You know, it's a great video but it's done with the worlds most docile cats. I'd love to see you try any of those tips with my cat, she turns into a raging devil-cat when it's time to go in the carrier. I've tried all the tips that you've mentioned but she simply doesn't like going in. I'm preparing to do battle right now..........wish me luck.
The only thing that helped me was picking my cat up by gripping the skin on the back of her neck and carrying her like a mother cat to her carrier. She freaks after she's in, but she never fights in that position.
My cat does not like being picked up bites and claws and will rip into you. I need to get her into a carrier for a vet visit. She is sick and still putting up a big fight. She has taken a chunk out of my hand already and I would like to see them put a cat like her into a carrier. Most people looing for tips are not looking for tips on how to put calm cat into the carrier.
Show how to do that with a cat who doesn't want to go in. We've got one who won't even let us get close enough to pick her up, let alone put her in the carrier.
How you approach the animal is a big one too. When we are worried our behavior becomes odd and the cat sees that something is wrong and goes into mental mode. My mum struggles to put the flea treatment on the cat because she grabs her and expects her to run. My mum would say "You've got to be quick because she can smell it as soon as you open it" I usually stroke her, open the flea treatment, I'll even show it to her, then i'll stroke the neck, calmly put on the treatment. She might pull a face saying "fuck, that's cold, what is that? what have you done?" but because she loves being stroked, she'll forget instantly and continue to enjoy strokes. The only difference between chaos and a pleasant experience is how we feel. Saying that, I've got to put a sick cat in a carrier today, having not done it before and I am pretty apprehensive. Hopefully I won't eat my words later.
this doesn't address how to actually get a cat, that doesn't want to be put into the carrier, into one, I have to take my cat to the vet next month, I already had to cancel one appointment because my cat is faster than me, squirmed out of my hands as I was trying to put her into the carrier, and then hid, I figure I have one shot at getting her into the carrier, if it fails, I will have to reschedule again - going to check out other videos
Yup, sounds like my situation. I have an outdoor cat and wanted to vaccine her, she knew I was trying to get her so she ran away somewhere and hid for awhile. I had to cancel my appointment. Luckily, she loves it when I pick her up, going to try again in a few days to have her spayed and vaccinated so prevent any newborn kittens in the spring time!
Have a treat or treats to coax them in put a 2 to 3 pieces down near it to lead the cat in. Add a comfy blanket in first then try the food once its in close door. No need to pic up the cat. Try this and see if it works. Good luck!
M Update: I gave her treats and put in it the carrier, she went inside and was a very good girl throughout it all! Went home with her and wasnt grumpy whatsoever, acted so normal ! :')
Hi cate! We have a cat too that hates the carrier. We can handle her but getting her in there is TOUGH! I have only one chance, just like you. It's awful! We used to have this lady vet come to our house and do the work. It's VERY expensive but just getting the cat into the bathroom and closing the door is MUCH easier. My husband does not want to pay her all that money, so yes, the one shot deal goes!
I had a vet come to my house an tranquilize my cats to get them in a carrier...try getting a big 18lb cat in a carrier that doesn't want to go. You find out just how strong that cat is, when they choose to be...plus, many cats are smart, they know exactly what you're doing.
Hi bigconan! I know exactly what you mean! Our cat is only seven pounds but she can wriggle right out of my grasp and I DO know how to hold a cat the right way. The situation is either now or never! I hate when she has to go!!!!
those cats are obviously in drugs. try doing those tricks to my cat and you`ll end up with scratches and bruises all over + no cat to be seen for miles.
Even cats who HATE their carriers at home will be more than happy to jump back into it once they are at the vet's. It becomes a safe space for them where the vet can't reach them.
You make it look tremendously easy. Even with all your tips, my cats fight like crazy. Takes multiple attempts to get one in the carrier. Not a fun experience for either of us. 😿
I think the most useful information here when dealing with a non docile cat is to have the carrier all year round near their fave places and getting them used to it.
These cats are way to docile. Cats like mine don't like to be picked up. I got her from a shelter a year ago. She loves to sit with me & lets me rub her belly & even sleeps in my bed but picking her up makes her go insane! I bought the Feliway plug ins & will spray her carrier w/ the spray Feliway. Still so nervous cuz there are just too many ways for this to go wrong. Wish me luck!
