How to get your cat (or dog) happily into the carrier? 😎
How to put cat in carrier
For all us cat servants, taking our fur babies out could be one of the hardest chores in the world. The moment you pick up a pet carrier (or a pet cage), the moment you call your cat’s (or dog’s) name, they dash off faster than Usain Bolt (the 100-metre sprint world record holder)? Can’t catch them at all? Actually, there’s no need to catch them…
It could be a hassle to try to bring your cat (or dog) to the vet. Whenever you softly ask your beloved pet to get into the carrier, your pet will just flee like a missile or run faster than Mr. Bolt (the 100 meter world record holder)? Well, it won’t be all necessary if there is proper planning prior.
Battle Plan One 🤩
Blend it into your master’s life — let it (the carrier) become a part of their daily routine
Mission 1, let it (the carrier) become part of your pet’s everyday routine
Leave the pet carrier out in the open; don’t only bring it out when you’re taking your cat or dog outside. The ideal approach is to place the carrier where your cat or dog plays with you, so they leave their own scent on it. Avoid placing it where your cat or dog usually eats (or relieves itself), so that your fur baby doesn’t associate the carrier with food (meals / toilet).
Put your carrier to where you used to play with your cat/dog, ideally avoid the where your pet’s dinning place or near it’s toilet. By doing this could avoid your furry friend confusing carrier linked to food or poo.
Battle Plan Two 🤩🤩
Play together with your kitty inside the pet carrier
Mission 2, let your furry friend plays in the carrier
Once your cat or dog no longer resists the presence of the carrier, “casually” toss a toy or a treat into the bag while playing, to tempt them in for a “visit”. With time and practice, your cat will quite naturally hop into the carrier to look for its favourite treats/toys on the day of the outing.
When your pet gets used to the presence of the carrier, and do not misjudge the carrier is an alien spaceship, you can proceed to next level: to spend time play with your pets near or even put their beloved toys or treats into the carrier. After some time you will see that the pet is no longer resistant to your carrier!
Battle Plan Three 🤩🤩🤩
Take your kitty to the vet clinic but do nothing at all
Mission 3, get your pet to the vet (and do nothing!)
Choose a day before the vet visit (not the day of your booked appointment) and take your cat or dog to the vet clinic. Once you arrive, do nothing at all — just let your cat get a feel for the clinic’s atmosphere/smell. Open the cat carrier; you don’t need to let them out (though if they want to come out, they’re welcome to have a little wander). Stay like this for 10-15 minutes, give them gentle strokes and a few treats. When it’s time to leave, say to them: “Let’s go~”, then pop them into the carrier and head home.
Pick a date prior to actual booking with the vet, gently ask your pet to get into the carrier, and when you are at the vet, you can simply spend time with your furry friend, give them lots of petting, playing and perhaps a bit of treats. This way your pet will get used to the atmosphere of the clinic and no longer finds they are on an alien planet.
On the scheduled day of the mission, you only need to casually call your cat into the carrier and off to the vet clinic you go. Getting your cat to hop obediently into the carrier? It’s just that simple~ hee hee~ 😎
Phew, finally the day of judgment (ahem), I mean the actual date for booking with the vet, you can follow the same drill and whoa-la, simple as that! Heh! 😏
But then… how can everything in life go exactly as we wish… 🙄
Yeah… I know… there is no perfection in this world… 🤣
We completely understand that not every cat servant has the spare time to carry out points one, two and three above. So what then? We can take a leaf out of this vet’s “blindfold-into-the-carrier trick”:
We fully understand you are a successful business person and do not have time to follow the above suggestions. Please try the “blind superman” shown in the video below. Do not attempt if you are not completely familiar with all the steps, some cats have good memory and it could take months to regain trust if you tip him off with the carrier.
- Place the cat carrier/airline crate on the tabletop, near your waist level
Place the carrier at waist level securely. - As demonstrated in the YouTube video, use one hand to cover your cat’s eyes and the other to hold your cat (sweep the cat’s front paws forward), gently place its front half into the bag (once you’ve picked the cat up, don’t let it hear or see the carrier), then softly use your waist to “half push, half ease” its back half into the bag/cage (don’t let it back out). Then close the bag/door.
Hold your cat with one hand with confidence, use the other hand to cover their eyes, do not let them see the carrier at the first place. Gently “glide” the frontal body of your pet into the carrier; lean your body to the rear of your pet to avoid it backs out from the carrier. Softly close the carrier.
This method is very straightforward, but your cat/dog will inevitably keep complaining to you throughout the journey there and back (laugh). 😆
The side-effect of this superman thingy would probably be hearing lots of complains from your beloved pet during the journey, heh… 😂🤣
Not too complicated, is it? So what are you waiting for — go grab yourself a lovely cat carrier/airline crate! (laugh)
So you see, there is no such thing as mission impossible, just a bit of patience and practice, everyone can do it.
Let us introduce:
One For Pets Lightweight Pet Backpack
Ibiyaya Ultra-Light Pet Bag
IRIS BL460 Compact Portable Carrier
Airline Crate
We hope you like this blog and that it helps you. 🥰
We have many more pet-related articles that may help you! Please keep supporting BC Pets, thank you! Be sure to visit us for more pet’s information and tips! Thanks for your kind support to BC Pets. 😍
