Getting a cat in its carrier

[Marie1]

I don't like de-clawing either, it's easy to train them not to scratch furniture (scratching you is another story ) But that's not the point of the thread.

When you cat is dozing, grab her by the scruff of the neck- get a lot of the scuff, and lift. Don't lift her entire body by the scruff- once they're adults, that's not good for their neck. So support the back legs- but you won't get scratched up this way, and you'll only need one person.

Put the carrier so the door is facing the ceiling, but the cat in tail first... back legs first... you know what I mean. Once the cat is going in, release the back legs, use that hand to start to close the door, close it as soon as you can get your had on the way.

If it works with half-wild outdoor cats...

 

[RoJoHen]

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.

Doesn't mean I'm a bad owner. It just means she's a bitch.

She's a very happy cat. She just has picky tastes. As for the carrier, she only gets in it about once a year. It's not something I really feel the need to train her to do.

 

[Crusher Disciple]

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.

Eh, sounds like a regular cat. You drop a wad of cash on nice toys and bedding and they ignore it. Drop a ring to the milk carton and they go crazy.

At least they're cheap dates.

 

[Marie1]

Big hands = better, just get the loose skin all around...

Or- I had a completely feral cat walk into a cage with a bit of food in it... who'd a thought it'd be that easy?

Part of it- you need to make being in the carrier okay, so make sure something horrible doesn't happen every time the cat sees the carrier.

 

[Tim]

I assume you have a standard cage-type carrier? You might want to try a different kind of carrier. One of these maybe? The door might be what's freaking her out, or possibly a past experience. These soft carries are more like hidey-holes for them and they can take to them the way they might to one of those scratching trees with the cubbies in them.

The first time I saw one of these was in an airport last year. I thought it was some sort of strange reticulated duffel bag until a pair of eyes appeared and gazed upon me.

 

[RoJoHen]

I assume you have a standard cage-type carrier? You might want to try a different kind of carrier. One of these maybe? The door might be what's freaking her out, or possibly a past experience. These soft carries are more like hidey-holes for them and they can take to them the way they might to one of those scratching trees with the cubbies in them.

The first time I saw one of these was in an airport last year. I thought it was some sort of strange reticulated duffel bag until a pair of eyes appeared and gazed upon me.

My cat's carrier is actually a lot like that one. She should like it more than she does.

The best part is when you actually get her into the carrier. She whines and whines the whole car ride.