My cat's got to go to the vet today, and he always knows what's up. It's always a challenge to get him into the carrier without getting my face ripped off!
As long as you show the cat respect and LOTS of love, give a treat and ALWAYS say, good boy/girl, keep repeating that and say it in a loving way. They will get the message that you're not really trying to hurt them. Our cat doesn't hate us after we bring her back home after her annual vet visit. She sits on the deck and meows alot but will allow us to pet her and she still shows love. She's shaken up but after an hour, she has a meal and settles down for a nap. After that she's fine. She/he will not hate you. Please, just give extra love and respect for the cat's feelings.
If I even bring out the carrier under the bed he goes. So when I finally can get him out by grabbing him I would I would need to forcibly put him in. Not good for any of us. And he will hate me for days afterwards
Great video. Now, how would you suggest placing a "real" frightened cat into a carrying case? I've done everything suggested. My cat was once feral, extremely smart with very sharp claws. Show us how to place a wild cat into one of those cute little carrying cases. Please!!!
Same issue here. It's like trying to wedge a sword-wielding octopus into a hole. I suspect approaching my moggie with my arms cocooned in bubble wrap as my vet joked I needed to do won't calm him ;)
Wowee! excel04, that's the best analogy I've heard yet! VERY TRUE! Our cat does NOT like the carrier at all! We do get her in but it's quite a task that leaves me with my heart pounding and shaking. I don't want to frighten her or slam down the door on her legs. We really have to just wham her in there. It's extremely upsetting but your analogy nails it! LOL!!!
Welp, I hope this helps. I was supposed to take my cat to the vet clinic yesterday morning, but spent the entire time trying to get her into the cat and to get her to stop hiding. My dad was like “just pick her up and put her in.” Yeah, that shit don’t work when she knows what’s going on and will fight your ass.
I used to have this problem, but now my cat is dead on easy to get into their carrier. Here's how I did it below: The first thing you want to do is make sure you have a carrier that is actually large enough for the cat to walk inside on their own. To my horror, I realized I was using a cat carrier designed for a pet that weights no more than 8 lbs to carry a 19 lb cat. Once I corrected this problem (I'm currently using one designed for a 25lb pet), the rest became elementary. When you first buy the carrier, you need to desensitize him or her to the cage. I did this by putting her treats inside the cage, and let her crawl in on her own to eat them. You can do this with their food a well. Use a cat's food motivations to get what you want. After you do this for a few days, you are now ready to begin getting your cat ready to take to the vet. When it's time, you can either place treats, or their favorite food, inside their cage and let them do all the work for you. After they go inside, just calmly close the door and you're done! Many thanks to Jackson Galaxy, and My Cat From Hell, who I learned this trick from.
Lots of great info, thank you for posting. Your techniques definitely beat me trying to pry their 4 paws off the opening of the carrier as they spread eagle to keep from going in, LOL!
Catwoman12nc, that is EXACTLY my problem. Once their claws hook onto the sides, you cannot push down, I'm afraid of hurting her. The paws must be lifted UP and then in, yeah, try this while holding a struggling cat! I know you know how it feels! Good luck to you!
I have feral and semiferals needing to be relocated..couldn't get them back into the trap ..I use thick leather fabric gloves up my arm ..for when they scratch n bite can't bite through them.. and also just put a towel entirely around them.. to get that cat into the cage..It's a high Drama deal..I put the carrier by them and keep saying good boy good girl. And many times they go in by themselves..no fight..
I talk and sing to my cat, after he almost angrily destroyed the carrier on our way to the vet. And he calmed down. (Nope, I don't sound like Celine Dion. 😄) Letting them hear your voice comforts them.
These videos are all ridiculous. They’re all done with cats who are completely calm and docile. I’ve had some cats like this but I’m not seeking help with this subject because of my docile cat. People come for these videos because they’re stressed out over their anxious/nervous cats who won’t go anywhere near one. Mine hates being picked up so it’s already a fight from stage one. They’re tenting our complex for termites in a few days and so far I’m striking out. He fights and runs/hides. And every time I fail, he becomes less trusting. Can’t wrap a towel around a cat that won’t let you pick them up.
