on to grip with the back claws, or that the post is somewhere they can grip a rug or the carpet. And if its one of those old-school sticks with base type posts, it probably moves when the cat tries to scratch it, which renders it mostly useless for the cat.

Try one of those corrugated cardboard mats they sell at Target. Cats fucking love those things. Or, just give her the next cardboard bx you get...

 

[Holdfast]

Getting a cat in its carrier

How do you do it?

I believe it involves using a silver spoon, a young child, blue paint and an elementary knowledge of astronomy. Beyond that, I don't know but I just hope it all ends in a good time soon.

 

[Plecostomus]

Buy a molding press and 800 pounds of resin.

Build a mold in the shape of the cat carrier.

Place the cat in the mold and inject the plastic into the mold.

...really it's the only option unless you use sheet-metal. In that case place the sheets in the bending press, put the cat in the press as well... and bend the sheets around the cat then arc weld.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Keep in mind, I bought my cat a bed 1.5 years ago, and she has never once gone near it (and in fact fought me when I tried to introduce it to her). I bought a scratching post for her, and she has never once gone near it. I bought her cat toys, and she never touches them

I'm pretty sure she is just generally opposed to things that are intended for her.

I don't mean to offend, but it sounds like you are not a very good cat owner... Cats are pretty independent, but they can be trained to do, well, something. At least, to eat on cue.

Getting a cat in its carrier

How do you do it?

I believe it involves using a silver spoon, a young child, blue paint and an elementary knowledge of astronomy. Beyond that, I don't know but I just hope it all ends in a good time soon.

You always manage to make me crack up, Holdie.

 

[Crusher Disciple]

Has anyone ever tried wrapping them up in Saran wrap?

 

[Holdfast]

You always manage to make me crack up, Holdie.

It's the alluring combination of world-weary cynicism and sparkly-eyed wit. Don't worry, I'm crying on the inside.

 

[Geckothan]

My cats just use their wooden cabin that they sleep in as a scratching post. Splinters are a concern, but they just ignore scratching posts so it's better than nothing.

 

[RoJoHen]

Keep in mind, I bought my cat a bed 1.5 years ago, and she has never once gone near it (and in fact fought me when I tried to introduce it to her). I bought a scratching post for her, and she has never once gone near it. I bought her cat toys, and she never touches them

I'm pretty sure she is just generally opposed to things that are intended for her.

I don't mean to offend, but it sounds like you are not a very good cat owner... Cats are pretty independent, but they can be trained to do, well, something. At least, to eat on cue.

Um, what exactly should I be training her to do?

She's a cat. She eats. She poops. She sleeps. She plays with stuff, just not cat toys (but oh, the little ring around the gallon of milk is obviously best toy ever!) What exactly do you think I should be doing with her?

 

[Supreme Admiral]

^

(Evil chuckles)

 

[iguana_tonante]

You always manage to make me crack up, Holdie.

It's the alluring combination of world-weary cynicism and sparkly-eyed wit. Don't worry, I'm crying on the inside.

Nah, it;'s just the cynical, surreal, dead pan Britishness of you.

Um, what exactly should I be training her to do?

She's a cat. She eats. She poops. She sleeps. She plays with stuff, just not cat toys (but oh, the little ring around the gallon of milk is obviously best toy ever!) What exactly do you think I should be doing with her?

Well, he doesn't sleep in the bed you bought for her, doesn't play with the toys you got her, doesn't use the scratching post you brought home for her, doesn't get into her carrier when you need it... sounds like she has something against you.