AWWWW! All the kitties are SO adorable!!! I love them all! Our kitty SCREAMS, she's so afraid of the vet. She came to us feral and had rotten teeth, which had to be removed, she had a tail bite which was badly infected, a nasty dig on top of one of her paws. She had to stay in kitty hospital for days. They fixed all her wounds and removed the broken teeth and when my husband picked her up, she was like new! She kept meowing and was so happy to be home. She ate and drank and must've felt like a million being all fixed up. We now have to take her for her annual shots because she and in/out door cat. We live on a dead end street and have our own place but being she goes out, she must have Revolution and around five or six annual vaccines. A check up too. She fights and tries to back out of my holding her. She tries to hold onto the sides of the carrier and I cannot push down, I don't want to hurt her claws. If I release my grip on her, I'm done so it's now or never kind of thing! Please, any advice will be much appreciated. We love her dearly and don't want to add any undue stress. Thank you!
Wish it were that simple....In practice, I try to calm down the cat as much as I can, then corner it in a narrow place and put the carrier around the cat, not the cat inside the carrier.
What a crock. That cat went in easy but what about a cat that doesn't want to be in a crate? My one cat fights like hell when I try putting her in the crate. I even bought a bigger crate to make it easier to get her in. This video is a waste.
I can appreciate this video for what you arr trying to do, but the reality is for myself none of these tips would work. I tried catnip I tried toys treats blankets it really doesnt seem to matter. My cats would freak out if i placed a blanket over them let alone tried to pick them up. I think it's very limited to your cat.
Hello, Can you please tell me more about the red middle carrier with metal grated top shown at the beginning of this video? What is the brand name, or model and where can I get one just like it? I love the large front entry door and especially the steel grated opening top.. Thank you, --Dan
Excellent! Following this guide made putting my tabby in the carrier as easy as 1-2-3. The little details on carrier placement and how to grab the cat made all the difference. Thanks for posting this video guide online!
You should try to put my Wolverine in one of those things.. I got to go see the vet this afternoon because she hasn't eaten in days, but even tho she's this weak she will still put up a fight it's insane.
Stormy is 28 pounds and is 3 times stronger than a dog that size. He will only go in if I place my arm under him from behind and lift him into the carrier. But he is so darn heavy that I can barely do that.
Grisel Calcagno i stopped watching the video when she said that. My kitten is having trouble urinating and hasn’t seen the carrier in a while. That’s a big emergency. That has to be done quickly.
Wonderful demos. In my view, these tips are not practical when you have a cat that is bent on not getting into the carrier. My oldest female cat is about 12-13 pounds and strong. I have seen several videos of vets using very docile cats. It does show you the right way, but they should also demo with a feisty cat. I've used the towel method a couple of times with success. The cat is disoriented before they realize what you're doing. I have used treats and calming spray too.
My first thought was 'Yeah, right. Now do it with my cat - he'll rip your face off.' But reading through the comments and realising so many, many other cat owners have cats like mine at least makes me feel better about the fight I'm going to have on my hands tomorrow morning getting him in the carrier for an unavoidable vet visit. Like they say - misery love company!
A carrier is also a great way to introduce cats or kittens to each other - putting one inside and one outside allows them to meet and greet safely and gives each time to adjust to each other :-)
My cat is too clever/strong/difficult for most of these methods. Unfortunately my cat carrier is not that big and doesn't have a top door. For his last vet visit, what ultimately worked for me was taking the carrier out of my appartment (out of the cat's sight), putting it in a vertical position with the door open, then taking the cat out and closing the appartment's door (otherwise he'd immediately run back inside, he is very fearful of any place outside the appartment). That took his focus out of avoiding the carrier, and distracted him enough to allow me to grab all his paws and get him into the carrier without too much fuss. That said, I have no idea if that method will work again (my cat may be more suspicious the next time I try it), and it's much more complicated than I'd like it to be, so I'm still holding hope that someone somewhere has a better method that could work with him.
Interesting.. I do like the carrier with the "gate" on top. That would be easier for me to take out my cats. (I don't have cats now; have had cats for some 35 years.) All my cats liked to see where they are going and I am surprised to see to cover the carrier with a blanket since mine liked to look out. And at the vet, it was hard to get them out but so much easier for them to get back in the carriers. LOL They felt safe inside the carriers. Thanks for the tips.
This is for a cat that is just plain docile who barely moves. If it were that easy you wouldn’t need to watch a video. I have found after many strenuous battles with my cat to put the carrier standing upright with the door open, throw a blanket over her whole body and push her in hind feet first. She was in before she had a chance to fight. And keeping the carrier in view 24/7 didn’t mean a thing. She still hates it😼
Thanks for the tips! I will be trying this on my feral cat in about 30 minutes, so I hope it works because he has something wrong with his little paw and I need him to get treated❤️
i have a cat that is about 2yro. I have tried twice to get her into a carrier to take her to a vet - and the response i got broke my heart. She became very feral. She did an awful screeching/howling noise i had never heard her make before. and she kept trying to force herself through any opening she could. she was chewing on the metal door.. she even forced 1 of her paws between plastic for the top and bottom on one occasion. i finally let her out and havent tried to force it again. I bought a house and she is my biggest concern. She freaks out when new things or people come into my home. I have no idea how im going to get her out of the apartment. I am hoping melatonin will help some :(
This is my favourite video. Every time I have to take my older cat to the vet I use either the face forward or backwards methods and it works surprisingly well even for my boy who isn’t docile. I’ve used it for a couple years now! Today I’m watching it again because I’m taking him again.
That was silly as fck.. She should try to put a cat in that carrier that strikes back cause that was no challenge.. My cat will not slide in there like this he will scratch the hell out of you when you pick him up and go near that thing.. Just saying.. Lol
Lol I need a guide to put the cat into the carrier, not carrier purchasing advices. My cat is disastrous and very wild. He has been at home for 1 month and never allowed us to touch/pet him so far. I really hate cats now. He did every bad stuff you can imagine. I will somehow put him inside his cage and go to a vet. Then release him to a safe park.
So you need to take your cat to the vet and know it doesn't like carriers. All these how tos saying put your carrier out for weeks so the cat is comfortable around it. My cat is sick and needs to go now not next month! lol
In other cat vs vet videos, the cats that rage sound like babies crying. Their pupils dilate and they hiss. Why aren't the handlers speaking in soothing tones and saying their names? Why aren't the owners present?
I always put a towel over my cat and try to wrap her in it so she can't get away, then i put her in the carrier and lock it up and take cover in case she bursts out like the hulk.
Excellent video. My kitty does not do carriers well at all. I was more stressed about getting her in than she was this morning. i did get great tips from this vid. I used the front entrance, head first, method. The hands on front and back legs was perfect. Definitely a much better experience than the last attempt!
Buy a small paper scratcher. Put it inside de carrier. Put some catnip over it. Then wait for the cat to enter the carrier. Easy. Without touching the cat.
It would be great if you'd give tips on getting your cat into a carrier when you're evacuating due to emergency and have less than 5 minutes to get out.
Yeah quick and sneaky is the best way to approach our cats. I have never had one who was happy with going into any carrier. The top open are our and our vet's carrier of choice I prefer the Petmate 2 Door Top Load Carrier as the top latch is very secure when carrying and it comes in 2 sizes.
mine isn’t aggressive at all but she does pee when she’s stressed so often i end up at the vet with a dirty cat because of the experience getting her into the carrier
Ever since my cats were kittens they loved their carrier I have it out all the time and they sometimes sleep in it and there’s even been times where I couldn’t get them out
Thank you for this very informative video! My big issue is even getting my 1.5-year-old boy Pip. He's really suspicious of the whole project. His brother, Ollie, not so much! I leave their carriers out all the time, have comfy bedding inside, give them treats, etc., inside the carriers. This week, it was time to take them to the vet. Ollie was no problem, but I couldn't even catch Pip! He was so suspicious! It turned into a chase, and I ended up having to leave Pip home and just take Ollie. I've rescheduled for Friday, but I don't know how I'll handle this. It was very traumatic for Pip. We've since made up, but I don't know what I'll do. Any suggestions? (I have never been able to easily get Pip... I said to my partner that if there were a fire or some emergency, it'd be a disaster!)
